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Four Days to Glory: Wrestling with the Soul of the American Heartland
Somewhere beyond the circle of money, glitz, drugs and controversy that characterizes professional sports in America, there exists the remnants of the ideal. In Iowa, that ideal survives in the form of high school wrestling, a way of transforming the local virtues—modesty, privation, hard work—into sporting glory. To be a wrestling champion in Iowa is to achieve greatness—individual glory where the only back to pat is your own. For Jay Borschel and Dan LeClere, though, the stakes have been raised. Already three-time state champions in differing weight classes, each boy has a chance in his senior year of high school to do something historic—to become a "four-timer," joining the most elite group in the sport and essentially ensuring his status as an Iowa wrestling deity. For Jay, a ferocious competitor who feeds off criticism and doubt, a victory would mean vindication over the great mass of skeptics waiting for him to fail. Dan, the kid from a farm near the tiny town of Coggon (population 710), carries other burdens. For his community, for the hard-driving coach who doubles as his father, and for his own triumph over his personal demons, another title is the only acceptable outcome. As the two boys approach the finals in a series of increasingly tense and hard-fought matches, Jay and Dan reveal the forces that drive young men through a grueling routine of early-morning and late-night workouts, social isolation, and starvation diets—and the rewards of the wrestling life. But in the finals, a victory is the only answer; blow that chance at a fourth title, before the fanatical crowds at the giant state tournament in Des Moines, and you will be little noted nor long remembered. Four Days to Glory is the story of America as told through its small towns and their connection to sport, the way it was once routinely perceived—a way of mattering to the folks next door.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published December 26, 2007
39 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
Mark Kreidler
6 books3 followersA sports writer and columnist, Mark Kreidler currently contributes to both ESPN.com and ESPN: The Magazine. He is the author of Four Days to Glory, Six Good Innings, and The Voodoo Wave. He lives in Davis, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
January 29, 2018
I liked this book a lot. I really liked the topic because since I'm a wrestler I can relate to almost everything in the book. I also liked how the author described how Dan and Jay felt and reacted to things throughout their senior years. And how they felt when the days of the state tournament arrived.
Another thing I liked was that the book was set in Iowa. Jay is from Linn-Mar, which is in Marion. Dan is from North Linn, which is in Coggon. Both places are within an hour and a half from here, which is cool. One thing I didn't like was that it was a little hard to follow at the beginning, because it "moved" around a lot, but after I got into it, it was good. Overall this is a very good book.
Another thing I liked was that the book was set in Iowa. Jay is from Linn-Mar, which is in Marion. Dan is from North Linn, which is in Coggon. Both places are within an hour and a half from here, which is cool. One thing I didn't like was that it was a little hard to follow at the beginning, because it "moved" around a lot, but after I got into it, it was good. Overall this is a very good book.
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November 5, 2021it was okay kinda boreing but it was good because im into wrestling and it was real life from iowa
December 18, 2014
"Four Days to Glory", written by Mark Kreidler, is the true story about two small town kids from Iowa who have the chance to become gods in the wrestling world. Dan LeClere and Jay Borschel are some of the top high school wrestlers in Iowa history, and they want to achieve what everyone says is impossible.
In this book, the author goes deeper into the lives of two high school wrestlers, with a chance to win the State Championship all four years of high school. Only thirteen people in Iowa have done it since 1962. The two boys he writes about are more focused on wrestling the last matches of their high school careers than anything else, and they will do anything to win it. LeClere, wrestling at 141 pounds as a senior, shows a lot of determination to prove to everyone that he can do it. Borschel, wrestling at 171 pounds as a senior, has to prove to all of the doubters around the country that he can win four times, gaining 68 pounds throughout high school. They both show the drive to win and have different ways of doing it. The author of this book explains all sides of wrestling, and how much work goes into it. He also talks about some of the other wrestlers on Jay or Dan’s teams, as well as their families.
Jay Borschel out of Linn-Mar High School of Iowa; three time state champion at 103, 125, and 152, will be going for a state championship at 171 pounds, which is the biggest weight gain of a four time champion in history. Jay thrives on doubters, and likes to prove them wrong. He uses that fuel to overcome the obstacles in the way. Other than people knowing he is a good wrestler, he isn’t treated much differently than other kids. He figures that if he wins a fourth state title, it won’t be a huge deal. The author also talks about the family support, and that it’s a huge part of the sport. Jay’s father, Jim, was Jay’s biggest supporter and made sure he could do everything so that Jay could succeed.
