Upcoming Events – Fall 2021

Tuesday, September 28th, 2021 | Book Signing, Books, Speaking, WIN Magazine, Wrestling | No Comments

October 16 – Mike and Bryan Van Kley, publisher of WIN magazine, will present the Dan Hodge Trophy to Hawkeye wrestling star Spencer Lee during halftime of the Iowa-Purdue football game October 16 at Kinnick Stadium. Mike created the Dan Hodge Trophy in 1995 as a way to honor the nation’s top college wrestler each season, similar to the Heisman Trophy in football.  In fact, the Hodge Trophy is often called “the Heisman Trophy of wresting” by media outlets. The trophy is sponsored by WIN magazine and Culture House, a company owned by Mike and Bev, and is presented by Asics.  To date, over one million sports fans have seen the Dan Hodge Trophy presented at football stadiums around the country. Spencer Lee also won the trophy in 2020 and will be going for his 4th NCAA title this season. 

November 11 – On Veterans Day, Mike will be the featured speaker at the  “One Nation Under God” banquet hosted by the Cedar Falls Exchange Club, at the Hilton Garden Inn, 7213 Nordic Drive, Cedar Falls, with social hour starting at 5:30 and dinner at 6:30. His talk will center on the lives of Hawkeye stars Fred Becker and Nile Kinnick. Becker was Iowa’s first All-American football player (in 1916) and lost his life fighting during World War I on July 18, 1918. Kinnick, Iowa’s only Heisman Trophy winner, lost his life on a training flight on June 2, 1943, during World War II. Both Fred and Nile were just 22 years of age, and Mike has written about them in his book “Triumph and Tragedy”. Mike has been asked to bring many of his books for sale, as the event is just a few weeks before Christmas. Tickets are $30 and the pubic is invited but reservations must be made by Oct. 31st. Any questions, please call Dennis Kehoe at 319-464-6336 or email kehoe3@yahoo.com. 

November 12 – The Becker-Chapman American Legion Post 138 at 728 Commercial Street is hosting a dinner and an event to honor Fred Becker and Carl Chapman, the two military heroes for whom the Post is named. Mike has written a booklet telling the story of both Fred, a gradate of East High, and Carl, a graduate of West High. Fred Becker was the first All-American football player in the history of the University of Iowa, and then enlisted in the Marines to serve his country in World d War I. He was killed in heroic action along the Western Front on July 18, 1918, and was awarded the American Distinguished Service Cross, the French Coeur de Guerre, and the Belgian War Cross.  Carl, a pilot, was killed  on May 3, 1918.  Mike has donated his time and effort in writing the booklet, and will be signing copies of the booklet during the dinner. The booklet tells the stories of these two warriors and will serve as a donation for the Post. The cost is $10 per booklet.

Tags: carl chapman, Fred Becker, Hodge Trophy, Nile Kinnick, Spencer Lee, Triumph and Tragedy

Podcast Appearance: The History of Wrestling with Mike Chapman on Landry.Audio

Monday, May 10th, 2021 | Radio, Wrestling | No Comments

Mike appeared on the podcast Landry.Audio to talk about the history of wrestling. Take a listen with the embedded video above or following the link here: The History Of Wrestling With Historian Mike Chapman – YouTube

Our American Stories: Abe Lincoln, the Wrestler

Wednesday, June 17th, 2020 | Books, Radio, Wrestling | No Comments

At just 22 years of age, Abraham Lincoln wrestled Jack Armstrong, older and considered the toughest man in the area. Many biographers of Lincoln have felt it was a turning point in the life of the man destined to become one of the greatest figures in history.

On the nationally-syndicated radio talk show “Our American Stories” (which has an estimated 2.5 million listeners each day), Mike spent 20 minutes discussing the match in 1831 between Lincoln and Armstrong, in the tiny frontier village of New Salem, Illinois.

Listen to the interview here: http://www.ouramericannetwork.org/story?title=The-Turning-Point-in-Abe-s-Life-A-Wrestling-Match

For more about this historic event, you can purchase the booklet “The Sport of Lincoln” which was written by Mike in 2003. It contains lots of artwork about the match. The booklet is $5 plus $4 for S&H.

Tags: Abraham Lincoln, Jack Armstrong, New Salem, Wrestling

Iowa Hall of Pride – Iowa High School Wrestling Tournament Kick-Off

Tuesday, January 29th, 2019 | Wrestling | No Comments

From 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.on Thursday, Feb. 14,  the Iowa Hall of Pride will be hosting Chris Cakes of Iowa to kick off the Iowa High School State Wrestling tournament. Wrestling historian/author Mike Chapman, Wartburg wrestling Coach Jim Miller, and IAwrestle will all be present to talk with fans and parents. 

The event is sponsored by Perficut, E.P. True Chiropractic, and IAwrestle.  Admission will be $5.00 per person, which will get fans all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, orange drink/coffee, and all-day admission into the Iowa Hall of Pride! 

The Iowa Hall of Pride is located on the Southeast corner of the Iowa Event Center on the lower level, right next to where wrestlers will be weighing in. Join us to “pin a pancake” and kickoff the 2019 Iowa State Wrestling Championships at the Iowa Hall of Pride! Event: “State Cakes” at the Iowa Hall of Pride

Date: Thursday, February 14, 2019

Time: 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM

Location: Iowa Hall of Pride
330 Park Street
Des Moines, IA 50309

Tags: Chris Cakes, Iowa Hall of Pride, Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament