Rich Wallace

Riley feels like the smallest kid at sports camp. In fact, he is. He just turned eleven in April, but most kids here are twelve, and a few are even thirteen--and gigantic. It's hard enough for a shrimp like Riley to fit in. He just doesn't want to be the weak link as his bunk competes for the Camp Olympia Trophy.Riley knows he's no good at strength and accuracy games like basketball and softball. But when it comes to speed and endurance events, like running and swimming, he's better than he looks. He's pretty sure he can place in the top ten--and bring in major trophy points--in the final mile-long swim race across Lake Surprise. But he doesn't count on being followed by the shadow of Big Joe, the giant vicious snapping turtle of camp lore. Wasn't that supposed to be a legend?From the Hardcover edition.

Nine-year-old Ben and other members of the Bobcats co-ed soccer team improve their skills and begin to win, especially after Ben learns the importance of concentration from his older brother and finally masters the fake out.

Brothers Zeke and Randy participate in an important chess tournament, playing against each other while also trying to deal with their father's intensely competetive tendencies.

Nineteen-year-old Danny spends an eventful summer in Maine, looking for romance, working as a "straight" dishwasher in a gay bar, and trying to reconnect with his estranged father.

Slimmed down and in great shape, Dunk is thrilled to make the school basketball team as a secondstring center. Jared, the starting center, is the best player on the team. But when Jared begins missing practice as well as the shots he used to make, Dunk is on the court more than he expected. He's playing better than ever, but will that jeopardize his friendship with Jared?

ASK ANYBODY AROUND East Scranton High School: Michael Kerrigan is almost too good to be true. Dedicated athlete, captain of the track team, editorial assistant (obituary writer) at the Scranton Observer, he's never been in trouble, and he doesn't associate with troublemakers. This is the most important track season of his life - and he's ready.That is, until the police find four joints in his locker. Soon Mike's seemingly perfect world is threatened, and with pressure coming from his parents, his childhood best friend, and his sort-of girlfriend, Mike is faced with a choice - a choice that will determine the kind of athlete, friend, and man he becomes.From the Hardcover edition.

Strong, wiry, and lightweight, Donald seems to have the perfect combination of physical attributes for wrestling. And after seeing a high school wrestling match, he's excited to join Hudson City's middle-school team. The workouts are grueling, and he loses his first few matches, but Donald's most difficult obstacle is his temper. Can he channel it to work for him instead of against him? Packed with action and drama, this newest Winning Season book from accomplished author Rich Wallace won't disappoint.

Free throw specialist Cornell "Dunk" Duncan joins the YMCA summer basketball league all-star team, but after losing his confidence in an important game the seventh-grader makes some decisions about becoming an all-around player.

After moving to New Jersey following his parents' divorce, Jimmy Fleming tries out for the seventh-grade baseball team while also trying cope with his new life and dealing with his overly-competitive father.

Get ready for some amazing soccer action in Winning Season 4! It's summer in Hudson City. And for Calvin Tait and Zero Rollison, it's time to give soccer a shot. The YMCA soccer league looks like an easy way to get their feet wet and learn some technique, and once Calvin gets his foot on a ball and the taste of a winning game, he's totally hooked. Soon Calvin is leading his team to the finals, where they'll be up against the toughest players in the league—twin sisters with Mia Hamm–inspired shots on goal. Calvin knows he's good, but are the twins better?

When the Hornets lose their quarterback for the season and the replacement lacks the talent to take charge, the coach picks a solid receiver as emergency quarterback.

Manny Ramos is the fastest guy on the Hudson City Youth football team—maybe even the fastest in his school—so the new track club seems perfect for him. His light weight could finally be a benefit instead of a curse! When he first sees the enormous indoor sporting complex where he'll race some of the fastest guys around, Manny is awed. Will his time in the 800 meters be any competition for guys who've been racing for years? Manny is determined to put in the time and effort to be a track contender He's finally found his sport.

Jared, a high-scoring member of the Hudson City Middle School basketball team, gets angry when the point guard accuses him of being responsible for their string of losses, but finally realizes they can win only if he becomes a team player.