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"The last three years Wesley has gone 36-5, and they consistently make the NCAA Division III Tournament. It's a top five D-III on the east coast," said Brooks.
After helping lead the varsity football team to a share of its first conference championship since 1996, Mount St. Joseph senior and first team All-MIAA 'A' Conference performer Kirk Brooks has recently announced that he will be playing for head coach Mike Drass at Wesley College in Dover, Delaware next fall.
Brooks is coming off a "breakout" senior season in which he helped pilot a Gael defense that held opponents to just under eight points per game. On the defensive side of the ball, Brooks, a captain for Coach Chip Armstrong's varsity squad, had 98 total tackles and a MIAA 'A' Conference leading 12 sacks. In addition to his duties on defense, Brooks was also a guard on the offensive line that paved the way for an effective rushing offense that led the Gaels to a 4-1 in-conference record.
When it came to deciding schools, Wesley would be a no-brainer for Brooks. "It was just the best fit. There are a lot of kids from the Baltimore area who go there, and it was the right program for me," said the six-foot, 220-pound senior. Brooks also noted that Wesley has built a strong reputation as a football program.
"The last three years Wesley has gone 36-5, and they consistently make the NCAA Division III Tournament. It's a top five D-III on the east coast," said Brooks, who also throws shot put and discus for the Gaels' indoor and outdoor track teams. However, what sealed the deal for Brooks to make the decision came when he stumbled into Drass' office on his campus visit. Brooks said, "The first thing I saw when I walked in was a banner that said ACFC (Atlantic Central Football Conference) Champions, and six rings scattered around his desk. I knew I wanted to be a part of that." Brooks' other options included Salisbury and Albright College, with the idea of prep school also bearing his mind.
Brooks is one of six athletes from Armstrong's 2008 championship squad to be playing at the next level. Kevin Fitzpatrick, a wide receiver, will be playing for D1-AA Marist, all-purpose back Nick Hutcherson will continue his football career at SUNY at Albany (also D1-AA), lineman Jay Drenner is attending Salisbury to play football and throw shot put for the men’s track and field team, and as of most recent conversations that Brooks has had with quarterback Chris Collins, Brooks says, “he is leaning towards attending Wesley.”
Like many other student athletes, Brooks is gracious for an opportunity to play at the collegiate level. He is also a product of Arbutus Recreational football, which has produced other 'A' Conference talents such as Loyola's Bubba Harris, Matt Heacock, and Elliott Poehlman, Gilman's Kevin Clark, and fellow teammates Tyler Linton and Chris Collins. "I wouldn't be the player or person I am today without the help of Coach Todd and the coaching staff from Arbutus, my parents for sending me to private school, and to all my other coaches because they all helped in one way or another," said Brooks. "Coach Armstrong took a chance on an undersized linebacker, and it paid off for the both of us."
