MANHEIM, Pa. – Penn State Nittany Lion wrestler Greg Kerkvliet (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) has been named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for the week ending Nov. 14, 2021. Kerkvliet's honor is the first of the season for the Nittany Lions.
Kerkvliet, an All-American last season as a freshman, was one amongst many standout performers for No. 2 Penn State as the Nittany Lion wrestling team opened its season with two lopsided wins. The Nittany Lions downed Sacred Heart 47-3 and Oregon State 32-7 in front of a sold-out crowd at the Spooky Nook Sports Complex in Manheim, Pa. Head coach Cael Sanderson's squad won 17 of 20 bouts in the duals, highlighted by Kerkvliet's dominance at 285.
The Minnesota-native began the season with a second period fall over Sacred Heart's Mark Blokh. Kerkvliet rolled up seven takedowns before ending the match with a pin at the 3:57 mark. The Lion sophomore then dominated #24 Gary Traub of Oregon State in the final bout of Penn State's win over Oregon State, rolling to a 16-0 technical fall. Kerkvliet tallied one takedown but turned Traub once for a two-point nearfall and three times for four-point nearfalls. Kerkvliet is 2-0 with a pin and a tech fall after Penn State's opening weekend of dual action.
Penn State is now 2-0 after two lopsided wins on the opening day of dual action for the Lions. The Nittany Lions will host Army West Point on Thursday, Nov. 18, in the home opener for Penn State. The dual begins at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall.
All rankings listed by Penn State wrestling are InterMat individual and team TPI. The 2021-22 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by the Family Clothesline. Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at @pennstateWREST, on Penn State Wrestling's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennstatewrest. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.
