[6] Competing for Bowling Green State University, Wottle finished second to Marty Liquori in the mile run at the 1970 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships (3:59.9 to 4:00.1).

[7] That same year he represented his country in the 800 meters at the World University Games in Turin narrowly missing the final.

During the 1971 season, Wottle was hampered by injuries, but a year later in 1972, he won the 1,500 meter race at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

To the annoyance of US team coach Bill Bowerman, he got married two weeks before the Games, and his new bride, Jan, traveled with him to Munich and stayed outside of the Olympic Village.

[9] He seized the lead in the final stretch to beat pre-race favorite Yevgeny Arzhanov of the Soviet Union by just 0.03 seconds.

[9] At the 1973 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Wottle won the mile run in a time of 3:57.1.

[3][12] In June 1973, Wottle and 1972 U.S. Olympic teammate Steve Prefontaine (5000M) raced each other in the mile at a meet at the University of Oregon.

Wottle defeated Prefontaine on his home track, running 3:53.3, which was the 3rd fastest mile in history at the time.

Only world record holder Jim Ryun (3:51.1) and Kip Keino (3:53.1) had run the mile faster than Wottle.