Dan LeClere out of North Linn High School is also a three time state champion at 119, 130, and 140, attempting to capture another title at 140 pounds. Dan shows people that he can come through the doubt and go down in history. Dan’s father, Doug, is Dan’s biggest mentor and pushed him to be the best he could be by coaching him. If it weren’t for his family’s support, Dan wouldn’t be where he is now. He knows that if he is good at anything, it is wrestling, and that’s what he wanted to be known for. His dreams are to wrestle in college, whether it be in Iowa or not, and become a champion there also.
Midway through the book, the author talks about where the boys hope to go to college. They would both like to stay in Iowa because of the rich history and a very good wrestling team, but the coach wasn’t very welcoming. They had met with a few other coaches, and they both separately decided to attend Virginia Tech, because they could tell the coach, Tom Brands, was going to help them with whatever they needed.
By the end of the book, it was kind of obvious that the two were going to win a fourth title, and they both did. Jay had gotten sick with bronchitis about a week before the tournament, and was having a really tough time against some of his opponents, but pushed through and won. Dan wasn’t worried about the actual winning of the tournament. He wanted to dominate every opponent he faced, which he did.
After their freshman year of college at Virginia Tech, which they had redshirted, the two followed their coach back to Iowa, giving up their second year of college wrestling. They did this because they believed in their coach, and figured that going with him would be their best choice. Jay went on to become an All American and an NCAA champion for Iowa. Dan had one of the best GPA’s along with a sport that the school had seen. They were both members of three time NCAA and Big Ten championship teams.
The setting interacts this book in the way that they are both small town kids, but make themselves a state-wide name. It is set somewhat recently (2004-2005), and the two still interact in wrestling. This tells us that even though there are many differences outside of wrestling, the sport stays the same, and if you love it enough, you’ll be in it for life.
I encourage anyone who is interested in the sport of wrestling to read this, or ages 15 and up. Some of the topics in the book are hard for younger people to understand and that is why I recommend a higher age group. I would mainly think that boys would be more interested in this book, but I suppose girls may enjoy it too.
February 17, 2011
Kreidler tells the story of Jay Borschel and Dan LeClere, two wrestlers on the verge of becoming 4-time Iowa state wrestling champions. I actually wrestled with another 4-timer (Jeff McGinness, later also a Hawkeye), and so a lot of the details of the wrestling room, matches, and mindset that Kreidler tries to get across were instantly familiar to me. Dan LeClere just working on a takedown until he thinks it's perfect, then pinning his opponent, both Jay and Dan putting themselves in a different spot, mentally, than the rest of the team, and the need to find better quality sparring partners all the time all reminded me of my freshman year. Kreidler's interactions with their families were the best part of the book, for me. I've never been someone who could easily empathize with the low-level insanity required to do anything at the level these guys do it, much less something that can destroy your body like wrestling can (cauliflower ear and growth stunted from cutting weight). I was a terrible wrestler, and my attitude sort of showed why--I always wore a headgear and refused to cut weight.
I also really liked reading the book this year, a year after all the people followed in the book had finished their college career or established themselves in college (one freshman on borschel's team is now a sophomore at Iowa and the defending national champion). It gave me a longer narrative arc to work with, and that, I think, made the book more powerful.
Kreidler does get some details wrong, and that's kind of annoying to me. If he'd shown those pages of his proofs to anyone who lived in Iowa, they would have immediately fixed them, so it was just careless and distracting for me (The thing that is particularly impressive about Dan Gable's run in the Munich Olympics was not that he won all his matches; Olympic Champions have to do that. It's that no one scored a point on him. There were a few other things like that, but you would need to be me to be bothered by them).
Overall, a great book on the mentality of Iowa youth wrestling.
I also really liked reading the book this year, a year after all the people followed in the book had finished their college career or established themselves in college (one freshman on borschel's team is now a sophomore at Iowa and the defending national champion). It gave me a longer narrative arc to work with, and that, I think, made the book more powerful.
