Gopher heavyweight Gable Steveson prepares for grand finale

Defending NCAA heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson wrestles his final home match for the Gophers Friday night.

Steveson still has the Big Ten and NCAA championships ahead of him, but Friday night’s dual against Ohio State will be the final time he competes in front of the home crowd.

“Got to do the best show ever. It’s my last time at The Pavilion,” Steveson told KSTP’s Darren Wolfson on Thursday. “I’m hoping it’s a big crowd that comes to show support for me and the two other seniors that go out there. It’s going to be a good time. It’s a crazy feeling that it’s my last time there. It feels like my first time, literally.”

It’s been an incredible journey on the Minnesota mats for Steveson. A 4-time state champion at Apple Valley High School, he won an NCAA Championship last year before taking home Olympic gold and then signing a contract with WWE.

Steveson is undefeated this season and is once again the top-ranked heavyweight in the nation. The dual against Ohio State starts at 8:00 p.m. at Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis on Friday night.

***Click video box for full interview with Steveson***