Brooks Gets Technical in Grapple on the Gridiron

Nov. 14, 2015

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By DARREN MILLER
hawkeyesports.com

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Unlike 42,287 others in Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, University of Iowa junior Sammy Brooks prefers not to watch wrestling.

The Hawkeye 184-pounder loves the sport, it’s just that he would rather participate, not spectate.

A 17-2 technical fall by Brooks over Oklahoma State junior Jordan Rogers provided five key points for the No. 4 Hawkeyes during a season-opening 18-16 upset of top-ranked Oklahoma State at the Grapple on the Gridiron. The outdoor dual drew an NCAA record crowd on a sunny and 53 degree day in Iowa City.

The result by Brooks came at an opportune time. The Cowboys had won three consecutive bouts to take a 13-10 lead with three matches to go. After his victory — and in a reversal from routine — Brooks returned matside to watch teammates Nathan Burak at 197 and Sam Stoll at 285.

“I usually don’t go out and watch after my match, but I did, and I don’t really like it,” Brooks said. “I got pretty nervous out there even though I have supreme confidence in Burak and Sam Stoll. I think I am better off in the locker room.”

Brooks was a national qualifier last season, finishing 29-7, but missed becoming an All-American by one match. His first dual loss last season was to Nolan Boyd of Oklahoma State, 9-6. Boyd, who is 6-2 on the season, bumped up to 197 and Oklahoma State went with No. 15 Jordan Rogers, who was 8-0.

“My hope was that we win 184,” said Oklahoma State head coach John Smith, “but it wasn’t close,”

Brooks used four takedowns and eight nearfall points to win by technical fall in 4 minutes, 9 seconds. That gave Iowa a 15-13 edge with Burak up, Stoll on deck, and Brooks in the cheering section.

“When I’m wrestling it’s on me,” Brooks said. “When I’m watching, I feel anything can happen no matter how confident I am. Burak and Stoll are hammers and I’m not worried about them, but it doesn’t matter who is wrestling, I still get nervous.”

There was no need for the Oak Park, Illinois, native to be apprehensive. Burak defeated Boyd, 5-3, and although Stoll dropped a 6-1 decision to No. 5 Austin Marsden, the Hawkeyes won the dual — Iowa’s third straight win in the series.

Brooks scored bonus points in 62 percent of his wins last season: eight by major decision, seven by fall, and three by technical fall.

“You should be looking for bonus points every time you go out there,” Brooks said. “Sometimes last year I was a little too reserved and I want to open it back up and keep that going against whoever steps on the mat against me.”

UI head coach Tom Brands improved to 164-16-1 in duals, 1-0 in duals contested inside football stadiums. A perpetual advocate of widening the gap and winning big, Brands had a twinkle in his eye when talking about his 184-pounder.

“Brooks gave us bonus points, a five-point win team-wise, that’s big,” Brands said. “The way that he was wrestling, hitting those holds, that’s what we want. He can do that against anybody, his consistency is that good. I’ve said that for a long time.”

Despite the electric nature of the historic Grapple on the Gridiron, Brooks won’t have trouble getting energized for the Iowa City Duals on Nov. 20 — in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, not Kinnick Stadium.

“We’ll walk out of Kinnick Stadium and then it’s on to Iowa City Duals,” he said. “You have to have a short memory for good and bad. You don’t want to dwell on things too long.”