Aaron Brooks, Penn State Wrestling, USA Olympic Wrestling Trials Aaron Brooks of Penn State wrestles Trent Hidlay of North Carolina State(Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

USA Olympic Wrestling Trials: Aaron Brooks Does the Unthinkable, Wins Title at 86 kg

Originally posted on Nittany Central | By Chris Snyder | Last updated 4/20/24

Penn State Wrestling star Aaron Brooks just capped off a feat that most wrestling fans would have deemed “impossible”.

By beating fellow Nittany Lion Wrestling Club wrestler David Taylor 3-1, Brooks has bested the reigning Olympic gold medalist and reigning two-time World Championship gold medalist at 86 kg. Obviously this is certainly a feat that very few people thought would be possible.

But when it comes to Aaron Brooks, we should probably stop doubting him. Just take a look at the year he’s had:

-Finished the year 22-0 with a bonus point percentage of 91%
-Won his fourth Big Ten title
-Awarded Outstanding Wrestler in the Big Ten Championships
-Won his fourth NCAA title
-Awarded Outstanding Wrestler of the NCAA Championships
-Awarded Most Dominant Wrestler
-Won the 2024 Dan Hodge Trophy

With his win Saturday evening, Brooks now gets to do what very few wrestlers ever get to do.

Naturally, that is to represent team USA and have a shot at winning a gold medal.

Match 1

Penn State Wrestling The U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team Trials at Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State. (Mandatory Credit: Matthew O?Haren-USA TODAY Sports)

In their first best-of-three matches, Aaron won a 4-1 decision over Taylor. Straightaway it was clear from the first whistle that Brooks was going to be a handful. And for the first time in who knows how long, an American wrestler was actually pushing David Taylor around.

Brooks beat David Taylor 4-1 in the first of three!#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/iyyjxDURtZ

— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) April 20, 2024

Match 2

In the end, Aaron Brooks was simply too strong and too technically sound even for a guy as insanely good as David Taylor. Ultimately Brooks took the second match 3-1.

Aaron Brooks defeats David Taylor 3-1, wins series 2-0
Brooks will represent the United States in the 2024 Paris Summer Games#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/nRvtGbz3Tw

— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) April 21, 2024

From what most wrestling people expected and based on his age, Taylor would have one more legitimate shot at winning his second gold medal this year. Conversely, based on his age and experience, it was only going to be a matter of time before the torch would be passed to Aaron Brooks. However that wasn’t supposed to happen this year.

Aaron Brooks’ incredible year continues and next up will be a trip to Paris.

This article first appeared on Nittany Central and was syndicated with permission.

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