Kreidler does get some details wrong, and that's kind of annoying to me. If he'd shown those pages of his proofs to anyone who lived in Iowa, they would have immediately fixed them, so it was just careless and distracting for me (The thing that is particularly impressive about Dan Gable's run in the Munich Olympics was not that he won all his matches; Olympic Champions have to do that. It's that no one scored a point on him. There were a few other things like that, but you would need to be me to be bothered by them).
Overall, a great book on the mentality of Iowa youth wrestling.
June 4, 2025
This book follows two Iowa high school wreslters as they seek to win their fourth state chamionships, in the 2004-05 season. Jay Borschel, at 171, who attended Linn-Mar HS, one of the larger schools (3A) around Cedar Rapids; Jay won his first state championship at 103 (the year he suffered his only high school defeat, losing to a longtime club friend in a match earlier that year) and had won his championships at ever increasing weights (125, 152), kind of a rare feat. And Dan LeClere, who comes from a wrestling family; his father was a state qualifier, and is now the assistant coach, his brothers are also known wrestlers though not at Dan’s level of fame. Dan comes from the same county and club system as Jay, but Dan was raised on a farm in the rural north county, and attended North-Linn HS, small 1A school. He won his previous championships at 119, 130, and 140, and is going for 40 again. He had only two losses his whole HS career.
The author does a decent job of introducing the two young wrestlers, Jay and Dan, but it just felt somewhat superficial. Jay appears to fuel himself off of doubt from others, he thrives off of “bulletin board material” of those who doubt him in online forums (often over whether he has bitten off more than he can chew (pun intended) with his huge weight increases. He also uses as fuel the relative disinterest he receives from his own school and community for the most part in his incredible feat of having won three state championships and on course for a fourth, while racking up only one loss in his HS career. Jay mentions how no one shows up to their wrestling team home meets, unlike for the basketball team. A funny symbol of this disinterest was even at the end while a teammate’s (a freshman who also went to state but lost early) front door was decorated by cheerleaders, Jay’s was not; albeit apparently due to an accident in addresses but kind of made Jay’s point. Jay’s story was contrasted well by the author with that of “farm kid” Dan, though, to be honest, while Dan was raised on a farm in rural Linn County, he didn’t exactly seem like a farm kid but just a kid raised there. In Dan’s story he is really overshadowed by his father Doug, who, in addition to his side-hustle jobs (common to small farmers) appears to do all the work on the farm (what is the point of having four sons as a farmer?) as I never read about Dan or the others doing any work. Dan seems more introspective than Jay, his passion and fuel seems to come from a secret spot from within him (I assume). But his community support felt striking compared to Jay’s, especially as the story progressed.
But the above is really all it felt like I got on the personal level about the two wrestlers, Jay and Dan. I felt like I’d have gotten the same reading an SI article. There was more on their programs, coaches, a little background on other wrestlers in their programs and others in the state that year, but again, not much more than you’d get in a news article. Dan’s father Doug, the former state qualifier and current assistant coach at North Linn, was almost the star of the book. His passion was evident as we hear about him still wrestling on his own still in club matches, or ferociously against kids in practice, obsess over Dan, younger son Nick, consider mistakes with a past oldest son who quit the sport (not hard to imagine why) and a youngest son to come, etc… We get some insight into Dan and Jay’s future as they both have committed to wrestling out of state (along with a few other top HS wrestlers in the state), both having felt disinterest from the Hawkeyes, their lifelong dream school (which plays into Jay’s mindset of being doubted by everyone) and where they wrestled when little in an affiliated club.
The flow of the book felt a little disjointed. It felt like we left Jay and Dan as the author talks about wrestling in general and wrestling in Iowa, in a very basic and repetitive manner. A lot of the same clichés are brougt up over and over. It felt at times like the author only knows surface level facts about wrestling or he was just dumbing it down for a broader audience, I really felt this as he tried to do play by play of matches. When he does return to Jay and Dan it felt the same; repetitive, covering the same things about them personally and their families and teammates/coaches and their families as was already covered. And suddenly we are at the state finals and its goes very quick from there. We get very little play by play of Jay or Dan’s matches or what is going through their minds beyond a few lines here and there. Very anticlimactic.
