2025 NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP

March 21, 2025

Antrell Taylor

Wells Fargo Center

Semifinals Media Conference

157 Lbs

THE MODERATOR: This is Antrell Taylor of Nebraska, a 7-2 victory tonight. Antrell?

ANTRELL TAYLOR: I'm just very grateful for this moment. I know it took a lot of hard work and blood, sweat and tears. And I've been fighting for this my whole life, and now the time has come. And I just gotta take this last match and go out there and let it fly. Very grateful for the moment.

Q. Antrell, interviewed you earlier this morning or afternoon when you won that match, and we talked. You guys have a history. He's gotten you in the semis, and you said to expect something different. Tell us about that match.

ANTRELL TAYLOR: I knew he was going to come out, fire and lights out, fast moving. But I didn't think he had the gas tank, and I tested it. I took him to the deep waters, and I got my two takedowns that I needed to win that match. Just wrestled very smart.

He's a good competitor, all the props to him. But I fought for every little position, and I came out on top.

Q. Two months ago we had a conversation, and you visualized this night, tomorrow night, walking up on the podium. Some don't know your story. Your story is spectacular. For you to go through the friction that you've gone through and be here, who are some of the people whose shoulders you stand on tonight?

ANTRELL TAYLOR: I just give all the props to my mom. She stepped in and took the mother and father figure. When I was 7 years old my dad unfortunately got killed. So since then I honestly wanted to quit wrestling when all that happened, but I just kept pushing and kept going, because I know that's what he wanted me to do. About a year and a half ago, my brother passed away. He got killed also. So fighting through that, all the scars that I've gotten, and things I've had to fight through since then made me the person I am today.

I just know a lot of people haven't been through that and can't really go through that. People quit when they go through a death in the family. So for me to be here and be doing what I'm doing is crazy, surreal, man, I honestly still can't believe it.

Q. The Cornhuskers are looking really good right now. After you won one of your teammates was up here talking to us, actually we've talked to a bunch of them, and they're fired up for you and also for the group. Talk about the people and what it means to you, how it got to this point that we're heading into the finals tomorrow and there's going to be a whole lot of red!

ANTRELL TAYLOR: We put in the work. We put in the work that's needed and we peaked at the right time. I just think you work hard, go out there, fight, fight for every little position you're going to get out on top.

I love the brotherhood that we have at Nebraska. It makes the wrestling part so much easier, because I know I got guys to the left and right of me that will fight for me, you know, so I really love this team; wouldn't trade it for anything. No money, nothing.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Antrell. Congratulations.