Travis Wittlake Injury: After just a brief hiatus from wrestling, the wrestler has returned to the ring eager to prove himself. Travis, an Oregon wrestler, was sidelined for a while due to an injury. His comeback, however, has enthralled fans and supporters of Oregon’s two-time Wrestler of the Year.
Travis, from Coos Bay, Oregon, earned All-America accolades twice with the Cowboys, totaling 79 victories in Stillwater. Wittlake, who attended Marshfield High School, won four state championships with an astounding 196-2 record and was a four-time All-American. In his second season, he began with a perfect 14-0 record and finished with an overall record of 22-3, including a perfect 10-0 in duals throughout the 2020-21 season. Furthermore, he beat six ranked opponents on his way to a third-place finish in the Big 12 tournament and a fourth-place finish at the NCAAs, capping up his second season with the honor of being an All-American.
Travis Wittlake Injuries & Health: Did He Have An Accident?
The wrestler inadvertently received two leg injuries, forcing him to miss time on the mat. Wittlake allegedly injured his ankle when competing in Junior National Duals in late June of last year. Furthermore, a wrestling maneuver during the bout caused Travis Wittlake, OSU’s 165-pounder, to experience the effects of his left knee injury. He wrestled for a few more bouts but was injured again in the Bucknell dual, forcing him to miss the last dual of the regular season.
It even prevented him from qualifying for the NCAA event for the third year in a row. He is now returning to competitions, knowing that he still has to prove himself. Travis remembered the incident as a unique event, underlining that he had never been in that condition before.
“That one was difficult to watch,” he remarked. It was strange not to have any pressure, simply to be able to watch the tournament with no emotional connection since you weren’t in it. So it was something I had to deal with.”
Travis Returns to Oregon
Wittlake, a two-time All-American for OSU, announced his transfer to Oregon State on Instagram in September 2023, with one year left eligibility. Later, wrestling writer Pat Mineo confirmed the story by reporting that Wittlake had entered the transfer portal. Many supporters in his hometown were overjoyed when he returned to his local club. In addition, Travis stated his enthusiasm about returning to Oregon in an interview.
He said,
“I haven’t wrestled in Oregon in quite some time. I’m quite thrilled. “A lot of people are coming out to watch.”
Wittlake reunited with coach Chris Pendleton after moving to Oregon. Chris had worked as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State before taking over as head coach of the Beavers. Similarly, Wittlake is now fighting in a weight class two levels higher than he has done for most of his career. Despite ailments impeding his progress, he worked hard during the summer to bulk up to 184 pounds. Furthermore, he mounted a return by wrestling Trey Munoz, giving Wittlake a difficult challenge to demonstrate his place in his new weight class.