Journey Back to the Top

It's a long way – in miles and in work –from the Scott Trade Center in St. Louis, Mo., to Madison Square Garden in New York City, host of the 2016 NCAA Championships.

OU redshirt senior Cody Brewer began last season's NCAAs, held in the Scott Trade Center, as the tournament's No. 13 seed and blazed through the bracket to bring the 133-pound national crown back to Norman. He was at the pinnacle of college wrestling.

"I told Coach (Mark) Cody right before I stepped out there: I've been dreaming about this since I was a little kid watching these guys, and I said I was going to be on the stage to prove something," Brewer said in a press conference immediately following his win. "And I finally got on the stage. I had to go out there and prove something.”

Brewer's dream had come true, and the days following the national tournament were a whirlwind for the Kansas City, Mo., native. He spent the next weeks and months talking to elementary schools and coaching youth wrestlers in camps across the country. Brewer was now well-known in the wrestling community. He had interview requests lining up and he was excited to represent OU's program. He started to get comfortable with his new role. But while he was excited about his recent success, he knew that comfort was the last emotion he needed to be experiencing with his final year as a Sooner in front of him.

“When he came back he got right after it. You would have thought he hadn't won the title. When he came back he was still just as hungry as he was before he won the championship."
Head Coach Mark Cody

“At first I think I just felt relief more than anything after the national championship, relief that I was able to get to that point,” Brewer explained. “You have that initial thought of, 'I've done something a lot of people can't do and haven't done,' and you kind of settle at first. But then I just told myself, I talked to the coaches about it and I realized that's not where I wanted to end my career. That's not how I want to be remembered for just that one title.”

So he went back to work.

Brewer spent the summer months training harder than he ever had. He knew that he was no longer the hunter, he was the hunted, and he had to do everything he could to defend his title in his senior season.

“My mindset going into workouts this season was what affected me the most. I knew I had to change my mindset after NCAAs and keep working as hard as I could and keep enjoying the sport I was doing,” Brewer stated. “The things I had accomplished before were great, but this is a new year.

OU Head Coach Mark Cody was impressed with the mentality Brewer brought back to Norman after his title.

“When he came back he got right after it. You would have thought he hadn't won the title," Mark Cody explained. "When he came back he was still just as hungry as he was before he won the championship. I think he's much better at this point than he was last year because of his work ethic. We all have really taken notice of how much he's improved. He's gotten stronger and he's gotten better technically. He's passionate about the sport.”

Another quality Mark Cody was impressed with? Brewer's leadership. He was now the obvious leader of the team and eyes were watching him in every practice and workout. Brewer became the go-to encourager, but he also tried to lead by example through his work ethic.

"I'm probably not going to get to do this after this season. I'll never wrestle for the University of Oklahoma again, so I just want to enjoy the matches, enjoy every trip we go on, enjoy very away event and every home one."
Cody Brewer

“There are two things you want to be remembered for when you leave this place: How hard you worked and who you helped along the way,” Mark Cody said. “I think your best team leaders are the guys who are going to be very helpful whether it's getting on guys who aren't working hard or if you see someone down who has been working hard and you're just encouraging them. Cody Brewer is an uplifting guy on our team and he's willing to take the time to help his teammates, and that speak volumes to what a special person he is not only as a competitor but as a teammate too.”

The 2015 133-pound national champ has only gotten better, mentally and physically, and he wants to keep getting better until he arrives at his desired final destination: an undefeated season that ends on the Saturday night of the 2016 NCAA Championships. But although his focus is set on a second title, his main goal for his final go-around is to enjoy the journey.

“I don't think I'll be happy with anything less than a second title. I'm trying to bring back that Hodge Trophy (given to the nation's most outstanding wrestler). It would be a huge award for the program and for myself. I'm probably not going to get to do this (wrestling) after this season. I'll never wrestle for the University of Oklahoma again, so I just want to enjoy the matches, enjoy every trip we go on, enjoy very away event and every home one. I really want to enjoy the little moments that maybe the first couple years, you don't really see because you're focused. Now that I'm a little more relaxed and it's my final year here, my fifth year, I can really sit back and enjoy those moments.”

Players Mentioned

Cody Brewer

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University of Oklahoma Athletics