Ravaughn Perkins is excited to be competing at 71 kg after spinal injury recovery

Ravaughn Perkins blocks a throw attempt by Pat Smith in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Photo by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors


2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials champion Ravaughn Perkins is focused on getting back to 100% on the mat.


After having to take time off the mat to complete rehab for a fracture in his lower spine this past summer, Perkins returned to the competition mat in February for the first time since May.


In April, Perkins won the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, in Iowa City, Iowa at 66 kg but his weight was not yet qualified for the Olympic games. Following the Trials, he competed in the World Olympic Games Qualifiers in Mongolia and Turkey, where he was unable to qualify his weight for the Olympics. In the qualifier in Mongolia, Perkins won a bronze medal and just missed qualifying after, dropping an Olympic qualification bout.


Perkins started to experience back spasms in March at the Pan American Qualifier and they reappeared in May at the 2nd World Olympic Games Qualifier in Istanbul, Turkey. Soon after, he found out that it wasn’t just back spasms; rather, it was a fracture in his lower spine.


“I went to California for a camp and I tried to do the training camp but I just couldn’t and had to call it off. I got back here to Colorado and had my back checked out. They told me I had a spinal fracture. I didn’t even know it was that serious. At the Pan Am Qualifiers, I was having back spasms and that’s all I thought it was,” he said.


Finding out it was more serious than he had expected, Perkins’ plan for the rest of 2016 changed.


“It was heartbreaking [when I found out]. I had just found out they were having the World Championship in December. I was hurt by that. I really wanted to wrestle in that after missing the Olympics,” he said.


Through Perkins’ first run in rehab he was focused on getting back to health so he would be able to help teammates Jesse Thielke and Andy Bisek in Rio at the 2016 Olympic Games. He made the trip down to Rio and it gave him a look into what the 2020 Olympic in Tokyo will be like.


“It was nice experience. I know what to look forward to in Tokyo. The atmosphere was amazing,” he said.


After returning to the States, Perkins planned to get his spine back where he could wrestle in competition again. He was determined to make the World Championships in December, a little too determined.


“I got back on the mat too soon, being hard headed. I just rushed it and then as it got closer to the Trials, I had my back check again and the doctor pulled me out,” he said.


Perkins continued to take time off the mat after not being cleared by his doctor. During November and December, he focused on getting healthy and healing his spine.


In January, he was cleared by his doctor and got back on the mat in preparation for the Dave Schultz Memorial International in Colorado Springs, Colo. in early February.


“It was hard at first but I was excited and ready to get back at it. Especially going up to a new weight class, I felt strong and felt I was back doing what I could do before I found out about the spinal fracture,” he said.


Perkins had already qualified for the World Team Trials in Las Vegas, by medaling at the 1st Olympic Games qualifier, he entered the Dave Schultz Memorial not aware of that.


“At first I didn’t know I was even qualified for the World Team Trials, so I felt I had wrestle in this to qualify. Even though I had a few international tournaments that I would be able to qualify at, this was a chance to qualify on our home soil,” he said.


In his debut at 71 kg, Perkins dominated at the Dave Schultz Memorial, beating Je Frim Sambula from Israel in the semifinals and Shogo Takahashi from Japan in the finals.


“I felt strong [competing], I was real motivated. I felt that I had to prove myself, especially going up to a new weight. I’ve been at 66 kg my whole career so that tournament meant a lot to me,” he said.


He knew as early as May that he was going to make the move up in weight classes, but he didn’t want to press his coaches or teammates with his decision while they were preparing for the Games in Rio.


The change in weight classes came as a result from his injury.


“It was something for me. What really made me want to move up in weight was the spinal fracture. The doctor told me it would be good for me to move up in weight because every time I would lose weight I would lose that muscle around my spine,” he said


Adjusting the new weight class is no worry for Perkins.


“I feel good at 71 kg. I think that I’m going to adjust quick to the weight,” he said.


During his rehab, from injury, Perkins’ continued to stay positive. He wouldn’t have been able to do it without the help from his coaches, teammates, and family.


“My coaches and teammates have been there for me even while preparing for Rio. Having that type of family there for you, they help me when I’m down. My mom and dad, everyone has been there for me. They’ve never left my side,” he said.


In March Perkins, will be traveling overseas to Croatia and Denmark for competitions. Until then he is focused on getting completely back to 100%.


“I can’t even run because of the spinal fracture, I’ve been biking a lot. My main focus right now it to get my conditioning up,” he said.


Upon returning to the States he will train in preparation for the U.S. World Team Trials in April, in hopes to make the Senior World Team at his new weight class.