Finding Your Inner Wrestler
Wrestling isn’t just about strength or winning medals. It’s about grit, courage, and discovering what you’re truly capable of—both on and off the mat. Ross McFarlane’s delightful new children’s book, Is There a Wrestler in You?, offers kids a chance to experience wrestling’s thrills, spills, and vital life lessons through a colorful cast of engaging characters.
Meet the Phoenix Wrestling Club
The story introduces young readers to the Phoenix Wrestling Club—a vibrant team of animal characters, each brimming with personality, challenges, and relatable journeys. Imagine Captain Underpants meets Coach Carter, sprinkled with Scottish charm and lots of heart-pounding suplexes. Children aged 5 to 10 can eagerly jump into the narrative, feeling instantly connected to these fun-filled, dynamic wrestlers.
Through a blend of storytelling and interactive adventures, kids won’t just read—they’ll participate. The book invites children to roll, tumble, and giggle their way through engaging challenges. Whether testing their balance, agility, or determination, each activity reinforces the story’s core message: perseverance counts more than perfection.
Ross McFarlane knows firsthand the value of these lessons. As the wrestling coach at Glasgow Wrestling Club and pathway coordinator for the Scottish Junior Wrestling Squad, Ross packs his professional wisdom into every playful scenario. He doesn’t lecture or dictate. Instead, Ross gently guides his readers, nudging them toward self-discovery and resilience.
Life Lessons Wrapped in Fun
Wrestling, as Ross beautifully highlights, mirrors life’s trials and triumphs. It isn’t merely about physical strength—it’s about emotional intelligence, teamwork, discipline, and mindfulness. With each page, children learn essential skills without even realising it. Parents tired of watching their kids glued to screens will find relief here. Ross’s book creatively encourages active participation—physically, emotionally, and mentally.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its capacity to build self-confidence. Ross cleverly flips self-doubt onto its back, showing children how they can triumph through steady practice and optimism. The prompts and challenges scattered throughout the story encourage readers to pause, reflect, and actively engage. Kids will find themselves grinning broadly, embracing challenges as opportunities to grow.
Interactive storytelling has rarely been executed with such ease and effectiveness. Ross’s narrative technique doesn’t just capture attention—it holds it. While reading the book, children naturally begin to wonder, “Could I join the Phoenix Wrestling Club?” By the end of the book, they might confidently respond with a resounding, “Yes!”
Beyond the Mat: Why Parents and Kids Alike Love This Book
What makes this book genuinely exceptional isn’t just its message or interactive format. It’s how Ross seamlessly blends his coaching expertise with a keen understanding of children’s natural curiosity and imagination. The engaging, animal characters resonate with kids because their challenges—overcoming setbacks, finding courage, and learning teamwork—mirror their own experiences.
For parents, the joy lies in watching children uncover new strengths through play and storytelling. It’s reassuring to know that beneath all the wrestling moves and humorous antics lies a powerful framework promoting character-building values. Ross doesn’t just teach wrestling; he inspires children to become resilient, compassionate, and brave individuals.
Moreover, the Scottish flair Ross brings adds authenticity and cultural depth to the tale. Readers will sense the excitement of Scotland’s rich wrestling tradition, subtly woven into the narrative. Ross McFarlane offers readers more than a story—he provides an inviting cultural journey through the joy of wrestling.
If you’re looking for a book to get your child moving, smiling, and learning powerful life lessons, Is There a Wrestler in You? is your answer. You can snag your own copy on Etsy today. Who knows? Your child might just discover a wrestler—and so much more—in themselves.
We had the privilege of interviewing Ross McFarlane. Here are excerpts from the interview.
Hi Ross, It’s great to have you with us today! Please share about yourself with our readers.
Hi, I am the wrestling coach of the Glasgow Wrestling Club in Glasgow, Scotland, and I am also the pathway coordinator for the Scottish Junior Wrestling Squad.
Please tell us about your book.
‘Is there a Wrestler in you?‘ blends storytelling, physical activity, and emotional intelligence in a way that gets children aged 5–10 off screens and into activity. This debut title introduces a dynamic team of animal characters, each with relatable strengths and struggles, as they learn the fundamentals of wrestling and life — from discipline and resilience to mindfulness and teamwork. It’s Captain Underpants meets Coach Carter — with a Scottish twist, sweat, and suplexes.
Please tell us about your journey.
The idea for the book has come off the back of my 25 years in the sport of wrestling, where I got to travel the world experiencing different cultures and training hall environments.
In 2014, I was on the biggest stage I would ever grace — the Commonwealth Games in my hometown of Glasgow. I had won British titles in 2013 and 2014, and finished 5th at the Commonwealth Championships in Johannesburg in December 2013. That made me the most qualified member of the wrestling team heading into the Commonwealth Games, where I reached the quarterfinals before being beaten by the eventual bronze medalist.
Over the next 10 years, I started a family and moved in and out of the wrestling scene, trying to make both the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia and the 2022 Games in Birmingham. Although I wasn’t successful in those endeavors, I shifted my focus to coaching and faced the challenges of getting a wrestling club off the ground.
I created the animal characters as a pathway for children to progress through the sport — something that had never been done before. That idea grew into a board game and a children’s book to bring those characters to life. Nearly 12 months on, the kids program in the club is flourishing, and the children’s book is hot off the press, ready for young readers.
What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
Just determination to succeed, a will to win, and do the best I can. I think that’s what wrestling has taught me.
Any message for our readers
The book is to be enjoyed by all; you don’t have to know or understand wrestling. It’s for your children to learn some important life skills, and that’s how we treat the kids at our club too. We want them to do the best in life, not just on the mat.
Thank you so much, Ross, for taking the time to speak with us. We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!