Everyone loves a story about a little guy overcoming the odds and winning it big. Maybe that's why Hebron High School's rise to the state championship in 1952 struck a chord with so many fans across the state and the nation. But no victory comes without sacrifice, without hard work, without a little drama. The Hebron story mixes talented twins, spurred on by a pro-athlete older brother; a reed-thin, 6-101⁄2 center, coming late to basketball but getting better with every game; two hot-handed outside shooters overcoming challenges of their own; and a "Little Napoleon" of a coach, utterly focused on putting together just the right ingredients to win a state championship and more importantly, to best his mentor. Desire, devotion, dedication--it all came together for the Green Giants in 1952. They did what it took. They won it all.

The Great Lakes—containing one-fifth of the standing freshwater on earth, covering some 94,250 square miles with a combined 10,210 miles of shoreline—have suffered greatly from human use and abuse since the advent of the commercial fur trade in the late 1600s. Logging destroys or degrades habitats, urbanization and industrialization pour human and industrial wastes into the water, fertilizers flowing off farm fields feed algae that suffocate other creatures, and ships bring in exotic species that decimate the lakes’ biodiversity. In 1985 when the International Joint Commission identified more than forty pollution hotspots around the lakes, few people had faith the Areas of Concern would be cleaned up in their lifetime. Indeed, aquatic ecosystem restoration is extremely difficult: only nine of these hotspots have been removed from the infamous list. But progress is being made, and at the helm are local champions, people with a profound love of the region who lead by example and build broad, diverse coalitions in order to realize a common vision. The stories of fourteen of these champions are told here to inspire necessary action to care for the place they call home, so it may be a home to many living creatures for ages yet to come.

As late as 1950, many chess clubs in America excluded women. The Marshall Chess Club in New York City was an exception, organizing the U.S. Women's Chess Championship beginning in the late 1930s. Since the 1980s, the average rating of the players has increased. The Saint Louis Chess Club has organized the championship since 2009, with record-setting prizes. Drawing on archives and original interviews with the living U.S. Women's Chess Champions, this book examines their careers with biographies, photos, and 171 annotated games, most of which are from the 60 championships between 1937 and 2020.

The Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships began in 1975 as a vision of several people who understood the hard work and achievement of the student athletes in Pennsylvania. Whether it was Jim Cox's overtime winner for Baldwin or Downingtown East's five-overtime classic, the championship continues to keep fans and followers alike on the edges of their seats. Many great teams, such as eight-time champions Meadville and seven-time champions Bayard Rustin, have reached this championship. Notable alumni include Germantown Academy's Mike Richter and Pine Richland's Brandon Saad, both Stanley Cup champions. The development of high school hockey in Pennsylvania begins in grade school and continues through middle school and junior varsity. It is a community effort with the support of many. Today, teams from 150 high schools compete in the championship.

Once a year, Cameron Carpenter visits his old friend and teammate Jonah Jackson, and the two read through a journal Cameron wrote in high school to cope with the death of his father. In a series of letters to his dad, young Cameron writes about moving with his mother back to her hometown of Eagle River, Washington, and his tumultuous freshman basketball season. In addition to struggling with fitting in, he and Jonah experience racial bigotry that splits the town and reveals Jonah's mysterious past. Cameron also meets Mandy, the love of his life, only to see her go through a traumatic experience that threatens to separate them forever. Will God's grace heal Cameron's pain? Will the team's exciting run through the state tournament bring the town together? Will Cameron learn what it means to have faith in Jesus Christ and be a champion in God's eyes? And in the end, will Cameron and Jonah's lifelong friendship see them through one final challenge?

Steve Wolfe knows his stuff when it comes to coaching and wrestling. Call Us Champions would entertain the most avid wrestler all the way to a beginner. This is not only a excellent and fun book for those interested in wrestling but those interested in how it is to raise a family in Alaska. Wolfe writes about his young family in a way that makes you want to read more. Thanks for a wonderful book. Rainbow Saupe, San Jose, CA Steve Wolfe does a wonderful job of captivating not only the idiosyncrasies of the sport of wrestling, but the essence of the human spirit. I found myself laughing out loud of some of the humorous events within the book and appreciate having this coach share his experience with up and coming coaches like myself. Mike Illg, Lowell, MA