Penn State wrestling heavyweight injury defaults out of NCAA Championships

Penn State wrestling entered Saturday with seven Nittany Lions competing for third place in their respective weight classes. That number is now down to six after sixth-year senior heavyweight Greg Kerkvliet was forced to injury default out of the NCAA Championships.

The Penn State wrestling social media account put out the news moments before Kerkvliet’s scheduled consolation matchup with No. 9 Cohlton Schultz of Arizona State. As a result, Kerkvliet will medically default to sixth place.

“The knee is not in good shape,” Jeff Byers said on the Penn State Radio Sports Network.

Folks Greg Kerkvliet will be unable continue in the tournament due to injury. He finishes the tournament in sixth place with a 3-2 record. Kerkvliet ends his stellar Penn State career as a five-time All-American and NCAA Champion (2024) and with a 92-13 career record!!#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/ZnVuXO8Pan

— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) March 22, 2025

Kerkvliet fell to Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson in the NCAA Semifinals Friday night, ending his quest to repeat as an individual national champion. With his eligibility now expired, the Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, native finishes his Penn State wrestling career with a 92-13 record and as a five-time All-American.

Penn State wrestling clinched the program’s 13th national championship during Saturday morning’s consolation round. The Nittany Lions have five wrestlers competing for third place, while 133-pounder Braeden Davis will wrestle for fifth. You can follow the results of those matches here.

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