Putting Maryland on the Map

Although Aaron Brooks has provided the template for 132-pound seniors Elijah Collick of Stephen Decatur and 138-pound Jo Jo Gigliotti of South Carroll, to say that he’s a tough act to follow is a massive understatement.

Brooks established a trifecta as a four-time high school state title-winner at North Hagerstown High School in addition to winning as many championships both in the National High School Coaches’ Association and NCAA tournaments, the latter at Penn State.

Brooks was the eighth of Maryland's nine four-time public school state champions, but the fact that he was the first African American to accomplish that feat has not been lost on Collick and Gigliotti.

Committed to The University of Nebraska, Collick is attempting to become the Seahawks' first-ever four-time title winner in the Bayside Conference, regional and state tournaments.

“I think Aaron Brooks started it off for us. Being able to see his accomplishments definitely inspired me and made me push harder,” said Collick, who is chasing his first Class 4A-3A version of the crown after having earned three of the Class 2A-1A variety.

“Being a Black Wrestler and having this as Black History Month means a lot to me. Being able to show my skills shows others of color that they can be just as good also if they put in the work.”

Committed to the University of Maryland, Gigliotti is pursuing his school-record fourth straight Class 2A-1A state championship to go with as many county and regional crowns.

“People like Aaron Brooks came along to pave the way for guys like me and Elijah. He couldn’t be a better role model for us Black Athletes. Aaron walked so that we could run,” said Gigliotti, the product of an African American mother and an Italian father. “It means a lot to me to be able to make an impact and to be considered as one of the better Black Wrestling Athletes. I feel like I can be a role model to others who are looking to achieve prestigious honors in this sport, similar to how Aaron is for me. Aaron does the walking, on and off the mat."

Not only are Collick and Gigliotti the first pair of wrestlers chasing their fourth state title in the same season, but they made history by clashing in the finals of last month’s War On The Shore Tournament at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City.

Gigliotti won the classic battle, culminating his 8-7 decision over Collick by being named the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler.

“Being a part of that atmosphere was a lot of fun," Gigliotti said. “I thought it was cool to be a part of history."

The top-seeded Gigliotti registered a 16-second pin, a 19-2 technical fall and another pin in 1:45 to reach the semifinals, where he scored an 11-0 major decision over senior Alex Belfer of West Chester Henderson High School in Pennsylvania.

The second-seeded Collick earned his semifinal berth following a 13-second pin and consecutive technical falls of 18-3, 20-5 and 17-2. Collick won his semifinal by 9-1 major decision over Mount St. Joseph’s sixth-ranked junior Ben Scheiner of Mount St. Joseph, a runner-up in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association Tournament.

In the finals, Gigliotti led, 4-0, midway through the second period before Collick’s takedown brought him within 4-3. Gigliotti led by as much as 8-4, in the third before Collick closed the gap with an escape and a pair of stalling calls against the winner.

“I feel like anytime you wrestle someone like him it makes you better,” said Gigliotti, who improved on the previous year’s runner-up finish at War On The Shore. “I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better since then. I hope that it starts a wave, so that more people can have matchups like mine and Elijah’s.”

Collick concurs.

“I think the match at War On The Shore was crazy fun," said Collick, who was third at War On The Shore as a junior. "Watching the people surround our mat made it really exciting. Jo Jo’s skills are amazing. He’s strong and fast. He has a good go-behind and really good defense.”

Gigliotti’s career mark is 177-4 with 127 pins. He is among six current three-time state title-winning Cavaliers wrestlers, including Mike Chenoweth (1994, 1995, 1996), Joey Thomas (2015, 2016, 2017), Jamar Williams (2015, 2016, 2017), Michael Pizzuto (2020, 2022, 2023) and AJ Rodrigues (2020, 2022, 2023).

Elijah joined two-time champion Noah Reho as only the second Seahawks' freshman by earning last year's 106-pound title, and he can surpass three-time champion Danny Miller by becoming the program's first four-time state champion.

With a career mark of 173-6, Collick has surpassed three-time state finalist Jagger Clapsadle (158 wins), state champion Nico D'Amico (153), four-time place-winner Andy McKahan (147), Reho (140) and Miller (139) on the Seahawks' list of all-time victories leaders.

“The match with Jo Jo definitely made me a better wrestler,” said Collick, whose record on the year is 38-1 with 20 pins and 13 technical falls. “I’ve been able to see my flaws and fix them after the match in practice.”

But the motivation goes back to Brooks, according to Gigliotti, whose record on the year is 36-0 with 20 pins and 10 technical falls.

"A large part of my mindset has always been to inspire the next generation," Aaron Brooks said. "It's been great to hear and to see that I may have had an influence on these two young men."

Brooks went 163-2 over the course of his high school career to become a four-time Class 4A-3A state champion comprising records of 45-1 as a freshman, 43-1 as a sophomore, 46-0 as a junior and 22-0 as a senior.

