BREAKING: Penn State wrestling star Aaron Brooks wins 2024 Dan Hodge Trophy

Penn State wrestling star Aaron Brooks picked up a prestigious honor on Monday after being named the winner of the 2024 Dan Hodge Trophy. The award is yet another feather in the cap of the senior wrestler, fresh off winning his fourth National Championship and an undefeated season for Cael Sanderson and Penn State. Brooks beat out Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen and three fellow Nittany Lions for the honor.

Aaron Brooks caps off a dominant season by winning 2024 Dan Hodge Trophy

Aaron Brooks capped off a dominant season with the highest award that a college wrestler can receive on Monday. Brooks won the 2024 Dan Hodge Trophy, the college wrestling equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. The Nittany Lion senior finished the year with a 22-0 record and a 90.91% bonus percentage. Brooks finished the season not giving up a single takedown in any of his matches.

In the NCAA Championships, Aaron Brooks picked up two tech falls and two falls on his path to the finals. There, he defeated No. 2-seed and fellow undefeated Trent Hidlay with a resounding 6-1 decision.

With the title victory, Aaron Brooks became the seventh wrestler in NCAA history to win four National Championships. He is the second Penn State wrestler to do so, preceded only a few minutes by teammate Carter Starocci.

Aaron Brooks was one of four finalists for the 2024 Dan Hodge Trophy from the Penn State wrestling team, joining Levi Haines, Carter Starocci, and Greg Kerkvliet. The 197-pounder also beat out Parker Keckeisen of UNI, who finished second in the fan vote.

Hodge Winner announced later today.

Final Hodge Fan Vote Results. 👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/3kWx54IKI8

— Justin Basch (@JustinJBasch) April 1, 2024

Nittany Lion senior joins fellow Penn State wrestling greats

Aaron Brooks now joins an elite list of Penn State wrestlers who have won the Dan Hodge Trophy. A Nittany Lion has captured the prestigious award now seven times in the trophy’s 29-year existence. Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson is the only three-time Hodge Trophy winner.

Kerry McCoy was the first from the Penn State wrestling program to win the Hodge Trophy back in 1997. David Taylor (2012, 2014) and Zain Retherford (2017, 2018) both won two times. Bo Nickal was the last Nittany Lion to win the award in 2019.

🦁 AARON BROOKS //
🏆 The 2024 Hodge Trophy Winner //
🔥 Penn State's seventh overall Trophy //
🚨 Read it at GoPSU! //
🦁 #PSUwrhttps://t.co/QGZdWScklz pic.twitter.com/JFY4X1BQFn

— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) April 1, 2024

Penn State wrestling has the most Dan Hodge Trophy winners of any school in the nation with five. The seven total Hodge Trophies also puts the Nittany Lions as the nation’s best, with Iowa coming in second with four.

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