Austin Gomez signs with Cliff Keen WC at Michigan

Former Wisconsin wrestling star and NCAA All-American Austin Gomez signed with the Cliff Keen WC on the freestyle roster.

The Cliff Keen WC is the regional training center based at the University of Michigan, where senior level athletes use the facilities in Ann Arbor. It’s also a prime opportunity for current Wolverine wrestlers to work with the high-level athletes.

Gomez released a statement after his signing with the organization.

“I am super grateful to be a part of a great wrestling club to pursue my World and Olympic dreams,” Gomez said in the release. “I am excited to get to work with all of the coaches, who I know will get me to where I need to be to accomplish my goals.”

Michigan head coach Sean Bormet also released a statement after adding Gomez to a loaded training center and wrestling room.

“We’re all thrilled to have Austin join our Cliff Keen Wrestling Club,” Bormet said. “I’ve known Austin since he was a young kid in my Overtime programs, and obviously Kevin [Jackson] has a great relationship with him as well, so we really know we’re getting a high-character individual and a great competitor.

“Austin has great fundamentals, and he is explosive and dangerous from all three positions — great upper body, leg attacks and par terre. He’s a lot of fun to watch and will be a lot of fun to coach.”

Gomez forwent his final year of NCAA eligibility after his last season at Wisconsin. Now, he’ll focus on the senior-level circuit.

Gomez began his career with Iowa State in 2017-18 and went 8-0 during his redshirt year and was inserted into the starting lineup the following year.

Gomez went 24-7 at 133 pounds en route to a Round of 12 finish at the 2019 NCAA Tournament. But concussions derailed his wrestling career over the next two years.

Originally, Gomez thought he was going to retire from the sport but he opted to return and ended up transferring to Wisconsin.

In his first year, Gomez wrestled at 149 pounds and was a showman. He went 23-4, won a Big Ten title over Ohio State’s Sammy Sasso and took fourth in at NCAAs to become an All-American for the first time.

Gomez went 0-2 at the Big Ten Tournament this past year but finished in the Round of 16 at NCAAs while dealing with injury. A 12-6 season didn’t live up to his magical 2022 run, but Gomez was electric.

Gomez finished his career 59-17 and will represent Mexico as he chases a World title and eventually his pursuit for the Olympics in freestyle wrestling.