Greg Kerkvliet

Daniel Gregory Clifton Kerkvliet Jr. is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes internationally at 125 kilograms and collegiately at 285 pounds. In folkstyle, Kerkvliet wrestles for the Penn State Nittany Lions and was the 2024 NCAA champion at 285 pounds. In freestyle, Kerkvliet is a Cadet World Champion at 100 kg.

Wrestling career

High School Kerkvliet grew up in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota and wrestled for Simley High School. In high school, he was a four-time Minnesota state champion and finished with a 218-36 record. Kerkvliet began wrestling in his youth, after his older sister brought home a flyer from her elementary school.

In September 2017, Kerkvliet won the 2017 Cadet World Championships at 100 kg with a victory over Russia's Ismail-Bek Nirov.

In his junior year of high school, Kerkvliet finished 51-1, with his only loss being a 3-2 decision to future Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson. Kerkvliet initially intended to spend his senior season at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, but changed his mind to return to Simley High for his senior season. In July 2018, Kerkvliet fell to Amir Zare of Iran to take home silver at the 2018 Cadet World Championships.

In September 2018, Kerkvliet suffered an ACL tear, forcing him to withdraw from the Junior World Championships and delaying his senior season. Despite the late start, Kerkvliet went undefeated in the high school season, winning a state title and being named Mr. Minnesota High School Wrestler of the Year. He was named the Junior Schalles Award winner by WIN Magazine as the nation's top high school pinner after recording a fall in 21 out of 22 contested matches.

Kerkvliet was considered the number one recruit in the Class of 2019 by FloWrestling. He committed to Minnesota in October 2016, but decommitted and pledged to Oklahoma State in November 2017. In July 2018, Kerkvliet, reopened his commitment once again, ultimately choosing Ohio State.

Ohio State

2019–2020 Kerkvliet enrolled at Ohio State ahead of the 2019-2020 season. Prior to the season, he said that he did not intend to redshirt his freshman year. In October 2019, Kerkvliet wrestled for the U23 United States World Team in Budapest, placing fifth. On November 1, 2019, Kerkvliet entered the transfer portal, without ever wrestling a match for Ohio State.

Penn State Kerkvliet committed to Penn State on December 5, 2019, joining a Nittany Lion Wrestling Club heavyweight room that already included Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder and reigning NCAA champion Anthony Cassar. Kerkvliet took a redshirt season in 2019-2020, compiling an 8-0 record in two open tournaments. On February 22, 2021, he made a surprise debut in the final dual meet of the season versus Maryland, pinning his opponent in the first period. Kerkvliet would go on to finish fourth in the 2021 Big Ten Tournament, with losses to Michigan's Mason Parris and Iowa's Anthony Cassioppi. He placed seventh and earned All-American status at the NCAA Tournament. Kerkvliet was named the three seed at the Big Ten Tournament, and defeated Parris in the third-place match following another loss to Cassioppi in the semifinals. At the NCAA Tournament, Kerkvliet claimed his second All-American finish with a fourth place showing. He was defeated by fellow Minnesotan Gable Steveson in the semifinal before clinching a top-four finish with his third victory over Parris in the consolation semifinals. He finished the dual meet season 13-1, with a home victory over Anthony Cassioppi and a home loss to Mason Parris. After defeating two seed Wyatt Hendrickson of Air Force in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament, Kerkvliet lost to Parris for a third time in 2023, resulting in a second place medal and third All-American finish.

2023–2024 Kerkvliet entered the 2023-2024 season as FloWrestling's top ranked NCAA heavyweight wrestler. On November 21, 2023, he defeated number two ranked Hendrickson by technical fall at the NWCA All-Star Classic. He went 12-0 in regular season matches and clinched his first Big Ten title with a 9-3 victory over Nick Feldman of Ohio State at the Big Ten Tournament. At the NCAA Tournament, Kerkvliet survived a tight 1-0 rematch with Feldman in the quarterfinals, defeated Cohlton Schultz of Arizona State in the semifinals, and defeated Michigan's Lucas Davison by major decision in the final to earn his first NCAA title.

Freestyle record

Res. Record Opponent Score Date Event Location

Loss

Las Vegas, Nevada Loss 14–6

Win 14–5

Win 13–5

Loss

Antalya, Turkey Loss 12-5

Win 11-5

Win 10-5

Loss 9-5

Win 9-4

Loss 8-4

Win 8-3

Loss 7-3

Loss 7-2

Win 7-1

Win 6-1

Win 5-1

Win 4-1

Win 3-1

Loss 2-1

Win 2-0

Win 1-0

Submission grappling career Kerkvliet was invited to compete in the over 80 kg division of the Craig Jones Invitational on August 17–18, 2024. He lost to Fellipe Andrew by decision in the opening round.

Personal life Kerkvliet has expressed interest in other combat sports, and has spent offseasons training in MMA, boxing, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Upon leaving Penn State, Kerkvliet hopes to become a professional MMA fighter. His father, Greg, also wrestled at Simley High School. Kerkvliet is a Christian.