Hagerstown’s Aaron Brooks wins 4th Big Ten title, named conference’s wrestler of the year
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — In an event featuring some of the most ferocious, physically fit athletes in the country, Hagerstown’s Aaron Brooks was the top dog, the alpha male.
After winning the 197-pound title at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships on Sunday at the University of Maryland’s Xfinity Center, Brooks, a Penn State senior, was named the tournament’s outstanding wrestler, as well as the conference’s wrestler of the year.
“It’s a blessing,” said Brooks, who became a four-time Big Ten champion while improving his season record to 17-0. “I’m just grateful that I have this opportunity to spread the word of God and just go out there and compete like that. Eyes come to me and look to me, and hopefully they see that. That’s why I do it.”
Brooks, a 2018 North Hagerstown graduate, dominated every opponent he faced. In the finals, he scored six takedowns against Iowa’s Zach Glazier and won by technical fall, 19-3.
In their previous meeting this year, Brooks defeated Glazier 5-1 in a dual meet. That remains Brooks’ closest match of the season, and it was Glazier’s only loss entering Sunday.
“He’s a really good wrestler, super hard to open up,” Brooks said. “He’s tough. He does a real good job of protecting himself. I just had to come out and wrestle free and let the rest happen.”
On Saturday, after receiving a first-round bye as the No. 1 seed, Brooks defeated Northwestern’s Evan Bates by technical fall, 19-3, in the quarterfinals and then won by major decision, 14-2, over Nebraska’s Silas Allred in the semifinals.
Brooks said the key to his success is just being himself.
“That comes from practice, practicing being myself, going into practice doing the things that I’m good at,” he said. “I don’t have to wrestle like someone else. I can wrestle like me.”
Champion of champions: How Aaron Brooks is making Penn State history
His efforts also helped the Nittany Lions win the Big Ten team title.
“He’s unbelievable. He just keeps getting better,” Penn State coach Cael Sanderson said. “He’s just a really good kid and just wrestles with a huge gratitude and love of the sport. And then on top of the that, obviously, he’s very talented. He’s special.”
Next up for Brooks is his final NCAA tournament, March 21-23 in Kansas City, Missouri, where he’ll try to become a four-time national champion, a feat that’s only been accomplished by five wrestlers in the history of the sport.
“I’m trying be present,” Brooks said. “It happens fast — matches, seasons, careers. I’m just trying to take it in.”
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Hagerstown’s Aaron Brooks dominates at Big Ten Wrestling Championships
