Passing on a legacy: Local author fosters love for wrestling in children’s books | News, Sports, Jobs
LOCK HAVEN — Local author and illustrator, Anne Moore, has used her extensive history with wrestling to pass on a legacy and inspire the next generation of wrestlers.
Moore, with her background in art, was inspired to write by seeing her youngest grandson trying to learn wrestling by watching his father and brother.
Her two books, “Some Day a Wrestler” and “Now I’m a Wrestler,” introduce young readers to the sport of wrestling through the eyes of a small boy.
“Some Day a Wrestler” follows a young boy who attends his older brother’s wrestling practices with his dad. The back of the book reads, “From wrestling room to mat side, he’s too little for the team but not too little to learn what it takes to be a wrestler!”
In “Now I’m a Wrestler,” the same boy faces the challenges of his first wrestling practice and proves to himself and his peers that he has what it takes to be a part of the team.
Both of Moore’s sons wrestled in school, but her oldest son, Casey Moore, rounded out his wrestling career at Central Mountain with a record of 88 wins and 23 losses, and placed 6th in the State at 119 pounds in his senior year, 2003.
“As (Casey) went through (the sport) I followed very closely and was always involved in it,” said Moore.
She said she was passionate about the sport when her son was on the team, both in high school and in college, but when Moore’s wrestling career ended, she no longer had a reason to attend matches.
Not only is she a former wrestling parent, but she also had the opportunity to be Assistant Director of Coaching Development for the National Wrestling Coaches Association.
“When he graduated I didn’t have anybody to follow anymore, but that was when an opportunity came up to work with coach Neil Turner,” said Moore.
Coach Turner coached wrestling for 52 years, and was still active in the sport at the time of his death in 2021. He coached at many schools, including Lock Haven University. During his retirement, he coached Mat-Town U.S.A Wrestling Club.
Moore worked for him from 2005 to 2011, going to conventions and doing presentations.
“I met a lot of really cool coaches back then,” said Moore.
When Casey’s son began to show an interest in wrestling, Casey found a renewed interest in the sport through coaching.
“I get videos from my daughter-in-law of them in the coaching room and (my grandson) tagging along. That’s what gave me the idea of doing the books. I always had an interest in wrestling, but I didn’t have anybody in it personally anymore. Now with my son coaching again and seeing him get into it from that side reignited that passion,” said Moore.
“It’s a different experience — now I’m watching as a grandparent when I go. Seeing my younger grandson taking an interest and trying to follow along gave me the idea of the first story,” said Moore.
These books are a great introduction to the sport, helping young readers learn some of the language.
Moore currently has a third book in the works in the same universe, but is tossing around the idea of a storyline about soccer as well.
“My daughter, who is a soccer player, keeps telling me I need to do something for soccer,” said Moore.
“I have lots of ideas. It’s neat to actually complete a whole book and be able to say I did the illustrations for it too. It’s been pretty well received with the wrestling community,” said Moore.
Moore also took part in “Read Across America” week at Liberty-Curtin Elementary School where she read “Some Day A Wrestler” and “Now I’m a Wrestler.”
She and members of the Central Mountain High School wrestling team read books to students to get them excited about reading.
These books are a great introduction to wrestling for anyone interested — family, fans, coaches and aspiring young athletes alike.
Moore’s books can be found on Amazon or locally at Main Street Books.
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