Either those two young men were just super boring, or refused to open up, or the author just couldn’t connect with them. I felt it was the latter, but it doesn’t matter, without it the book felt flat, much of the material felt like filler just to take what could have been a feature magazine story and make it a book. He seemed to connect to the parents and coaches much more, which is understandable, but what he got from that felt irrelevant or again, repetitive. He would have been better served to get more info from the other wrestlers mentioned, those who Jay and Dan faced for example, or teammates, friends at school, etc... Everything seemed to come from coaches and parents, and it felt that way, like commentary from adults who were holding back because they were tallking about teens. But it needed something more to fill it out. It became a real slog to read which shouldn’t have been the case for me with this kind of story.
So, while the topic was very interesting the book is rather mediocre. My gut is a 2.5/5 but I can’t round up someting as miserable to read. On a sidenote, I looked up Jay and Dan’s college records andnthe towns and schools they went to to get a feel, and on Jay’s school’s Wikipedia page there is no mention of him and his feat as a notable alumni; he also went on to win a national championship in college (undefeated that year) and is in the Iowa and the National Wrestling HOF. Yet there are several alumni basketball players listed on the page who I’ve never heard of, kind of fits his story that no one there really cares about wrestling, even in mighty Iowa! I also looked up Dan, he with Jay and the other Iowa defectors returned to Iowa after redshirting at VT, sat out a year per NCAA rules, then wrestled his last three years at Iowa (looks like he may have been plagued by injuries based on how few matches he had). He had a solid career though he missed out on a national championship but was a qualifier his senior year. Good for both of them.
The author does a decent job of introducing the two young wrestlers, Jay and Dan, but it just felt somewhat superficial. Jay appears to fuel himself off of doubt from others, he thrives off of “bulletin board material” of those who doubt him in online forums (often over whether he has bitten off more than he can chew (pun intended) with his huge weight increases. He also uses as fuel the relative disinterest he receives from his own school and community for the most part in his incredible feat of having won three state championships and on course for a fourth, while racking up only one loss in his HS career. Jay mentions how no one shows up to their wrestling team home meets, unlike for the basketball team. A funny symbol of this disinterest was even at the end while a teammate’s (a freshman who also went to state but lost early) front door was decorated by cheerleaders, Jay’s was not; albeit apparently due to an accident in addresses but kind of made Jay’s point. Jay’s story was contrasted well by the author with that of “farm kid” Dan, though, to be honest, while Dan was raised on a farm in rural Linn County, he didn’t exactly seem like a farm kid but just a kid raised there. In Dan’s story he is really overshadowed by his father Doug, who, in addition to his side-hustle jobs (common to small farmers) appears to do all the work on the farm (what is the point of having four sons as a farmer?) as I never read about Dan or the others doing any work. Dan seems more introspective than Jay, his passion and fuel seems to come from a secret spot from within him (I assume). But his community support felt striking compared to Jay’s, especially as the story progressed.
But the above is really all it felt like I got on the personal level about the two wrestlers, Jay and Dan. I felt like I’d have gotten the same reading an SI article. There was more on their programs, coaches, a little background on other wrestlers in their programs and others in the state that year, but again, not much more than you’d get in a news article. Dan’s father Doug, the former state qualifier and current assistant coach at North Linn, was almost the star of the book. His passion was evident as we hear about him still wrestling on his own still in club matches, or ferociously against kids in practice, obsess over Dan, younger son Nick, consider mistakes with a past oldest son who quit the sport (not hard to imagine why) and a youngest son to come, etc… We get some insight into Dan and Jay’s future as they both have committed to wrestling out of state (along with a few other top HS wrestlers in the state), both having felt disinterest from the Hawkeyes, their lifelong dream school (which plays into Jay’s mindset of being doubted by everyone) and where they wrestled when little in an affiliated club.
The flow of the book felt a little disjointed. It felt like we left Jay and Dan as the author talks about wrestling in general and wrestling in Iowa, in a very basic and repetitive manner. A lot of the same clichés are brougt up over and over. It felt at times like the author only knows surface level facts about wrestling or he was just dumbing it down for a broader audience, I really felt this as he tried to do play by play of matches. When he does return to Jay and Dan it felt the same; repetitive, covering the same things about them personally and their families and teammates/coaches and their families as was already covered. And suddenly we are at the state finals and its goes very quick from there. We get very little play by play of Jay or Dan’s matches or what is going through their minds beyond a few lines here and there. Very anticlimactic.
