It's been a tough fall for Ohio State when it comes to keeping its heavyweights happy. Barely three weeks after Kyle Snyder's shocking decision to leave the Ohio Regional Training Center to prepare for another run at an Olympic title, true freshman heavyweight Greg Kerkvliet appears to be following suit.
As first reported by FloWrestling, the former No. 1 recruit has entered the transfer portal:
Cadet world champion Greg Kerkvliet has entered the transfer portal and will transfer from Ohio State University before ever taking the mat in a Buckeye singlet.
FloWrestling confirmed Kerkvliet's status in the portal but are unaware of a future destination for the Minnesota native. As a two-time age-level UWW medalist, Kerkvliet has the option of taking an Olympic redshirt this season while maintaining the option to defer another year of eligibility in the future.
Kerkvliet recently wrapped up participation at the 2019 U23 World Championships in Budapest where he placed fifth at 125kg.
Sources inside the program confirmed to Eleven Warriors that Kerkvliet has entered the transfer portal, and an Ohio State spokesperson said “he is no longer on the roster.”
“We wish him the best,” Ohio State coach Tom Ryan told Eleven Warriors.
Kerkvliet's recruitment was one of the more interesting in recent history, as the blue-chip big man changed his commitment around a few of the top programs in the country. The high-school standout from Simley, Minnesota, originally committed to wrestle at home-state Minnesota in 2016, and at one point was slated to wrestle for Oklahoma State.
He reopened his commitment to the Cowboys last summer, and the Buckeyes put on a full-court press to earn the blue-chipper's pledge last September.
“I am looking for the best environment where I can make a long-term commitment, much longer than just the five years I will be wrestling in college,” Kerkvliet told FloWrestling after reopening his recruitment. That comment appeared to foreshadow his eventual decision to enroll at Ohio State and take advantage of the opportunity to train alongside Snyder.
With Snyder no longer in the fold, Kerkvliet appears to be reevaluating his options and considering where he might best prepare for a freestyle future. The news comes just days after finishing a disappointing fifth at the U23 Freestyle World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, and parallels Snyder's own decision to shake up his training after a disappointing finish on the world stage.
Bizarre ending to the Greg Kerkvliet's bronze medal match. It looked like he won 4-4 on criteria but a protested call showed a caution and one instead of a step out, which gives the criteria win to Munkhtur of Mongolia.
— Trackwrestling (@trackwrestling) October 30, 2019
Kerkvliet had indicated early in 2019 that he would take a redshirt this season, but appeared to backtrack later in the summer, telling Steelwood Radio that he was ready to compete for the heavyweight spot on the Ohio State roster. He did not wrestle returning starter Chase Singletary in the team's wrestle-off as the two were teammates on the U23 World Team and preparing for the tournament in Budapest.
Eleven Warriors will have more on this developing story.
