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Twitter: @ChasePami
Hometown: Las Vegas
Alma Mater: Cal Poly
Weight Class: 66 kg (145.5 lbs)
Notes:
-2010 NCAA Division I Runner-Up – 157 lbs
-2008 and 2009 Pac-10 Conference Champion
-One of 10 two-time All-American wrestlers in Cal Poly history
-Currently training with the U.S. Olympic Development Team
“Therefore I tell you, all the things you pray and ask for—believe that you have received them, and you will have them.” – Mark 11:24
One win from a storybook finish to his collegiate career at Cal Poly, Chase Pami lost the 157-pound NCAA title match in 2010. That loss—and his subsequent wrestling with the Lord over it—eventually spurred the Las Vegas native to new depths in his faith. Now training with Team USA to compete in the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Pami is teaming with FCA Wrestling to share Christ from his new platform.
FCA: How has wrestling impacted your life?
CP: I believe in the saying, “Wresting is a lifestyle.” I put so much of who I am into it—not just physically, but mentally as well. It is so demanding and unique from all other sports.
Through wrestling I’ve learned that there is risk involved with everything in life. I can’t guarantee I’m going to win each match, but I still compete with everything I have. It’s the same way with our spiritual walk. Nothing is guaranteed other than Christ, and Heaven to those who believe in Him, but God calls us to be bold in our witness and faith here on earth, regardless of the risks we encounter.
FCA: Like Jacob in Genesis 32, have you ever wrestled with God over something?
CP: Losing in the NCAA finals my senior year was one of the toughest moments I’ve gone through, but also one of the most blessed. For two years afterward, I really went on a journey that made me question a lot of things about my faith. I never walked away, but I questioned things and didn't want to risk all of myself in anything I was doing. I fully believed God had a platform waiting for me as a national champion. And when it didn’t happen, I wrestled with Him over it because I just couldn't understand why it didn’t hap-pen that way.
Eventually there was a moment where I thought, if I don’t let this go and live with complete faith and take risks in my life, I’m going to lose my mind because it’s misera-ble. I went before God in a desperate prayer and laid everything out in front of Him. I believe God heard my prayer because I have experienced so much freedom since that moment. I now fully believe I’m walking in the life and truth that God wants me to walk.
FCA: Explain how a coach has poured into your life and faith.
CP: John Azevedo, a legendary coach in California, was my coach at Cal Poly. He was huge for my technical wrestling abilities, but spiritually, he had just as much of a profound impact. He was someone I could talk to and pray with at any time. When you’re influenced by someone like that it goes such a long way.
One of the most important things is to have people around you—to have community. No man is an island unto himself. I am blessed to have so many people who have reached out to me at different times in my life—coaches, mentors, leaders, people I trust—whom I can call on at any time. And above all, staying in the Word is so important because that’s the true Source of life.
FCA: Why do you feel God has put you in this position in sports?
CP: I believe God put me here to be a light for Him. Ultimately, my goal is to win an Olympic gold medal, but I truly pray that I can look back and see that through the talents God has given me, using them to their fullest extent and honoring Him, I was able to impact at least one person’s life for Him.
*****
FCA Staff Quote: "Chase is an all-around solid guy—a fierce competitor with a passion to grow in his personal walk with Christ and to use the sport of wrestling as a platform to share the life-changing gospel of Christ. FCA Wrestling is fortunate to have people like Chase involved with the ministry.” –Carl Perry, FCA Wrestling National Director
Originally Published: March 2013
Photos courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics Media Relations