Sport Knowledge Institute Welcomes Historian Jorge Iber for Book Talk on The Sanchez Family

PURCHASE, NY – February 24, 2026 – The Sport Knowledge Institute (SKI) at Manhattanville University welcomes historian Jorge Iber, Ph.D., to campus for a book talk and community conversation on Wednesday, March 19, at 6 p.m. Iber will discuss his most recent book, The Sanchez Family: Mexican American High School and Collegiate Wrestlers from Cheyenne, Wyoming, followed by a Q&A with attendees.

The Sanchez Family is a richly detailed family history that traces the Sánchez family’s experiences as immigrants to Wyoming and examines how their U.S.-born children’s involvement in wrestling had deep impacts across generations. Through the lens of high school and collegiate athletics, the book explores themes of education, discipline, identity, and social mobility, illustrating how sport shaped both individual lives and long-term family trajectories.

The book centers on the family history of Manhattanville University President, Frank Sánchez Ph.D., situating personal narrative within broader historical and cultural contexts.

“I’m deeply excited to welcome this conversation to our campus. In my family, we’ve seen how a single choice can change everything — a story that began when a 15-year-old in Cheyenne, Wyoming stepped onto a wrestling mat and led to generations of educators, engineers, and even a college president,” said Frank Sánchez, Ph.D., president of Manhattanville University. “Hosting this book talk at Manhattanville is especially meaningful, as it reflects who we are: a community that values education, access, and the transformative power of sport.”

Published by University Press of Colorado, The Sanchez Family situates wrestling within broader conversations about access, social mobility, and the role of sport in American life.

Iber is a professor of history at Texas Tech University, is an accomplished scholar whose research focuses on sport, culture, and society. His work frequently explores how athletics intersect with issues of class, identity, and opportunity, making The Sanchez Family both a personal and scholarly contribution to the field.

"Professor Iber's The Sanchez Family is a deeply human work that shows, yet again, how sport is never just about wins and losses. This story of family, migration, memory, and belonging sheds insights that resonate far beyond the playing field,” said Amy Bass, Ph.D., professor of sport studies and director of the Sport Knowledge Institute. “On behalf of SKI, I am delighted to celebrate this work that touches so personally to all of us at Manhattanville, a place that takes sport seriously through our Sport Studies majors, our graduate programs in physical education and sport business management, and of course, our Valiant athletes."

Hosted by the Sport Knowledge Institute, the event reflects the Institute’s mission to explore sport as a lens for understanding culture, leadership, and social impact.

The event is free and open to the public. Advance registration is recommended.

Event Details

📅 Thursday March 19, 2026
🕕 6 p.m.
📍 Manhattanville University | East Library, Reid Castle
🎟 Register by Thursday, March 12, 2026: https://alumni.mville.edu/Iber

Learn More:

• Book details: https://upcolorado.com/university-of-wyoming-press/the-sanchez-family
• Author bio: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/history/faculty/profiles/iber_jorge.php