Iowa’s roster is deep and talented and coach Tom Brands had that on display Sunday with new or newer names Cobe Siebrecht (157), Patrick Kennedy (165), Drake Rhodes (174), Aidan Harris (125), Brody Teske (133), and Drew Bennett (141) all getting the call during the Hawkeyes' 42-3 season-opening win over California Baptist. 

Prior to Sunday’s opener, those six Hawkeyes had a combined record of 3-2 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The sextet went 5-1 against the Lancers as Iowa led 24-0 at intermission and went on to win by 39.

“We want to get our best lineup on the mat,” Brands said. “(The lineup against California Baptist) looked pretty good to me.”

The Hawkeyes will undoubtedly shine brighter when three-time national champion Spencer Lee returns at 125 pounds and second-ranked Real Woods makes his Iowa debut at 141. Exactly when that will be is a question on the mind of many Hawkeye fans.

“We know what’s going on in our room with other faces,” Brands said. “I’m talking about Spencer Lee and Real Woods. We know what’s going on there, but I tell you what, don’t tell Drew Bennett that. There were good performances with some new faces."

Bennett was a 16-5 winner at 141, one of seven bonus-point wins for the Hawkeyes (three falls, two technical falls, two major decisions). One of the two Iowa decisions came from newcomer Brody Teske, who was a 6-4 winner at 133. Teske, a four-time Iowa state champion from Fort Dodge, is with his third program after stays at Penn State and Northern Iowa.

Teske called running onto the mat at Carver-Hawkeye Arena a dream achieved.

“I have done it in Rec Hall (Penn State) and West Gym (Northern Iowa),” Teske said. “I have done it all over the country and to do it here, I’m grateful for the experience.”

Not only is Iowa deep, but it is staking claim as America’s Team: Hawkeye competitors against the Lancers hailed from six states — Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Utah. The lone true freshman to see action was 174-pounder Drake Rhodes from Billings, Montana. Rhodes opened his collegiate career with a five-takedown performance that ended with a 13-4 major decision over Zach Rowe.

“I kept working hard and felt that if they really wanted me (at 174) then I would fill a spot and do my best,” said Rhodes, a three-time state champion. “It was nice to get that first takedown and calm down a little bit. I have to reassure myself that I belong here and I can wrestle against the best.”

Rhodes won high school state titles at 113, 152, and 160 pounds. Competing at 174 is the heavy end of his range.

“When you get an opportunity, you make the most of it,” Brands said. “That is not his weight class, he made the most of everything — he doesn’t say much and that’s a great characteristic. It’s whatever you need coach and I will do it. There is no question and we love that.”

By improving his career record to 3-1 at home, Siebrecht was the most experienced of the Iowa newbies. He built an 11-0 lead before winning by fall at the end of the second period. This was his first match at 157 pounds after competing 19 times at 149 during his first three seasons.

“We keep driving and you have to come to practice with that mindset,” said Siebrecht, who got the nod over Caleb Rathjen. “We’re not worrying about beating each other (in wrestle-offs), we’re worried about beating everybody else out there. We’re a team and that’s what we are here to do — take out the nation.”

The Hawkeye old guard — Max Murin (149), Abe Assad (184), Jacob Warner (197), and Tony Cassioppi (285) — entered the season opener with a combined 216 career victories. They went 4-0 with two falls and a technical fall.

Don’t expect Brands to trot out a consistent lineup anytime soon. Up next for Iowa are duals at Army (Nov. 17) and against Sacred Heart and Buffalo (Nov. 18), and the three-time national coach of the year will give several Hawkeyes an opportunity. 

“We’re going to bring more than 10 guys for those 10 weight classes and we’ll see where we’re at,” Brands said. “We’ll just keep getting better.”