Either those two young men were just super boring, or refused to open up, or the author just couldn’t connect with them. I felt it was the latter, but it doesn’t matter, without it the book felt flat, much of the material felt like filler just to take what could have been a feature magazine story and make it a book. He seemed to connect to the parents and coaches much more, which is understandable, but what he got from that felt irrelevant or again, repetitive. He would have been better served to get more info from the other wrestlers mentioned, those who Jay and Dan faced for example, or teammates, friends at school, etc... Everything seemed to come from coaches and parents, and it felt that way, like commentary from adults who were holding back because they were tallking about teens. But it needed something more to fill it out. It became a real slog to read which shouldn’t have been the case for me with this kind of story.
So, while the topic was very interesting the book is rather mediocre. My gut is a 2.5/5 but I can’t round up someting as miserable to read. On a sidenote, I looked up Jay and Dan’s college records andnthe towns and schools they went to to get a feel, and on Jay’s school’s Wikipedia page there is no mention of him and his feat as a notable alumni; he also went on to win a national championship in college (undefeated that year) and is in the Iowa and the National Wrestling HOF. Yet there are several alumni basketball players listed on the page who I’ve never heard of, kind of fits his story that no one there really cares about wrestling, even in mighty Iowa! I also looked up Dan, he with Jay and the other Iowa defectors returned to Iowa after redshirting at VT, sat out a year per NCAA rules, then wrestled his last three years at Iowa (looks like he may have been plagued by injuries based on how few matches he had). He had a solid career though he missed out on a national championship but was a qualifier his senior year. Good for both of them.
September 5, 2015
I checked this out for John, since it's about wrestling and Iowa, two of his interests. I didn't have many other books to read at the time, since I ended up carrying it around with me for a few weeks. It follows two high school wrestlers in Iowa and paints a picture of the pressures they face as they attempt to become four-time state champions in wrestling. It's interesting because wrestling is not a prestigious sport anymore, and it's definitely not where the money is, but there is still a culture that is totally dedicated to it - the author makes claim that Iowa is the center of the high-school wrestling world.
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February 6, 2017I really like this book because I wrestle i can't really relate much with the character in this book because there all great wrestlers four and three time state champions. It such a great story especially since its real life. I think the most amazing story is jay borschel he has gone up so many weight classes.
January 7, 2014
It is a lousy, wonderful life.
a great review of the sport from an outsider. as an Iowa born wrestler and coach's son... this hits square at home. I lost in Sectional my Senior year, at 171, after getting hit by the same bronchitis train. it is crushing and you never let it go.
a great review of the sport from an outsider. as an Iowa born wrestler and coach's son... this hits square at home. I lost in Sectional my Senior year, at 171, after getting hit by the same bronchitis train. it is crushing and you never let it go.
November 29, 2022
Book 50 of 2022
This could have been a great book. But great requires all around excellence. An excellence that begins with the stroke of a pen. Okay, I'll stop there. Great story of some potential 4-time state wrestling champions in the mecca of the sport that is Iowa. But those first few lines were my quick example of Kriedler's writing style (maybe just this book??). Effective at times, it was a little to quaint/sweet/romantic for the duration of the full book. Just my preference. Good on Kriedler for writing a well-received book.
Saw a well-used paperback version of this at the library book sale. Mmm, looks good and I could toss it after reading - just kidding I can't toss books. But I still passed on it then, low and behold, there was a nice hard cover edition in a completely wrong section and I absolutely grabbed it.
No spoilers in my review as, to me, that was a key to getting to the end of the story. Would the kids get their four titles? However, look at the photos in the middle with caution if you don't want it spoiled. And I'll throw in some side info that is not a spoiler.
I like a book that gets me Googling during the read. In this case, Kriedler is talking about the recruitment process and why these Iowa studs will not be staying in Iowa, which is, again, the mecca of wrestling. As I'm reading about a lackluster recruit from the Iowa coach I'm thinking no way is this guy still the coach. From what I know in 2022, that program could not exist if that coach is as described. Sure enough, major changes took place shortly after the book was published. No spoilers here but it's not mentioned in the book so I can put it: Borschel went on to win an NCAA title. The big kicker: in researching all that early on in the book, Kriedler had barely just mentioned a 103-pound freshman named Matt McDonough. Again it's not in the book so no spoiler, but McDonough went on to win three state titles and two NCAA titles. Craziness!
