Penn State wrestler Aaron Brooks won his third straight NCAA singles title Saturday after beating northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen by 72 in the 184-pound final.
Brooks’ win helped Penn State finish with 137.5 points to clinch its 10th team title since Cael Sanderson took over in the 2009-2010 season. Brooks also has three Big Ten titles on his resume and only finished second in the conference in 2022.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Aaron Brooks (Penn State) 17-1, over Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa) 26-2, during the Division I Men’s Wrestling Championship held at the BOK Center on March 18, 2023 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Shane Bevel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
The 22-year-old put his belief in Jesus Christ to the fore after winning the title. He talked about how his faith helped him achieve victory.
«It’s everything. The resurrection of Christ is everything,» Brooks said after the game. “Not just his life, his death and resurrection. You can only get that through Him. The Holy Spirit only through Him. There are no false prophets, no Mohammed or anyone else. Only Jesus Christ himself.
He said that the Holy Spirit meant everything to him and pointed to a Bible verse that helped him.
«I’m blessed. God used me. He gave me this platform for this here… It’s all for his glory.»
Aaron Brooks, left, after defeating Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen in the Division I Men’s Wrestling Championship held at the BOK Center on March 18, 2023 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Shane Bevel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
However, Brooks was criticized on social media for suggesting that Muhammad, the founder and main prophet of Islam, was a false prophet.
TRUMP GREETS NCAA CHAMPION WRESTLERS AND TAKES PICTURES WITH FANS DURING TITLE MATCHES
Penn State and the NCAA did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Brooks is not one to walk away from his faith. He often uses Bible verses as captions for his Instagram posts.
In March 2022, he told the Penn State student newspaper that he believes there is a higher purpose in what he does.
Aaron Brooks celebrates after winning a decision over NC State’s Trent Hidlay during the Division I Men’s Wrestling Championship held at the BOK Center on March 17, 2023 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Shane Bevel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
«This platform is great to fight, but it’s to glorify God,» he said. «These things come and go. I am blessed with this opportunity, these gifts. They are not mine. He gives them to me for glory.»
Associated Press contributed to this report.