Months After Announcing Retirement From College Wrestling, Former Wisconsin Badgers Wrestler Drops Yet Another Bombshell About His Future

The wrestling icon’s return to the mat is imminent. After a series of injuries and concussions, Austin Gomez announced his retirement from collegiate wrestling in 2021. He spent some time at Iowa State as a wrestler-coach before heading to Wisconsin for the remainder of his college career. While his return has been highly speculated, the 2016 Junor Freestyle National Champion has recently taken to social media to share news of his medical clearance to get back in action.

In May this year, Austin revealed that he wouldn’t be applying for a medical redshirt. However, in October, Gomez once again entered the transfer portal. While his NCAA career has been tumultuous, he did represent Mexico at the 2023 World Championship. Now, with the latest development, Gomez looks to step back into collegiate wrestling representing Ann Arbor.

Former ISU Cyclone awaits his return

In his latest Instagram story, the former Badger has shared the medical clearance from the NCAA authorities. Gomez watched from the sidelines during the entirety of 2020 and 2021, because of his injuries. At Iowa, he went 24-7 at 133 pounds with 4 major decisions, 4 technical falls, and 3 pins. Now, his lofty wrestling dreams once again seem within hands reach as he itches to get back on the mat. While Gomez previously opted not to take his eligibility extension, it looks like things have changed and his collegiate wrestling career isn’t over just yet.

In the story, it can be seen Gomez’s extension request is approved by the NCAA committee. A screenshot of the PDF document highlights that Gomez can participate in wrestling for the 2023-24 academic year. The decision comes with the backdrop that Gomez was sidelined due to injuries during “a year of full-time collegiate enrollment“. The document also highlighted that Gomez had “an additional denied participation opportunity“.

Now that Gomez’s return looks inevitable, we hope his injuries don’t triunce him down and he gets one last chance to prove his mettle on the mat at the collegiate level.

The last lap of a sprawling career

As we wait to see how Gomez’s final year unfolds, this gives up an opportunity to look back at his impressive wrestling career. Gomez is a three-time Illinois state champion for Glenbard North and a member of the 2013 Cadet men’s freestyle USA team. He was also considered one of the country’s best prospects when he joined the Iowa State Cyclones in 2018.

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In his first year as a Wisconsin Badgers member, Gomez clinched the NCAA title in the 149-pound category, only to be rendered incapable due to another set of injuries. Now that his final lap is upon us, it’s still unclear where he will spend his final year, but we can rest assured that Gomez will be coming all guns blazing!

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