Children’s book by Marine Corps captain and Team USA bobsled pilot Riley Tejcek read to local students in Colorado Springs as the nation marks its 250th anniversary with a summer of literacy.
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NESBIT, Miss. — May 29, 2026 — End Game Press is delighted to share that its children’s title If You Can Dream It, Be It by Riley Tejcek was featured at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs on Thursday, May 28, 2026, where Second Lady Usha Vance read the book aloud to a group of local students as part of her Summer Reading Challenge. Vance was joined for the reading by two-time Olympian and six-time world champion wrestler Adeline Gray.
The event was widely covered by national and broadcast media — including the Colorado Springs Gazette, KRDO, KOAA, and KKTV — and was featured by USA Wrestling on its verified Instagram account (@usawrestling), where the organization shared photos of Vance reading the book alongside its world champion Adeline Gray, captioned “A little wrestling and a lot of storytime.” The reading helped kick off the Second Lady’s Summer Reading Challenge, a nationwide initiative launched to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary that encourages children to read 12 books between June 1 and September 4, 2026.
If You Can Dream It, Be It is an inspirational picture book that tells the true story behind the career of its author, Riley Tejcek — an officer in the United States Marine Corps and an Olympic bobsled pilot for Team USA. The book invites early readers to consider their own limitless potential, touching on athletics, military service, community service, and the courage to take chances. Its themes of perseverance, patriotism, and possibility resonate naturally with a national summer of reading tied to the country’s 250th anniversary.
A message from the publisher
“We believe in the power of a single book to help a child imagine a bigger future,” said Victoria Duerstock, Founder of End Game Press. “Childhood literacy is one of our passions, and we are honored that If You Can Dream It, Be It could play a part in the Second Lady’s Summer Reading Challenge as families across the country celebrate America’s 250th year. Riley Tejcek’s story shows young readers that service, sport, and big dreams can all live in one life — and that’s a message worth sharing this summer and well beyond.”
Availability
If You Can Dream It, Be It (hardcover) is available now through major retailers and online booksellers, and is distributed to the trade through Ingram. Booksellers, schools, and libraries may order through their standard wholesale channels. The title is well suited for summer reading lists, classroom and library collections, and patriotic and sports-themed displays throughout the 250th-anniversary season. For trade, school, and library ordering inquiries, contact End Game Press at the address below.
About End Game Press
End Game Press is an independent traditional publishing house based in Nesbit, Mississippi, in the Greater Memphis area, publishing books across its imprints including Wren & Bear and Lil’ Liberty Books for children. The press is committed to quality storytelling that informs, inspires, and uplifts readers of all ages. Learn more at www.endgamepress.com.
Media Contact:
Victoria Duerstock
End Game Press, LLC
victoria@endgamepress.com
www.endgamepress.com
