Michael Bonora has his hand raised by official Kent Sesker after winning the 2008 NCAA Division III title.

Michael Bonora’s story is nothing short of inspiring.

It is an unlikely journey that demonstrates first-hand what perseverance and persistence can accomplish.

Bonora overcame enormous obstacles and adversity in his long, arduous quest to eventually winning the 2008 NCAA Division III championship at 141 pounds.

His journey is chronicled in a masterful, first-person account in the book he wrote – “Wrestling With Your Destiny.”

Bonora expertly details his roller coaster journey from his days as a youth wrestler to his struggles in high school to ultimately reaching the top of the national podium at the collegiate level.

He had a deformity in his wrists that was so severe at times that a doctor told him his sophomore year in high school to give up wrestling.

Bonora pursued a goal of becoming a New Jersey state champion, but fell short with a highest finish of eighth his senior season.

In the end, falling short in high school actually opened the door to motivate and drive him to shoot for an even loftier goal at the NCAA level.

Bonora’s college career was filled with peaks and valleys. He started his career at Rhode Island College before he gave up wrestling briefly after transferring to Hofstra. He refocused on wrestling as he returned to Rhode Island College.

Bonora provides great detail and insight in his quest to become a national champion.

This book is an excellent read. It provides numerous pointers, tidbits and advice on how to train. It also documents how you need to approach the variables in the sport that are so critical, like weight management. He talks about how to effectively manage your time while balancing athletics and academics as a student-athlete.

He documents how he eventually learned how to cope and thrive while dealing with the emotional, mental and physical demands of such a grueling sport.

The book serves as a great guide that wrestlers, from the youth to collegiate levels, would certainly benefit from.

It is refreshing to see how much a national title meant to someone like Bonora, who competed at a level of wrestling that does not even offer athletic scholarships.

It is an inspirational, informative story that is recommended reading for wrestling fans and beyond.

The book is available on amazon.com for $9.99.