From Kaptivating Kid to Sports Illustrated

A former Kaptivating Kid has will be featured in the current issue of Sports Illustrated.

Travis Wittlake Jr., a 12-year old wrestler from Coos Bay, is one of eight athletes named "Future Game Changers" by the magazine. The issue puts the spotlight on the athletes of tomorrow, according to Sports Illustrated editors.

Wittlake Jr. was first a Kaptivating Kid five years ago, and KVAL caught up with him again last May.

Here is the release from Sports Illustrated:

The eight athletes featured range in age from 12 to 17 and are featured in the July 9, 2012 issue of Sports Illustrated, out now. 

Travis Wittlake Jr., 12, Wrestling, Coos Bay, Ore.

Jane Campbell , 17, Soccer Goalie, Kennesaw, Ga.

"She has the　 potential to be the next Hope Solo," says her U.S. Under-17 Women’s coach Albertin Montoya. "I rate her as probably the best goalkeeper in the world in this age group."

Arielle Gold , 16, Snowboarding, Steamboat Springs, Colo. 

Gold on trying new tricks—"That’s what keeps me coming back, doing things that scare me. I guess I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie"

Sarah Hendrickson,　 17, Ski Jumping, Park City, Utah

In the 2011 inaugural season of women’s World Cup ski jumping Hendrickson won the World Cup opener and then the overall season title with nine wins in 13 events.

Jeremy Martinez, 17, Catcher, Fountain Valley, Calif.

"His baseball instincts are off the charts," says his Mater Dei Monarchs Coach, Burt Call.　 "When he’s catching, he can anticipate plays before they happen. At the plate he’s very disciplined, and it seems like the tougher the pitcher, the more success he has."

Jahlil Okafor, 16, Basketball, Chicago

This week Okafor is playing on the USA Basketball U17 team at the world championships in Lithuania.　 "I just want to focus on getting better and having fun," says Okafor.

Jabrill Peppers, 16, Football, Midland Park, N.J.

Peppers led Don Bosco Prep to the No. 1 final national ranking and a second straight state title this past season, before transferring to Paramus (N.J.) Catholic. "Jabrill plays with such passion and energy, and he’s all over the field," says Paramus Catholic coach Chris Partridge.

Taylor Townsend, 16, Tennis, Stockbridge, Ga.

Townsend’s coach Kathy Rinalidi says,"Taylor is athletic and works hard, but her greatest quality is her attitude. She has a champion’s mentality."

A seventh-grader at Millicoma Middle School this fall, Travis won back-to-back national titles in all three styles of wrestling (folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman) in 2010 and ’11 to become only the sixth wrestler to win two straight triple crowns.