As the 2024 Paris Olympics inches closer, the fight for a spot in the national team gets more intense. Along with other branches of sport, the USA wrestling team has high hopes for the upcoming Games, with some prolific athletes vying to showcase their skills on the grandest stage of them all. With a U23 Championships gold medal in the bag from last year, Penn State’s Aaron Brooks is one of the top contenders in his weight class and his exploits are being hailed by even the veterans of the sport.

In a recent social media post, the Nittany Lions Wrestling Club member shared his recent crowning moment as he was honored by the 2012 Olympic gold medalist Jake Varner.

Penn State star hailed for a superb display of skill on the mat

Only a few days ago, the Penn State wrestling team decimated Oregon State University on their way to a resounding 36-3 victory. In the 197lb bout, Brooks stomped over OSU’s No. 30 Justin Rademacher with a 19-4 tech fall win. Now, as the young athlete gears up for the Olympic Games, NLWC coach and former Olympian Jake Varner commends his achievements.

In his latest Instagram post, Brooks has shared a series of images as he received commemoration for his last year’s stellar performance. Captioning the post “Matthew 5:16“, Brooks looks humble as he accepts his latest honors and highlights his determination to keep going until he reaches the top. In two of these images, Brooks is seen standing beside the Olympic gold winner Varner as the duo undoubtedly shares insights about strategies for the upcoming matches.

With another image showing Brooks celebrating a victory on the mat, he also underscores his journey to his current position. His body language in the picture also hints at just how important it has been for the young Penn State athlete to grab his dreams by the scruff. With another NLWC member adding yet another feather to his cap, it looks like Penn State’s Olympic dreams are not unfounded. And Brooks gave it a boost in Albania.

Brooks’ journey to the top in Albania

NLWC’s class was highlighted once again in Albania last year when Aaron Brooks steamrolled his opponents to win the U23 crown. On his first day, Brooks advanced to the semifinals with three wins. The four-time All-American Brooks displayed mastery on the mat as he won his final match with a definitive 10-0 tech fall win to secure his gold.

Read more: “It’s a Little Different This Year”: NLWC HC Cael Sanderson Reflects on Challenges During the Olympic Year

With his win, it’s once again clear why the Penn State wrestling team is considered one of the best in the nation. And now, it waits to be seen what the future holds for the three-time NCAA Champ as eyes a shot at stardom in Paris.

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