Author: Michael Ritchey
Located in: Salem, OR
Submitted: July 15, 2025
Tell us a little about yourself. Wrestling has been the biggest influence on my Christianity. Jacob's match with God was a turning point for me and so I wanted to incorporate the great sport as tribute to our lord and savior. Although this book shadows my life it doesn't tell the whole story. God has blessed me through some pain and some glory. I feel privileged to know my lane/calling and what he has asked me to do with my life.
I am still an active coach which has limited my book marketing time.
What was your motivation behind this project? This book was a healing process from two tragedies that occurred in my life in my early fifties. These things one being a fatality and the other a big fat lie, struck me to the core. I need a release, I also wanted to leave something for my former wrestlers to remember me by. The book has several layers that only my former athletes, friends and family will really understand. The average reader will get a heart-warming story of Christian development.
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? I am hoping the reader gains an understanding of God's relationship with us a temple of the holy spirit. How loving and empowering a relationship with Jesus Christ can be for you. A comparison of what a Muslim feels like in their walk with God.
An introduction to the sport and brotherhood of wrestling.
How were you personally impacted by working on this project? Many times I felt blessed to working on this project and how my life had followed a path that gave me the unique perspective to put the story together in "Gumpish" nature of intertwining reality to the fictional story. I also enjoyed sharing my poetry as part of the work and as a part of the story.
Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists? John Irving is a source of inspiration. Dave Schultz was a motivation to complete the work. Support from my family as I walked through this process.
Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know: Hopefully, they take time to do a little research on the events that occured in reality to provide a deeper understanding of the books relationship with real world events.
