Reach for the Stars

About the Book

Wrestling is as much a part of winter in Iowa as is snow and cold. Dreams of state championships begin in elementary school and, since 1972, come to fruition—or heartbreakingly fall short—at an arena in Des Moines in February or March. The tournament finals sell out, and individuals and teams carve their names on the sport’s history tree each year. Some champions were deaf, some were amputees, but all earn the respect of thousands for their work ethic—a hallmark of the state’s populace. Is this heaven? No, it’s better than that. It’s high school wrestling in Iowa!

About the Author

Dan McCool grew up in a wrestling hotbed in the state of Iowa and has followed the sport for most of his life. An addictive aspect of the sport came in 1977, when he witnessed a boyhood friend winning a state championship. He wrote about the sport for 30 years. As a writer for the Des Moines Register, McCool covered wrestling at the high school, collegiate, and international level and was respected for his knowledge of the sport and its participants. For several years, he handled the paper’s wrestling rankings for high school teams and individuals. Because the state tournament is a must-see event in Iowa, McCool wanted to give readers some stories about the teams and individuals of a sport that has turned out national champions, Olympic champions, and a Nobel Peace Prize winner. When he’s not watching wrestling, McCool enjoys oldies music, photography, travel, and football.