The 13-minute, 40-second story, titled "Underdog," will be the feature segment on this Sunday's telecast of E:60, ESPN's premier newsmagazine, to be shown at 9 a.m. Eastern on the flagship ESPN channel.
Here's how ESPN describes the feature:
"On February 23, 2017, Zack Anglin, a high school senior wrestler from Bayfield County in Wisconsin, headed to the state wrestling tournament looking to be the first state champion from his school in more than 30 years. It would be the last chance for Zack to become a champion, someone who has been the underdog his entire life after being born without hands or feet and given up for adoption by his birth parents. The story is narrated by 2011 National Champion from Arizona State University Anthony Robles, who like Zack, had a chance to become a champion in his last match as a senior, and has more in common with Zack than meets the eye."
Immediately after "Underdog" airs towards the end of the telecast, Robles and E:60 host Jeremy Schaap will have an on-air chat in the studio about Zack Anglin and his story.
Zack Anglin"Underdog" feature producer Dan Lindberg was drawn to Anglin's story for a number of reasons.
"I love wrestling," Lindberg told InterMat. "I grew up in Milwaukee. Our family would spend summer vacation in northern Wisconsin, where Zack and his family live."
"I like finding stories about athletes in parts of the country that don't normally get covered."
"In 2016 I saw a very brief clip online of Zack wrestling, and immediately thought I had to tell Zack's story."
Lindberg, the staff producer for E:60, reached out to Zack and his family ... and, after some thoughtful consideration, gave the project a green light.
"Zack wanted to tell his story, to help break barriers," said Lindberg. "I'm glad he and his family agreed to do it."
A considerable amount of time and effort went into making "Underdog."
"I approached Zack's mother in early 2016," said Lindberg. "She said she'd think about it, then said, 'Why don't you come to the state tournament to see him in action.'"
"We kept our distance (at states), got some photos."
"We really started talking about it with Zack and his mom in October 2016. I said, 'Why don't I come out and meet with you?'" Lindberg continued. "I flew to Minneapolis-St. Paul, then to Duluth (Minn.), then drove two hours to their home in the Northwoods of Wisconsin."
In addition to filming Zack Anglin in the practice room and in action during a meet -- as well as incorporating interviews -- "Underdog" incorporates existing footage of Zack, including video of him wrestling in eighth grade.
"There's so much we couldn't include," Lindberg admitted to InterMat. "I wish we could've added an additional ten minutes." (At just shy of 14 minutes in length, "Underdog" is the feature of this weekend's E:60 episode, and, therefore, the show's longest segment.)
As for the title ...
"After filming was complete, we realized that Zack referred to himself as an underdog," said Lindberg. "He said, 'The underdog is viewed as the person who's going to lose, and has everything to prove."
What does producer Dan Lindberg hope viewers take away from "Underdog"?
"This is not a story about winning and losing. Our goal is to emphasize who Zack is, on and off the mat."
"People often look at him and see what's missing," Lindberg continued. "He sees himself for what he has."
"He's a good person first, a good wrestler second."
Want to know more about "Underdog"? Watch a brief trailer ... and a one-minute segment.
Want to meet other wrestlers who might be labeled "handicapped" by some, yet overcame physical challenges to become winners on the mat, and beyond? Check out this InterMat feature which profiles, among others, NCAA champs and Olympic medalists ... even a Dan Hodge Trophy winner. https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/8826
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