Beneath the Armor of an Athlete: Real Strength on the Wrestling Mat
"This searing confessional reads like a novel and is just as suspenseful... Any female athlete would be interested in this story." -- Library Journal\ Lisa Whitsett grew up in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where she began the first of 27 years dedicated to sports and athletics. Her experiences as a mental health counselor and her adventures as a business consultant motivated her to write about development, change and transformation. Beneath the Armor of an Athlete was inspired by her own experiences of...
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\ VOYAIn this heart-wrenching autobiography, Whitsett faces more challenges than just her wrestling opponents. An international competitor in an amateur sport only recently opened to women, Whitsett constantly deals with those who view Olympic-style wrestling as "for men only." Although Whitsett chronicles the early years of women's amateur wrestling quite well, her story is primarily about how she overcomes her own emotional or psychological difficulties as a competitor: She trains extremely rigorously and yet performs far below her ability in major competitions. When Whitsett seeks the help of a professor of sports psychology, she becomes part of a study researching a phenomenon known as competition anxiety. The climax of the book does not happen near the end, when Whitsett finally relaxes and nearly defeats the world champion as her USA team wins the prestigious Klippan Cup International Championship. Rather, it occurs a few weeks later when she realizes that her value as a person is not based on how many wrestling matches she wins. All athletes, regardless of gender, should be able to relate to Whitsett's life story. Amateur wrestling aficionados will recognize many wrestling names, places, and techniques, including the setting in Iowa, the hotbed of American amateur wrestling; John Smith, two-time Olympic gold medalist; Myron Roderick, longtime Oklahoma State University head wrestling coach; and the various wrestling and weight-cutting techniques that Whitsett details. Readers uninitiated to the sport, however, will have no problem following the story and might even develop an interest in wrestling. Currently, Whitsett's book is one of very few of its kind. Illus. Photos. VOYA Codes: 5Q 2PS A/YA (Hard to imagine it being any better written; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult and Young Adult). 2003, Wish Publishing, 159p, \ — James Blasingame\ \ \ \ \ Library JournalAll athletes are nervous before competitions, but few experience the crippling panic attacks endured and vividly described by Whitsett in this book. A female wrestler (not the TV spectacle, but Olympic freestyle), she felt she had to be invulnerable, intensely dedicated, and stoic about injury. As a result, she came to define herself solely in terms of self-discipline and athletic performance. This searing confessional reads like a novel and is just as suspenseful. Readers groan as Whitsett's blind determination to succeed affects relationships with those closest to her, many of whom point out her guardedness. Her health suffers as she continues to train through bronchitis and a cracked skull plate. Will she learn to accept her fears and admit vulnerability? This is sports psychology at its rawest: experienced and described firsthand. Whitsett also encounters occasional male resentment from coaches, athletes, and fathers. (She was an assistant coach for a high school boys' team-the first to do so in the United States.) Any female athlete would be interested in this story. Recommended for all public libraries. (Index not seen.)-Kathy Ruffle, Coll. of New Caledonia Lib., Prince George, B.C. Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.\ \
