If the shoe fits … write a book about it.

That is what collector Drew Phipps did to share his unbridled passion for something most take for granted. Something to which many will never give a second thought.

Wrestling shoes.

Not baseball cards, coins or comic books. Phipps has been gathering wrestling shoes for the better part of 12 years, and he was yearning to tell the world about it.

Call his idea to put a long-time devotion into paperback form a major decision.

The former Norwin and Bucknell mat standout is leaving a footprint among other aficionados.

In a 187-page paperback called “The Wrestling Shoe Handbook: For Wrestling Shoe Fanatics,” Phipps canvases the history of wrestling shoes, from origins and vintage styles to modern looks. He highlights his favorite brands and models, ranks them and shows various shoe types in dozens of colorful photos.

He appeals to both the split-sole and solid-sole camps and even offers insider tips for fellow fanatics who want to grapple in this space.

“Whether you’re a dedicated shoe collector striving to learn more about the complex history, or simply a parent looking for the best wrestling shoe for your child,” Phipps writes on the back cover, “this is the book for you.”

Phipps, an assistant wrestling coach at Seton Hill, could don wrestling shoes from his collection every day for several months and not wear the same pair twice.

He admits to being more hobbyist than virtuoso, but his excitement for his leisure pursuit is clear in the exclamation points throughout the book.

His enthusiasm and obvious fandom are the laces that tie the jocund project together.

“I’ve had a passion for buying, selling, trading and collecting wrestling shoes since I was in middle school,” Phipps said. “I realized there was no real documentation on the history of wrestling shoes. Although I don’t claim to be an expert, I definitely think I have a pretty good understanding of how wrestling shoes have changed and evolved over time.”

His affinity began in middle school when wrestlers reached out to him on the image-hosting site, Flickr, inquiring about the rare shoes he’d worn in matches. That opened the door to his curious hobby.

“I quickly became engulfed,” he writes, adding candidly, “The wrestling shoe culture began to slowly take over my life.”

Step by step, Phipps takes mat shoe enthusiasts on a journey that begins in the 1960s, twists and turns through decades and footwear technological changes, and reaches modern day styles that are splashed with color and swag.

He ranks the most expensive styles, like the classic, 1988 Ringersteifel Combats that sell for $2,500 to the $1,500 adidas Equipments, to Nike’s $800 Olympic Edition Inflicts.

Phipps has owned a pair of the Nike Combats, considered by collectors to be the holy grail of the market.

Mat footwear originally sold for less than $10 in the 1960s, he notes, and that came after the barefoot era ended.

“Since I have enjoyed this hobby, I figured it would be great to finally get some sort of documentation on paper that could help others who are interested in it as well,” Phipps said. “I understand it’s certainly a niche market that I’m advertising to, but that’s perfectly fine with me. Hopefully, this can enhance others’ understanding who are already interested in the shoe game and possibly even draw more people into it.”

He even offers life hacks for sole-seekers, like using sandpaper on used shoes to achieve fresh traction.

Phipps has a popular Instagram page, @drewrestler_shoes, where he displays and sells wrestling shoes and gear and shares his thoughts with like-minded followers — more than 15,000 of them.

“I know there are definitely folks out there who are interested in the same things as me,” Phipps said.

Phipps said he owns about 100 pairs of wrestling shoes — a number that varies as he buys, sells and trades.

“Over this journey, I’ve owned some of the rarest wrestling shoes known to man,” Phipps said. “Sometimes, people don’t realize the rarity or value of old wrestling shoes. What one person may see as a beat-up pair of shoes, the shoe community may see as a true gem or piece of history.”

The book sells for about $22 and is available at Amazon.com.

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