Michael Irving was born in Rockledge, Florida, one of six children. His father was a Kennedy Space Center mechanix and his mother worked as a teacher's assistant until Michael's fifth birthday when his family moved to south Florida. Turbulent times would follow Irving and his family, a painful part of life that involved moving in with family members and at times staying in hotels.
It was in middle school that Michael Irving was introduced to wrestling, although, he admits, he did not take his discipline seriously until he began to see that he had some talent for the sport. As he improved hin practice and in competition, so grew his academic scores. During his junior wrestling season at Boyd Anderson in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, Irving finished with a 27-3 record. Irving would begin training at Seahorse Wrestling club where his life eventually changed by meeting Steven and Jonathan Williams. The Williams influenced him to transfer to the high school where they coached and Irving would go undefeated and win the Florida State Championship. Irving compiled an incredible 110-7 career high school record. He credits the Williams with the inspiration to look toward college and his career options ahead.
Cumberland College, now University of the Cumberlands, had started its first wrestling program under teh leadership of Coach Jess Wilder. Landing Irving, the two-time state champion was an effort, but Coach Wilder knew that if he could land this recruit the Cumberland Wrestling Program would have a strong foundation.
Irving was gour-time NAIA All-American at Cumberland College whle winning the 2000 National Championship in the Heavyweight Division. He finished 2nd in 1999 in the 197 Class, 2nd in 2001 in the Heavyweight Division, and 4th in 2002 in the 197 Class. His 111 career wins ranks 4th and his eleven pins in a single season ranks 3rd best all time at Cumberland. Irving was graduated from Cumberland in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Religion and Public Health.
Following graduation, Irving was a Graduate Assistant with the Cumberlands wrestling program in 2003. He returned to Florida to teach health and physical education at Clewiston High School while continuing to wrestle on a part-time basis. During this period Irving was driving five days per week to coach and train with the Calvary Wrestling Club at Calvary Chapel in Fort Lauderdale.
Irving placed 2nd at the Sunkist Invitational Open, 7th at the U.S. Open, and 5th at the World Team Trails. Dedicated to his regiment of training, Irving still felt that his full potential had not been met. On Christmas Day in 2005, Irving made a decision to resign from teaching at Clewiston to pursue his dreams of Olympic Gold. With bags packed, he moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado where he studied and trained daily with the best at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. He was considered a legitimate 2008 Olympic hopeful. In 2008, Irving reached the ranking of 34th in the World.
Michael Irving resides in North Carolina where he teaches Health and Physical Education at Jordan High School. He is also an assistant coach for the Duke University Blue Devils Wrestling Team.
