SportsLife Wrestling’s Mission at the Coaches Convention

By CHAD BONHAM

SportsLife Wrestling continued its impactful summer of ministry at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) convention, which took place in Ponte Vedra, Florida, from July 31st through August 3rd.  

Throughout the four-day event, Director of Wrestling Wynn Michalak ministered to hundreds of college and high school coaches at the SportsLife Wrestling booth where resources were made available and significant ministry and prayer time took place. 

“It’s so important to be visible at a convention like that,” Director of Sports-Specific Operations Mark Ellis said. “We want to see coaches continue to grow in their faith.

It’s important that we’re there so we can connect with them and help them take their next step. Coaching college and high school athletics is harder than it’s ever been. At the booth, there was a lot of prayer that took place. I can’t say enough about the value of being there in those moments.” 

According to Ellis, the Saturday morning breakfast also provided a significant opportunity for ministry. An estimate 200 coaches gathered to enjoy a meal, engage in fellowship, hear from SportsLife Wrestling Executive Director Brandon Slay, and most importantly, encounter God through the Word of God and prayer. Several Division I college coaches conveyed afterwards that the breakfast was the best event they’d ever attended at an NWCA convention. 

“Jon Gordon did a phenomenal job as our keynote speaker,” Ellis said. “He shared the importance of being one with God and how to do that. I had the unique perspective of being able to sit back and observe the coaches during Jon’s message.

They were deeply moved and there was a lot of good conversation afterwards.” 

But for Ellis, it was the closing prayer that had the greatest impact. 

“As we closed, Jon had a deep impression that he needed to pray,” Ellis recalled. “It was a very powerful moment. He prayed for all the coaches in the room and their marriages. I won’t forget it for a long time. It really energized me as I left. It was a great reminder of why we do this.”