Aaron Brooks named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week, presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare

Aaron Brooks (Hagerstown, Md./Penn State) has been named the USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week, presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare, on March 27, 2024.

Penn State star Aaron Brooks (197) joined an exclusive club of four-time NCAA Div. I champions at the NCAA DI National Championships last week. Teammate Carter Starocci (174) became the sixth to reach this amazing feat, and two matches later, Brooks became the seventh. It was the first time that two athletes won their fourth NCAA title during the same tournament. They were the first two four-timers for Penn State.

Brooks made his way through a challenging bracket at 197 pounds, using two technical falls and two pins to reach the finals. In the semifinals, Brooks won by 17-2 technical fall over 2021 U20 World Champion Rocky Elam of Missouri. The Hagerstown, Maryland, native also pinned the eventual third-place finisher Stephen Buchanan at 2:45 in the quarterfinals.

In the final match on Saturday evening, Brooks beat Trent Hidlay of NC State, in a battle of the top two seeds, 6-1. Brooks scored a takedown in the final seconds of the first period to lead 3-0. He added an escape in the second period and Hidlay was penalized for stalling, making it 5-0. Brooks rode Hidlay almost the entire third period, before Hidlay got a late escape. Add in riding time points, and Brooks won 6-1. Brooks was named Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament by the NWCA.

Additionally, Brooks received the NCAA DI award for being the most dominant wrestler.

Brooks, a member of the 2023 Senior National Team and a two-time age-group World Champion, has already secured his spot in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials scheduled to take place in State College, Pennsylvania on April 19-20.

To nominate a wrestler for this honor please email the athlete's name, wrestling program, weekly accomplishments, and career accolades to communications@usawrestling.org.