Three-peat! Aaron Brooks’ reign continues at NCAA wrestling championships

Andy Mason, The Herald-Mail
·2 min read
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Penn State's Aaron Brooks reacts after defeating Northern Iowa's Parker Keckeisen 7-2 for the 184-pound title at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Tulsa, Okla.
Penn State's Aaron Brooks reacts after defeating Northern Iowa's Parker Keckeisen 7-2 for the 184-pound title at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Tulsa, Okla.
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When he announced his commitment to wrestle for Penn State University on Feb. 1, 2018, North Hagerstown then-senior Aaron Brooks made his intentions clear.

"I'm going to try to win four NCAA titles," he said that day.

It might have seemed like an overly ambitious goal, especially considering there had only been four four-time champs in NCAA history, and none from mighty Penn State.

Well, fast forward five years and Brooks is three-quarters of the way there, having already cemented himself as one of the NCAA’s all-time greats.

On Saturday night, Brooks captured his third straight national title at 184 pounds for the Nittany Lions, scoring two takedowns in a dominant 7-2 decision over Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen in the NCAA championship finals in Tulsa, Okla.

“It’s all God,” Brooks said in a post-match interview with ESPN. “I’m blessed. God uses me. He gives me this platform for this right here, to exalt him. That’s all it’s for. When I’m suffering, cutting weight, away from my family, it’s all for him. It’s all for his glory.”

Penn State's Aaron Brooks, right, faces Northern Iowa's Parker Keckeisen at 184 pounds in the finals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Tulsa, Okla. Brooks won by decision, 7-2, for his third straight national title.
Penn State's Aaron Brooks, right, faces Northern Iowa's Parker Keckeisen at 184 pounds in the finals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Tulsa, Okla. Brooks won by decision, 7-2, for his third straight national title.

Brooks, who has one year of NCAA eligibility remaining, finished 5-0 for the tournament, improving to 17-1 for the season and 67-3 for his college career.

On Friday, Brooks was a 6-3 winner over North Carolina State’s Trent Hidlay in the semifinals after defeating Ohio State’s Kaleb Romero 4-1 in the quarterfinals.

Brooks dominated his first two opponents Thursday, defeating Chattanooga’s Matthew Waddell by major decision, 13-4, and then pinning Clarion’s Will Feldkamp in the second period.

His efforts helped Penn State extend its championship dynasty, as the Nittany Lions racked up 137.5 points to win the team title for the 10th time in the last 12 NCAA championships. Iowa finished second (82.5) and Cornell was third (76.5).

Title quest:Aaron Brooks is ‘excited to bring glory to God’ at NCAA championships

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Aaron Brooks wrestles at the NCAA championships for Penn State