2023 NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP

March 17, 2023

Greg Kerkvliet

BOK Center

Penn State

Semifinals Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: Greg Kerkvliet, ladies and gentlemen from Penn State, finalist at 285. Greg, congratulations. Open up with your thoughts, emotions and feelings on becoming a finalist here tonight.

GREG KERKVLIET: I mean, he's a good opponent. He wrestled hard, not how I would have wanted the match to go or how I think I can wrestle to the capability of my ability. But you have to do what you can do with the situation you're given, and I think God helped me through that.

Q. Greg, you have another chance to wrestle Mason Parris tomorrow. How do you feel going into that and what have you learned that you can use against him tomorrow?

GREG KERKVLIET: I'm excited. We made -- we went back to the drawing board, made a couple of tweaks that I can bring to this meeting tomorrow. I think it will be good. It's fun to try to figure out these sort of games because it's just a game at the end of the day.

Q. Greg, I wanted to talk about the team's success, what's going on tonight with five finalists, that type of thing. You're not from PA, but has anything surprised you about what's happened there for your success?

GREG KERKVLIET: Like with the team?

Q. Yes, that was produced in this team?

GREG KERKVLIET: I think that our coaches do a great job with getting the right talent, the talent that they want and that they think they can mold. And as you see, they're molding them pretty good, and they're doing the right thing with them, including myself.

Guys like Facundo, Levi, Shayne Van Ness, Beau Bartlett, they're all rock stars and doing great things right now.

Q. After your win, your family looked very emotional. Can you tell me what it's like to have that family support or the bond that you share with your family and the Penn State family?

GREG KERKVLIET: I think it's pretty awesome. I mean, growing up, me and my family, me and my dad, we used to lift weights while we were watching the NCAA Tournament every year we had it on. We always thought it was one of the coolest things, just the presentation that goes along with it, that stuff.

So to be a part of it feels kind of special.

Q. Greg, this goes back to my question. You were watching the NCAA finals. Was Penn State one of those teams you watched, maybe the first thing that ignited you to go there in the first place?

GREG KERKVLIET: Yeah. I think I watched a lot of -- I don't think I had one specific, but I watched a lot of great guys from a lot of great teams do a lot of great things, and they all kind of inspired me, I would say.

Q. Greg, you're headed to your first NCAA finals. I know that's not the goal just to go there, but to win. How much satisfaction do you take into just being a finalist for the first time?

GREG KERKVLIET: I'm not taking any opportunity for granted. I mean, I can't do anything I'm doing now without God and my faith. So I think each step of the way, I'm just grateful, grateful that I get to make it one step further. One more, one more step.

THE MODERATOR: Thanks, Greg. Appreciate it. Good luck tomorrow.