Scott Walker Cunningham

Scott Walker Cunningham is a championship wrestler and author interested in the pursuit of perfection, the thrill of victory, and the cost of achieving our dreams.

His debut novel, First Loser, has received critical acclaim spanning experts in the worlds of literary professors and college athletics.

“A gritty and honest look at the painful truths that teens and adults must face.” -Kirkus Reviews

A high school wrestler will do anything to make his dad proud. The problem? His dad is dead.

Connor Castaway lives for victory—pushing his injured body to the limit, chasing records, and numbing the pain with pills he shouldn’t have. Wrestling isn’t just a sport; it’s an inheritance, a way to honor a father who left more expectations than memories. But as Connor claws closer to the top, he uncovers the dangerous truths in his corner: rivalries, lies, and the destructive obsessions that threaten to consume them all.

From fraught love interests and hallucinatory benders to betrayal, addiction, and the brutal cost of relentless ambition, First Loser is a raw, tense, and unflinching story about obsession, legacy, and the fine line between greatness and self-destruction—a coming-of-age journey for anyone who’s ever chased approval, battled demons, or wondered if winning is worth the cost—and what it takes to finally be free.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

"Cunningham offers the Friday Night Lights of high school wrestling, a convincing picture of the athletes grappling with life on and off the mat.”

-Randy Nelson, Winner of the Flannery O'Connor Award

"A gritty and honest look at the painful truths that teens and adults must face." -Kirkus Reviews

“[A] powerful novel rich in the delights of competition and contemplation.” -D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

“Wrestling demands resilience, discipline, and the willingness to endure discomfort in the pursuit of achievement. Cunningham understands this truth deeply, and it’s reflected clearly in the journey of his characters."

-Rocco Mansueto, US Open All-American, x2 NY State Champion

“Cunningham understands the many emotions of being a high school wrestler. The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.”

-Jack Effner, Former Cleveland State Head Coach, NCAA All-American, Indiana State University Athletics Hall of Fame

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Scott Walker Cunningham writes about the obsessions that drive us—ambition, addiction, and the pursuit of perfection. A former elite wrestler, he brings the intensity of the mat to the page, exploring what compels people to push past their limits—and the cost when they finally do. A two-time Virginia state champion, he holds a BA in English from Davidson College and lives in Houston, Texas.