First Loser

"Cunningham offers the Friday Night Lights of high school wrestling, a convincing picture of the athletes grappling with life on and off the mat." - Dr. Randy Nelson, Winner of the Flannery O'Connor Award

"[A] powerful novel rich in the delights of competition and contemplation." - D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

"A gritty and honest look at the painful truths that teens and adults must face." - Kirkus Reviews

A high school wrestler will do anything to make his dad proud. The problem? His dad is dead.

Connor Castaway lives for victory-pushing his injured body to the limit, chasing records, and numbing the pain with pills he shouldn't have. Wrestling isn't just a sport; it's an inheritance, a way to honor a father who left more expectations than memories. But as Connor claws closer to the top, he uncovers the dangerous truths in his corner: rivalries, lies, and the destructive obsessions that threaten to consume them all.

From fraught love interests and hallucinatory benders to betrayal, addiction, and the brutal cost of relentless ambition, First Loser is a raw, tense, and unflinching story about obsession, legacy, and the fine line between greatness and self-destruction-a coming-of-age journey for anyone who's ever chased approval, battled demons, or wondered if winning is worth the cost-and what it takes to finally be free.