Lifelong Iowa wrestling fan Bradley Hill now competes where his idols did

IOWA CITY — Bradley Hill doesn’t recall his first memories from Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

It’s understandable. He was just 4 or 5 years for his first trips to University of Iowa wrestling meets. A moment from the Hawkeyes’ 22-16 dual win over No. 1 Penn State on Feb. 1, 2013, stands out to him.

“My favorite memory was (Iowa NCAA champion) Tony Ramos, sticking Jordan Conaway in the Penn State dual,” Hill said. “It was electric.”

Hill has grown from a young Hawkeye fan to a state and national champion wrestler at Bettendorf High School to a starter for No. 4 Iowa. The redshirt freshman will take the mat again for Friday’s home dual against Columbia Friday night, beginning at 7.

When Hill committed to Iowa, his longtime aspiration to be a Hawkeye became a reality.

“It’s awesome,” Hill said. “It’s everything I could have hoped for, getting to wrestle for Tom and Terry (Brands) in Carver.

“I used to come up here every Friday night to watch meets. I looked up to those guys. Those guys were my idols. Being able to be one of those guys to wrestle in Carver is just amazing.”

Hill was thrust into the lineup due to the sports wagering investigation that targeted some Hawkeye veterans. He learned he would replace All-American Tony Cassioppi until the first week of competition.

“With the whole gambling thing, you never really knew what was going to happen,” Hill said. “Every guy has to be ready. Next man up. I was always ready the whole time. Just ready to wrestle.”

Hill didn’t hesitate to assume the spot. He doesn’t fear a challenge, which is one of his strongest traits. Even as a 138-match winner, two-time state finalist and Class 3A 2021 220-pound state champion, his tireless work ethic has been a key to success.

“I would describe his work ethic as eager, as blue collar,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. “Not afraid of scraping his face, meaning he’ll stick it in there. Physical guy and I don’t think pain bothers him too much.

“I think the growth that has to continue is keep adding to your match conditioning, but he’s not afraid to stick his face in there and mix it up.”

Hill said his parents, Rob and Christine, instilled those characteristics in him. Brands said Hill was not coddled by his “hard-nosed” parents and grandparents, which set the standard for Hill. He parlayed those qualities into all-state linebacker honors for the Bulldogs and became a three-time state wrestling medalist, climbing to No. 87 in Class of 2022 national rankings.

“Growing up, I wasn’t the most talented, biggest, strongest (or) fastest,” Hill said. “They just told me hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. So, just work hard and things will happen.”

Wrestling and hard work seem to go hand in hand more than any other sport.

“I feel like wrestling is the hardest sport out there,” Hill said. “You need to give 100 percent, 110 percent, in wrestling, otherwise you’re not going to do anything. Whereas, other sports are hard in their own right, I feel wrestling is an outlier.”

Brands noted that Hill piqued the coaching staff’s interest. He met with assistant coach Ryan Morningstar and the two discussed the need of bringing him on board with the Hawkeyes. Hill committed and then won a Junior freestyle national title over teammate Kolby Franklin in Fargo, N.D.

“We liked what we saw and he proved us right, even before he got out of high school,” Brands said. “He’s definitely embraced the challenge of getting better every day but we always liked him.”

Hill was 5-4 attached last season and 15-6 overall. He is a modest 6-3 this season, winning his first five bouts and coming off a decision over Penn’s Cole Urbas.

“He’s not afraid to go,” Brands said. “He’s not afraid of the pain. We have to work on that match conditioning.”

The role has changed. Hill looked up to Hawkeye wrestlers from the stands. Now, younger eyes will be watching him. Hill could have the same influence on future wrestlers that past Hawkeyes had on him.

“I’ve got to do something first,” said Hill, adding that he needs to get better and stronger. “I have to start winning. Then, maybe.”

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