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Single Wing: A Story of Boyhood, Friendship, and Football
Chris Simpson tells the story of growing up in a gritty industrial upstate New York town in the 1960s, hanging out with a bunch of friends whose favorite pastimes are playing high school football, chasing girls, dreaming up nicknames, inventing imaginary organizations, and trying to get served in bars.
Their football team, the Ganaway Rivermen, has historically won more than its fair share of games against archrival Bell Island. The Bell Island – Ganaway game, the BI-G game, is famous throughout the region. But that winning streak has come to an end….
Frank Helwig is the team’s legendary coach. He’s won more games than any coach in the league, maybe in the state. For all those years, Helwig has relied on the single wing offense, which by the ‘60s has been abandoned by all but a few schools. Is it time for a change? The team’s losing streak against Bell Island has the town talking. People are saying that Helwig needs to modernize the Ganaway game, but that talk seems to be falling on deaf ears.
Chris and his teammates come up through the freshman ball, then the JV team, and finally varsity. Over those years, their families confront a series of alcoholism, gambling, loan sharking, mob connections, a nasty injury at a chemical plant, and the possible loss of a family business. But always, football and friendship form the glue that holds the boys together. And in their senior year, it’s up to them to save the reputation of the Ganaway Rivermen and their own sense of pride.
J.R. Krull’s debut novel offers readers a refreshing escape from today’s flood of serial-killer noir. In this rollicking coming-of-age tale about a gang of buddies growing up in a gritty industrial city, Krull takes us on a nostalgic journey back to a time when a wild night depended on scoring an illegal six-pack, when true love blossomed in the balcony of the local theater, and when life’s greatest challenges were making the JV football team and learning the proper steps to the Watusi. His characters move through a setting so evocative that the reader smells the pizza parlor and papermill, hears the hum of the factory night shift, and the darkening whispers of Vietnam. It is a delightful story that might begin with Daisy BB guns and end on Ganaway clashing with Bell Island, but it is larger than that. It has the power to transport readers back to that magical time of their own youth, back to that place where friendship was precious and life seemed like a perfect spring day that would never end.
Ronald Salomone, PhD, Professor Emeritus of English, Ohio University-Chillicothe
J.R. Krull's first novel is a poignant coming of age tale about a group of high school friends who live for football in a blue-collar upstate New York town. Set in the 1960s, it is a tale remarkably told in a voice that has the honesty and directness of J.D. Salinger.
Dana Wichern, Retired newspaper columnist, university writing instructor, and editor
The stresses of blue-collar family life, the formation of friendships in an ethnically diverse city, and other adolescent challenges are presented in colorful and humorous detail.
Michael N. Ryan, PhD, Professor Emeritus, State University of New York
Krull’s novel allows readers beyond a certain age a humorous yet poignant opportunity to recapture what was lost years ago, their youth, and its many adventures. If your younger days involved sports, the opposite sex, crazy friends, and beer, you will enjoy reliving it all in these pages.
Lee Owen, Retired investment professional
J.R. Krull captures what life was like for young people on the cusp of adulthood in 20th-century blue collar America. Krull has a voice. His narrator, Chris Simpson, speaks the language of friendship and football in this engaging debut novel.
Craig Klugman, Retired newspaper editor
Their football team, the Ganaway Rivermen, has historically won more than its fair share of games against archrival Bell Island. The Bell Island – Ganaway game, the BI-G game, is famous throughout the region. But that winning streak has come to an end….
Frank Helwig is the team’s legendary coach. He’s won more games than any coach in the league, maybe in the state. For all those years, Helwig has relied on the single wing offense, which by the ‘60s has been abandoned by all but a few schools. Is it time for a change? The team’s losing streak against Bell Island has the town talking. People are saying that Helwig needs to modernize the Ganaway game, but that talk seems to be falling on deaf ears.
Chris and his teammates come up through the freshman ball, then the JV team, and finally varsity. Over those years, their families confront a series of alcoholism, gambling, loan sharking, mob connections, a nasty injury at a chemical plant, and the possible loss of a family business. But always, football and friendship form the glue that holds the boys together. And in their senior year, it’s up to them to save the reputation of the Ganaway Rivermen and their own sense of pride.
J.R. Krull’s debut novel offers readers a refreshing escape from today’s flood of serial-killer noir. In this rollicking coming-of-age tale about a gang of buddies growing up in a gritty industrial city, Krull takes us on a nostalgic journey back to a time when a wild night depended on scoring an illegal six-pack, when true love blossomed in the balcony of the local theater, and when life’s greatest challenges were making the JV football team and learning the proper steps to the Watusi. His characters move through a setting so evocative that the reader smells the pizza parlor and papermill, hears the hum of the factory night shift, and the darkening whispers of Vietnam. It is a delightful story that might begin with Daisy BB guns and end on Ganaway clashing with Bell Island, but it is larger than that. It has the power to transport readers back to that magical time of their own youth, back to that place where friendship was precious and life seemed like a perfect spring day that would never end.
