The charismatic Aaron Brooks prepares to lace his boots to compete at the Paris Olympics. He competes in the 86kg category for the USA and remains one of the country’s best medal hopes. He comes from a prestigious college in America, like most of the wrestlers from the NCAA – Penn State University (2020-2023). Therefore, things look promising for the wrestler. 

Notably, he wrestled under the famous coach Cael Sanderson and had a record of 89-3 in his career. Meanwhile, he became the 7th wrestler to win four NCAA titles, making him one of the favorites for the gold medal. His journey to the wrestling world took a turn when he defeated a reigning Olympic champion in the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials. Then, it was a race against time to prepare for Paris. So, let’s explore more about the Penn State star. 

Learn About Aaron Brooks’ College

The sensational wrestler was a Penn State Nittany Lion student-athlete who was the 2023-24 Penn State Athlete of the Year. He turned the ball for the University in wrestling competitions by aiding head coach Cael Sanderson’s team to glory. His glory years with the university remain a critical reason for winning championships. Aaron Brooks was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2020). 

In his senior season, he had an overall record of 17-1, 9-1 in duals, and 5-0 in B1G duals. But in the Big Ten Championships, Brooks showed his utter dominance. He won against #5 Kaleb Romero of Ohio State 12-2 in the title match, winning his third crowd in one of his iconic matches. 

The sensational Brooks ended the 2023-24 season with multiple trophies and awards in his hand in any NCAA sport for that season. Those are stats that remain higher than anyone. He went 22-0 in the year with six pins and almost 11 technical falls during the season. His honors are staggering: 

NWCA All-Star Classic participant

First-team All-Big Ten

Big Ten Champion (197)

2024 Big Ten Championship Outstanding Wrestler

2024 Big Ten Wrestler of the Year

NCAA All-American 197)

NCAA National Champion (197)

The 2024 NCAA Most Dominant Wrestler

2024 Hodge Trophy Winner (Nation’s top collegiate wrestler)

The 2024 USA Wrestling Olympic Team Trials Champion

2024 Olympian – Paris Games.

Aaron Brooks won the Pennsylvania State University Male Athlete of the Year Award

With all these accolades in the bag, he won the Penn State University Male Athlete of the Year, along with softball player Bridget Nemeth. A new release stated, “The Hagerstown, Md.,, native capped off perhaps the greatest career in Penn State wrestling history (to date) by winning the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials held in the Bryce Jordan Center in April.”

The statement continued, “Brooks rolled through the challenger bracket on April 19 and then dominated defending Olympic Gold Medalist David Taylor in the final series, winning two straight matches to earn a trip to Paris where he will represent the United States at 86 kg in the 2024 Paris Games. Brooks became one of Penn State’s first two four-time NCAA Champions (with teammate Carter Starocci) earlier in March, dominating the nation throughout the season and capping off his career with a fourth-straight title, this one at 197 pounds.”

Therefore, the world awaits to see him weave his magic on the wrestling mats. Can he win a gold for the USA?