Why wrestling?

I have been asked many times why I chose to write a novel about wrestling and I come up with a different reason each time. First of all, a bookworm like me wouldn't have known the first thing about the sport if I hadn't married a wrestler. I would have assumed it had to do with professional wrestling, all fake and bells and whistles. But John Park showed me otherwise.

John was a national wrestler, then a coach and about 10 years ago founded Beat the Streets, a charity using the sport of wrestling to change the trajectory of lives.

But to answer the question, why wrestling? It's because of how I am continually impressed not just by the physical strength it develops, but by the strength of character, the loyalty, the resilience and the bonds it creates. More than 40 years past their prime wrestling days, these men still share their lives, families and friendship with one another.

That's why I am attaching a video featuring Principal Laurel Eisenberg from Joseph Brant school, explaining how the wrestling program from Beat the Streets has affected her students. Tell me what you think.

https://youtu.be/xayRWQ-owQs