2023 NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP

March 22, 2024

Greg Kerkvliet

T-Mobile Center

Semifinals Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: We are joined by Greg Kerkvliet, from the 285-pound Championship. Would you like to share some comments from tonight's match?

GREG KERKVLIET: Felt good, ready to go, got a good warm-up. Read my Bible a little bit. Bible on my phone. Just felt good. Physically, mentally, and spiritually, felt all there.

Q. So he's a guy that you lost to before. He's the only guy left in the NCAA that you didn't have a winning record against. He scored 14 points on you as well. How did it feel to get that one back?

GREG KERKVLIET: I don't really look at it like that. I like Cohlton, he's a good guy. We just happened to meet on the same side of the bracket. It's always fun competing against anybody, especially guys you know and have a good relationship with.

Q. Greg, back in 2021 you wrestled Cohlton. What were you able to learn from that match that helped you win this time around?

GREG KERKVLIET: I think I just kind of stayed patient, didn't shoot out from him. He's a big, strong guy, kind of want to stay out from under those hips. I think I played it smart, played it right and it went my way, God willing.

Q. We haven't had a chance to talk to you about the Nick Feldman match. Can you walk us through that?

GREG KERKVLIET: Nick is a tough guy. He's going to do a little bit of damage these next couple of years. So wasn't necessarily the way I wanted to go about it, but sometimes you just gotta get tough and get the job done.

Q. Obviously you faced Paris last year, Michigan guy. You will be facing Lucas Davison tomorrow in the final, another Michigan guy. What's your mindset?

GREG KERKVLIET: I understand the changes I need to make, whether it's preparing for it mentally, leading up for it, so God willing I'll be ready to go again tomorrow.

Q. How do you prepare for tomorrow against a guy that you're familiar with, obviously? You guys have seen each other plenty. How do you prepare? Do you look at anything he's done this weekend or do you focus on yourself?

GREG KERKVLIET: I think focus on myself, just prepare myself physically, mentally, like I said, spiritually and then if I check all those boxes I should do all right.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.