As a 126-pound freshman in 2015, Brooks defeated Westminster's Cole Wetzel, 9-3, for his first state crown. Brooks ended his sophomore year at 138 pounds in 2016 with a state title-winning 3-1 decision over Oakdale's Logan McKoy.

As a 160-pound junior in 2017, Brooks decked Glenelg's Max Sotka in 2:45 for his third state championship. In 2018, Brooks took only 45 seconds to flatten 182-pound rival Gabe Andrews of Bethesda-Chevy Chase for his fourth state title.

Brooks defended his crown against NC State's Trent Hidlay in the 2024 NCAA finals at 197 pounds as a senior to complete his fourth NCAA title.

Hidlay followed consecutive championship victories over Michigan's Myles Amine in 2021 and 2022, and Northern Iowa's Parker Keckeisen in 2023.

Brooks defeated Amine 6–4 in 2021, and, 5-3, in 2022 with each bout taking place at 184 pounds. Brooks wrestled at 184 once again in 2023, overcoming Keckeisen, 7–2, in the finals. Rising into the 197-pound class in 2024, Brooks handled Hidlay, 6-1, to complete his prestigious feat.

Amine was a five-time NCAA All-American at 174/184 pounds for Michigan in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022. Amine had beaten Brooks in their overtime Big Ten final before losing their NCAA title bout in 2022.

Keckeisen was a three-time Big 12 champion who had twice finished third at the NCAA tournament at 184 pounds.

Hidlay was a repeat NCAA finalist against Brooks, having placed second in 2021. A four-time NCAA All-American, Hidlay had previously placed second, fifth and fourth.

In August 2024, Brooks defeated Jabrail Shapiev of Uzbekistan, 5-0 to earn an Olympic Freestyle bronze medal in the Paris Games.

“Aaron has won four high school state titles, four NHSCAs and four NCAAs,” said John Brooks, Aaron’s father. "And then, to win an Olympic Bronze medal? I don’t think anyone in Maryland has ever done that."

Like Brooks, Collick and Gigliotti are supported by their fathers, and have far surpassed their patriarch's achievements on the mats.

Gigliotti's father, Anthony Gigliotti, is a former Class 4A-3A state champion at Sherwood in 1999 who was also a runner-up as a junior following a 5-4 loss to undefeated Parkville senior David Heath.

Elijah's father, Latra, suffered a 5-4 Class 2A-1A state quarterfinal loss to eventual four-time champion Josh Asper of Hereford and finished fifth at states as a junior in 2007.

Latra was a Class 2A-1A state runner-up as a senior in 2008 following a 3-2 state championship loss to three-time state champion Vince Taweel of Hammond

Gigliotti and Collick are looking to become Maryland's 10th and 11th four-time public school state champions, following Aberdeen's Matt Slutzky (1989-1992), Owings Mills' Steve Kessler (1994-1997), Hereford's Josh Asper (2005-2008), Southern-Garrett's George "Brutus" Scheffel (2007-2010), Centennial's Nathan Kraisser (2009-2012), Middletown's Danny Bertoni (2014-2017), Centennial's Jason Kraisser (2016-2019), North Hagerstown's Aaron Brooks (2015-2018) and Centennial's Calvin Kraisser (2021-2025)

“I’m rooting for Elijah. I always have. He’s slick and just an all-around good wrestler,” Gigliotti said. “I like his mindset of just putting it all out there without worrying about records.”

Collick feels similarly about Gigliotti.

“I’m definitely rooting for Jo Jo,” Collick said. “As Maryland wrestlers, we gotta put Maryland on the map."

Below is a chart provided by wrestling historian Luke Broadwater regarding Maryland's four-time state and/or National Prep Champs, of which there are a combined total of 17. Broadwater is a board member of each of the Maryland State Wrestling Hall of Fame Committee and the Maryland State Wrestling Association.

National Preps:

Todd Beckerman (DeMatha) - 4x National Prep Champ

Rudy Rueda (DeMatha) - 4x National Prep Champ

Mack Lewnes (MSJ) - 4x National Prep Champ

Public school states:

Bobby Truby (Sherwood) - 4x State Champ (Twice In Maryland, Twice in Pennsylvania))

Matt Slutzky (Aberdeen) - 4x State Champ

Steve Kessler (Owings Mills) - 4x State Champ

Josh Asper (Hereford) - 4x State Champ

George "Brutus" Scheffel (Southern Garrett) - 4x State Champ

Nathan Kraisser (Centennial) - 4x State champ

Danny Bertoni (Middletown) - 4x State champ

Jason Kraisser (Centennial) - 4x State Champ

Aaron Brooks (North Hagerstown) - 4x State champ

Calvin Kraisser (Centennial) - 4x State champ

Private school states:

Josh Fitch (McDonogh) - 4x State champ

Mack Lewnes (Mount St. Joseph) - 4x State Champ

Mike Rowe (DeMatha) - 4x MD State champ

Eric Friedman (St. Paul's) - 4x State champ

Alfred "Baby J" Bannister (Bishop McNamara - 4x State champ