Lisa Whitsett;
This book reveals the real-life experiences of a female amateur wrestler in the male-dominated sport. The author, originally from Cedar Falls, Iowa, explores the concepts of achievement compulsion and competition anxiety, the impact on the athlete’s experience, and how addressing signs can influence athletic longevity. May 23, 2003 – Beneath the Armor of an Athlete: Real Strength on the Wrestling Mat reveals the real-life experiences of a female amateur wrestler in the male-dominated sport. The author explores the concepts of achievement compulsion and competition anxiety, the impact on the athlete’s experience, and how addressing signs can influence athletic longevity. The book is now available at local bookstores and Amazon.com. “Most athletes are accustomed to dealing with physical obstacles; many times, it’s the mental barriers that interfere with athletic performance,” said Lisa Whitsett, author of Beneath the Armor of an Athlete. “My hope is that readers will identify with the behaviors described in the book, use that momentum to resolve emotions, and bring more joy into their sporting experience.” This nonfiction work is influenced by the author’s 28 years of athletic participation, 14 of them amateur wrestling and coaching at all competition levels. The book is the first ever written by a female in the sport of amateur wrestling. [This book] “…reads like a novel and is just as suspenseful…[it] is sports psychology at its rawest: experienced and described firsthand,” according to the Library Journal’s review. Beneath the Armor of an Athlete is “…about recognizing the fine line that exists between obsession and pure enjoyment [of the sport] —win or lose,” said Mike Gerald of Amateur Wrestling News. Whitsett holds a BA in Sociology from UC San Diego and an MA in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Northern Iowa. Editor's Note: Complimentary copies of Beneath the Armor of an Athlete are available to the media upon request.