One of the most accomplished Heavyweight college wrestlers of his generation is officially eyeing a future inside the cage (and it’s not this one).
Former Penn State standout and NCAA champion Greg Kerkvliet is transitioning to mixed martial arts (MMA), signing with Sucker Punch Entertainment as he prepares for a debut in the sport. The move positions Kerkvliet as one of the most intriguing Heavyweight prospects to emerge from the NCAA ranks in recent years, bringing elite, world-class wrestling credentials
to a division constantly searching for high-level grapplers.
Kerkvliet concluded a remarkable collegiate career in 2025 as a five-time All-American and 2024 NCAA champion at 285 pounds. Competing under legendary head coach Cael Sanderson, Kerkvliet amassed a stellar 92-13 career record while helping Penn State capture multiple team national championships. His resume places him among a rare class of Heavyweights who sustained excellence across five seasons at the sport’s highest collegiate level.
A blue-chip recruit out of Simley High School in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, Kerkvliet entered college wrestling with massive expectations after winning four state titles. Originally committed to Ohio State, he transferred to Penn State before ever competing for the Buckeyes, redshirting during the 2019–20 season and going undefeated in open competition.
Despite a delayed start to his true freshman campaign during the COVID-shortened 2020–21 season due to illness, Kerkvliet quickly made an impact, earning All-American honors with a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Championships. From there, his progression was relentless. He placed fourth nationally as a sophomore, reached the NCAA finals as a junior in 2023, and finally broke through in dominant fashion during the 2023–24 season.
That championship run saw Kerkvliet go a perfect 20-0, win his first Big Ten title, and storm through the NCAA tournament with an eye-popping bonus-point rate. He capped it off with a commanding major decision victory in the national final, cementing his place atop the Heavyweight division.
Kerkvliet’s final collegiate season came with adversity, as a knee injury hampered his attempt to repeat as champion in 2025. Even so, he battled through the NCAA Championships to finish sixth, securing his fifth All-American honor and completing a rare placement arc of seventh, fourth, second, first, and sixth.
Notably, nearly all of Kerkvliet’s career losses came against the very best in the sport, including Hodge Trophy winners such as Gable Steveson, Mason Parris, and Wyatt Hendrickson — underscoring just how elite his competition level truly was.
Following graduation, Kerkvliet signed with the Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club in September 2025 to pursue freestyle wrestling. However, MMA has long been part of his future plans, with the Heavyweight training in boxing, striking, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu during collegiate offseasons — he even competed at CJI, losing to BJJ champion Fellipe Andrew by decision in the opening round.
Now, with professional management secured, Kerkvliet’s transition to MMA appears imminent. If his wrestling dominance translates to the cage, the Heavyweight division may soon have a new grappling force on its hands.
Check out some of his college highlights below:
