Penn State wrestling: Aaron Brooks claims program’s 11th school-wide Athlete of the Year honor

Aaron Brooks and Bridget Nemeth were named the 2023-24 Penn State Athletes of the Year, it was announced on Monday afternoon. Brooks finished his final season for the Penn State wrestling program, winning his fourth individual NCAA Championship. Nemeth capped off her first season for Penn State softball, helping the team qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 13 seasons.

Brooks and Nemeth will now represent the Nittany Lions as the university’s nominees for Big Ten Athletes of the Year.

Your 2023-24 Penn State Athletes of the Year 💙🤍

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— Penn State Athletics (@GoPSUsports) June 17, 2024

Brooks becomes 11th Athlete of the Year in Penn State wrestling history

Aaron Brooks was a key contributor in helping Cael Sanderson lead Penn State wrestling to the program’s third consecutive National Championship and 11th title in 13 seasons in 2024. He becomes the 11th Nittany Lion wrestler to win the Penn State Male Athlete of the Year award.

The Dan Hodge Trophy winner for the nation’s top wrestler, Brooks joined Carter Starocci as the first four-time NCAA Champions in Penn State wrestling history this March. He finished his senior season with an undefeated 22-0 record and a 90.91% bonus percentage on his way to the 197-pound Big Ten and NCAA crowns. The dominant run capped off an 89-3 career record as a Nittany Lion.

Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

After the NCAA Championships, Brooks rolled through the challenger bracket at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, upsetting reigning Gold Medalist and former Penn State wrestler David Taylor in the best two-out-of-three championship.

The win earned Brooks a trip to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics, where he will represent the United States at 86 kg.

Nemeth leads Nittany Lions in historic freshman year

Bridget Nemeth helped Penn State softball return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. The Nittany Lions finished with 30-plus wins for three consecutive seasons for the first time since 1999-2003. The true freshman finished as a Freshman All-American for D1Softball and Softball America, the first Nittany Lion in program history to achieve the feat.

Nemeth also became the first Penn State softball player ever to earn an individual award from the Big Ten since the Nittany Lions joined the conference for the 1991-92 athletic season. Nemeth was named the 2024 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She becomes the first Nittany Lion to win Player of the Year honors in any conference since 1988. Nemeth was also a first-team All-Big Ten selection voted on by the coaches.

Glendora, California, native finished as the Big Ten leader in wins, saves, and innings pitched. She had a 23-7 record through 210 innings of work. She also finished with 202 strikeouts, good for third in the conference and No.17 in the nation.

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