Ronald Salomone, PhD, Professor Emeritus of English, Ohio University-Chillicothe
J.R. Krull's first novel is a poignant coming of age tale about a group of high school friends who live for football in a blue-collar upstate New York town. Set in the 1960s, it is a tale remarkably told in a voice that has the honesty and directness of J.D. Salinger.
Dana Wichern, Retired newspaper columnist, university writing instructor, and editor
The stresses of blue-collar family life, the formation of friendships in an ethnically diverse city, and other adolescent challenges are presented in colorful and humorous detail.
Michael N. Ryan, PhD, Professor Emeritus, State University of New York
Krull’s novel allows readers beyond a certain age a humorous yet poignant opportunity to recapture what was lost years ago, their youth, and its many adventures. If your younger days involved sports, the opposite sex, crazy friends, and beer, you will enjoy reliving it all in these pages.
Lee Owen, Retired investment professional
J.R. Krull captures what life was like for young people on the cusp of adulthood in 20th-century blue collar America. Krull has a voice. His narrator, Chris Simpson, speaks the language of friendship and football in this engaging debut novel.
Craig Klugman, Retired newspaper editor
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 28, 2022
About the author
J.R. Krull
1 bookJ. R. Krull was born and grew up in North Tonawanda, NY. He graduated from North Tonawanda High School in 1966 and went on to receive a B.A. in English from Williams College. He played football for North Tonawanda High School and for Williams. After a short stint working for the phone company and a try at teaching, he earned his M.L.S. degree from the University at Buffalo, and started his career as a librarian and library administrator. He served libraries in Buffalo, Chillicothe and Mansfield, OH, and Fort Wayne, IN. He is now retired and splits his time between Fort Wayne and Florida, where he spends as much time as he can on the beach. He volunteers for non-profit organizations that promote education and public service.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 28, 2023
This debut novel reads like an autobiography, which essentially it is, making the work likely most popular with folks who grew up during the same era and in the same neighborhood as author J. R. Krull. The book is a grand nostalgic tour through the mid-sixties, centered around the fortunes of the Ganaway High School football team, their 2nd string quarterback and "the backfield," his group of close friends.
The book is very readable, though it might have benefited with a bit more editing. The opening 50 pages or so labors to set the scene, and does so, though without much energy. The writing becomes more relaxed and fluid as the book goes on and as side stories emerge--Chris' father's alcoholism and gambling problems and an industrial accident that costs the father of a close friend his foot; and the subsequent litigation resulting from that accident. I was a bit frustrated that there was no closure to either of those story threads.
I was glad to see the author acknowledge the maturing of his sensibilities in regards to race and the place of women in society. The story benefits from the honest mention of prevailing attitudes of the time. All in all, a good read and a fun romp through the past.
The book is very readable, though it might have benefited with a bit more editing. The opening 50 pages or so labors to set the scene, and does so, though without much energy. The writing becomes more relaxed and fluid as the book goes on and as side stories emerge--Chris' father's alcoholism and gambling problems and an industrial accident that costs the father of a close friend his foot; and the subsequent litigation resulting from that accident. I was a bit frustrated that there was no closure to either of those story threads.
I was glad to see the author acknowledge the maturing of his sensibilities in regards to race and the place of women in society. The story benefits from the honest mention of prevailing attitudes of the time. All in all, a good read and a fun romp through the past.
August 8, 2022
This book was written by a classmate of my husband in high school. Knowing he was writing about our hometown and people we knew with the names changed was a little frustrating! Both my husband and I wondered who was who and what places the characters were actually going to. It was a fun read and very entertaining! Football fans should enjoy this book. The add-on to the title was perfect—a story of boyhood, friendship, and football! Great debut novel!
July 11, 2022
Growing up in the sixties two towns away from North Tonawanda made this book very interesting to me. The relationships among the friends rang true. I could picture the football practices and games as I played against NT a couple of years ahead of the author. It turns out we also were on competing teams in college (U of Rochester vs. Williams).
February 8, 2023
Must read for NT footballers!
If you love North Tonawanda (Ganaway) football, you must read this book! Trying to figure out landmarks was a fun part of reading this book. Coach George Vetter (Helweig) is and always will be a legend.
If you love North Tonawanda (Ganaway) football, you must read this book! Trying to figure out landmarks was a fun part of reading this book. Coach George Vetter (Helweig) is and always will be a legend.
December 29, 2024
Entertainingly nostalgic about a group of football players from my dad’s era. The ups & downs of teenage life in a small town are detailed with care - loose ends (“what happened to person A, situation B, etc) but that’s how real life works.
I enjoyed “Single Wing”.
I enjoyed “Single Wing”.
April 12, 2026
I really enjoyed this coming of age story about 6 high school boys who played football together. It's told through the eyes of one of the boys. This book reminded me of my high school days and the crazy stuff you do at that age. It made me laugh and I really enjoyed the story.
January 22, 2026
Lovely coming of age story for close high school friends who play football. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews