Jordan Burroughs and Penn State’s wrestling crew might not be high-fiving anytime soon. Still, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist and six-time world champion couldn’t resist a bit of schadenfreude as Penn State’s star faced a tough break at the Paris Olympics. Aaron Brooks, the former Nittany Lion who’s been making waves with his epic NCAA career, entered the Champ-de-Mars Arena as a bit of an underdog. But he bulldozed his way into the semifinals of the 86 kg men’s freestyle wrestling showdown.

In the quarterfinals, Brooks edged out Azamat Dauletbekov of Kazakhstan with a nail-biting 4-3 win. However, his journey hit a snag in the semifinals against fifth-seeded Magomed Ramazanov of Bulgaria. The bout began with both wrestlers engaging in a gritty hand-fighting contest. Brooks took advantage of Ramazanov’s inactivity to score a slick double-leg takedown, ending the first period with a 3-0 lead. The second period, however, was where things got intense!

Brooks nearly secured another takedown, but Ramazanov scrambled out and turned the tables with a takedown of his own, followed by a near-exposure situation. With just 30 seconds left, Brooks was warned for fleeing, and as the clock ticked down, Ramazanov executed a last-minute crotch lift to snatch a 4-3 victory from the jaws of defeat. But the heartbreak didn’t stop there for Team USA!

In the women’s 57kg freestyle semifinals, Helen Maroulis faced Japan’s Tsugumi Sakurai. Maroulis struck first with a slick trip, but Sakurai quickly turned the tables, ending the first period with a 4-2 lead. Sakurai dominated the second period, executing a takedown and nearly pinning Maroulis. Despite a last-minute takedown from Maroulis, Sakurai secured the victory, 10-4. Both Helen and Aaron Brooks will now fight for bronze on Friday.

The back-to-back defeats for Team USA left Jordan Burroughs reeling. He wasn’t shy about his emotions, posting on X, “I’m crying in the booth. 😭” after the matches. And Burroughs wasn’t alone in his heartbreak. David Carr, the two-time NCAA champ and Iowa State standout, also took to X to share his feelings, writing, “I’m heartbroken 💔.”

Heading into the Paris Olympics, a lot of hope was pinned on Aaron Brooks, even though he was unseeded. The buzz around him was electric, thanks to his stellar NCAA career where he snagged his fourth national title and dominated with a perfect 22-0 season. Plus, he made headlines by defeating Penn State’s legend David Taylor, the defending Olympic champion, at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Despite his lack of senior-level international experience, Brooks was expected to make a splash in Paris. And as fans now look for him to earn bronze, it’s pretty surprising that Burroughs is one of the fans cheering him on, especially considering his heated tensions with Penn State wrestling!

Jordan Burroughs’ surprising support for Aaron Brooks despite dissing top Nittany Lions’ wrestling stars and getting booed!

The drama started back in April 2024, when it looked like Jordan Burroughs might face off against Penn State’s Carter Starocci at the U.S. Olympic Trials. But just four days before the trials at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center, the brackets revealed Starocci would compete at 86 kg instead of 74 kg, dodging Burroughs. Starocci had boldly declared on X that he’d end Burroughs’ career, prompting Burroughs to respond with a taunt: “Gonna be hard to end my career there champ.”

The beef didn’t stop there. Burroughs ruffled feathers during the NCAA Championships by suggesting opponents target Starocci’s injury, which didn’t sit well with Bo Nickal. Nickal shot back on X, “Really classy Jordan Burroughs as commentator saying you’d target Starocci’s injury in competition. Sad that you think that way and even if you do you should keep it to yourself it’s unprofessional. For all your accomplishments I’d expect more.” Burroughs’ reply?

“You punch guys in the face for a living. Shut up.” Nickal didn’t back down, accusing Burroughs of trying to steal the spotlight from others. The drama hit a new level on April 19, 2024. Jordan Burroughs dominated Mitchell Mesenbrink with an 8-3 win in the Olympic Trials semifinals. After the final whistle, Mesenbrink, who might not have heard it, kept wrestling, prompting Burroughs to push his head to the ground.

The incident, combined with Burroughs’ recent clashes with Penn State stars, drew boos from the crowd. With all this tension, it’s clear Burroughs isn’t exactly making friends in Happy Valley! So what are your thoughts about Jordan Burroughs’ heartbreak for Aaron Brooks at the Paris Olympics? Share in the comments below!