After wearing His name on his chest during his Luxemburg-Casco wrestling career, Newton Smerchek hopes to help UW-Madison athletes find Jesus in their own way. Smerchek joined the Badger Regional Training Center two years ago after competing for the Spartans and at Central Michigan University. His faith has always been a strong presence in his life, having worn a shirt given to him by his family with the name of Jesus on it ever since he was in elementary school.

A member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in college, Smerchek recently got involved with Athletes in Action and its parent organization Campus Crusade for Christ. When the opportunity came to work with other student-athletes at the University of Wisconsin to help grow their faith, Smerchek jumped at it.

Smerchek will continue to coach Wisconsin wrestlers in Madison as he begins to drum up support for his mission. He is getting a head start on his duties that begin on August 1st by hosting bible study classes with the wrestling team beginning next week.

You can listen to the full interview at NEWRadioSportsNetwork.com