Iowa's Sammy Brooks garners attention heading into NCAA Wrestling Championships

NEW YORK — Nobody's stock has soared as high as Sammy Brooks.

The University of Iowa 184-pounder garnered plenty of attention when he claimed a Big Ten title and received even more fanfare for his lighthearted and straight-faced post-championship interview about his mullet hairstyle.

Brooks benefitted from the performance, going from a third seed at the conference tournament to the No. 2 seed at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, beginning Thursday at Madison Square Garden. Brooks is one of nine Hawkeyes in the tournament.

More people have approached him about his live interview on BTN, turning serious wrestling questions into responses about his 'business in the front, party in the back' hairdo.

'I didn't think it was going to take off quite like it did,' Brooks said. 'All those interviews can be kind of stale and the same thing. I felt like mixing it up a little bit.'

Brooks is usually direct and candid with media. He demonstrated his fun side during that improvisation. He later told media the Big Ten Championship brackets for himself and 133-pounder Cory Clark would be used to draw out a pre-tournament bowling competition for the team.

'I think he's funny,' Iowa teammates and 197-pound senior Nathan Burak. 'He's got a nice mullet. He's a tough wrestler. He showed it all that weekend. He showed every part of his personality.'

A NYC cop asked Sammy Brooks if he was Sammy Brooks tonight. Said he watches his interview on UTUBE all the time. "UTUBE sensation" he said!March 16, 2016

A NYC cop asked Sammy Brooks if he was Sammy Brooks tonight. Said he watches his interview on UTUBE all the time. "UTUBE sensation" he said!

— Hawkeye Wrestling (@Hawks_Wrestling)

The way he captured the Big Ten title and how it has propelled him into one of the higher seeds at the NCAA tournament is no laughing matter. He avenged two past losses, beating Penn State's Matt McCutcheon in the semifinal before a 6-4 win over Nebraska's T.J. Dudley in the final.

The jump is a culmination of the work that he has put together all season. The impact on the national tournament was far from anyone's mind.

'I know that we talk about the things that we can control and that's when you're stepping out on the mat make sure you're ready to go,' Brands said. 'Wins and championships certainly impact where you're placed in the bracket but now it's laid out and there's a path, and really that path is one match at a time. It's really that simple.'

Brooks (24-4) doesn't concern himself with seeds or possible opponents, facing Chattanooga's John Lampe (21-5) in the first round. His job is to train and compete in matches. He will let those in charge of brackets worry about pairings.

'Seeds are something that have never really been important to me,' Brooks said. 'Looking at the brackets, you're going to wrestle who you're going to wrestle and it's going to be tough.'

The 184-pound weight class is very balanced with Cornell's top-seed and defending NCAA champion Gabe Dean as a considerable favorite. Dean edged Brooks, 3-2, in last year's quarterfinal.

'I think it's a tough weight but I think every weight is tough when you're at a (Division) I level. You're not going to find an easy weight.'

Brands said he learned something about Brooks, gauging his public comments in recent weeks. Brooks even questioned his own toughness during a loss to North Carolina State in February. Brands said he seems more accountable than before and matured.

'I think he's been capable for a long time,' Brands said. "I think he's always believed in himself...

'I think he realizes things aren't really as bad as they might seem in the moment and that's something that everybody learns in their life as they go through it and get older and get more experience.'

As for interview experience, he will keep those spontaneous. He said he has nothing in the works.

'If I plan it then it's cheesy and I ain't doing that,' Brooks said. 'If it comes, it comes.'

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