Mike Chastain is a very unique individual, and his very positive outlook on every aspect of life is an inspiration to others.

When he was five years, Chastain lost all sight in his eye after being shot by an arrow. As he grew older he began losing sight in his other eye because of Lacoma, and by the time he was 14 years old he became totally blind.

Chastain was put in a classroom at Royal Oak School and from the first through the fifth grade he learned to read and type Braille. He attended Baker Middle School in Troy, Michigan and decided to go out for the wrestling team.

He then attended Troy High School and flourished as an outstanding student in the classroom and also in the wrestling room. Chastain also excelled at football and became an outstanding offensive center.

Chastain was recruited by Chick Sherwood and had an outstanding wrestling career at Central Michigan University, where he earned his bachelor's degree with honors in 1976.

He also excelled in Greco-Roman wrestling and competed for the Michigan Wrestling Club, the Rhino Wrestling Club and the Pioneer Wrestling Club at Oakland University. Wrestling primarily at 198 pounds, Chastain was the Michigan state champion in Greco-Roman from 1971-80 and placed at the National Championships from 1971-80, including runner-up finishes in 1973 and 1974. He was also won the Junior World Championships in 1972.

Chastain worked with youth wrestling programs from 1976-80 and was an assistant wrestling coach at Troy Athens High School from 1977-80.

He is the author of Creation of Evolution and is making a movie Blind Faith with Billy Baldwin, who was honored as an Outstanding American by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003.

An inspiration to everyone he meets, Mike never considered himself handicapped. He accepts life as a challenge with obstacles that he worked hard to overcome.

His favorite saying is "Success is not final and failure is not final. It is the courage to continue that counts!"