It's 1979, the midst of the Iran hostage crisis. The front page of every newspaper has images of blindfolded American hostages or Iranians burning American flags. This is the world 17-year-old Ali Jahani is smuggled into after escaping the front lines of the Iran-Iraq War.

Rejected by everyone including the uncle whose home he has sought refuge in and faced with racial discrimination and bullying at school, Ali remains determined to fit in and make a new life for himself. He decides that joining a team sport will make him seem 'like everyone else.'

After failed attempts at basketball and football, Ali impresses Coach Plyler (William Fichtner) and Principal Skinner (Jon Voight) and makes it onto the school's floundering wrestling team.