The other side search that got me going involved the rape and murder of Dan Gable's teenage sister. As Kriedler describes, the legendary wrestler really never spoke of the incident. Curious, I went online to find some stories about it. Well after the book was published, Gable went on Joe Rogan and went 10 minutes uninterrupted talking about the incident. Pretty compelling stuff.
Beyond that, I liked the book. I got into sports writing to cover basketball and had no interest in wrestling. I really regret that and really do enjoy the sport now. Kansas is three years into sanctioned HS girls' wrestling as it has exploded and made it even more exciting. Providing just a baseline of coverage of area teams, I've twice earned Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association Media of the Year. Love those plaques.
So while I didn't always care for Kriedler's writing style, he does capture the grind of a season and all the sacrifices made. I like it even more that he also captures the small-town and the bigger school, all in one book. I've covered the Class 3-2-1A State Wrestling Championships in Kansas for a number of years. Some great kids, great matches, great fans. But probably never more than 4,000 people in that gym at once. What a spectacle it must be to have 11,000 maniacs cheering on wrestling at the highest level.
This could have been a great book. But great requires all around excellence. An excellence that begins with the stroke of a pen. Okay, I'll stop there. Great story of some potential 4-time state wrestling champions in the mecca of the sport that is Iowa. But those first few lines were my quick example of Kriedler's writing style (maybe just this book??). Effective at times, it was a little to quaint/sweet/romantic for the duration of the full book. Just my preference. Good on Kriedler for writing a well-received book.
Saw a well-used paperback version of this at the library book sale. Mmm, looks good and I could toss it after reading - just kidding I can't toss books. But I still passed on it then, low and behold, there was a nice hard cover edition in a completely wrong section and I absolutely grabbed it.
No spoilers in my review as, to me, that was a key to getting to the end of the story. Would the kids get their four titles? However, look at the photos in the middle with caution if you don't want it spoiled. And I'll throw in some side info that is not a spoiler.
I like a book that gets me Googling during the read. In this case, Kriedler is talking about the recruitment process and why these Iowa studs will not be staying in Iowa, which is, again, the mecca of wrestling. As I'm reading about a lackluster recruit from the Iowa coach I'm thinking no way is this guy still the coach. From what I know in 2022, that program could not exist if that coach is as described. Sure enough, major changes took place shortly after the book was published. No spoilers here but it's not mentioned in the book so I can put it: Borschel went on to win an NCAA title. The big kicker: in researching all that early on in the book, Kriedler had barely just mentioned a 103-pound freshman named Matt McDonough. Again it's not in the book so no spoiler, but McDonough went on to win three state titles and two NCAA titles. Craziness!
The other side search that got me going involved the rape and murder of Dan Gable's teenage sister. As Kriedler describes, the legendary wrestler really never spoke of the incident. Curious, I went online to find some stories about it. Well after the book was published, Gable went on Joe Rogan and went 10 minutes uninterrupted talking about the incident. Pretty compelling stuff.
Beyond that, I liked the book. I got into sports writing to cover basketball and had no interest in wrestling. I really regret that and really do enjoy the sport now. Kansas is three years into sanctioned HS girls' wrestling as it has exploded and made it even more exciting. Providing just a baseline of coverage of area teams, I've twice earned Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association Media of the Year. Love those plaques.
So while I didn't always care for Kriedler's writing style, he does capture the grind of a season and all the sacrifices made. I like it even more that he also captures the small-town and the bigger school, all in one book. I've covered the Class 3-2-1A State Wrestling Championships in Kansas for a number of years. Some great kids, great matches, great fans. But probably never more than 4,000 people in that gym at once. What a spectacle it must be to have 11,000 maniacs cheering on wrestling at the highest level.
May 21, 2024
Four days to Glory is a book written by Mark Kreidler about two wrestlers who are pursuing fame in Iowa High School wrestling. This is a feat that is rarely accomplished and Kreidler highlights the even more unique occurrence of two wrestlers chasing this dream at the same time. The author provides a different perspective when writing by following the two wrestlers simultaneously through their journey, while still having each be oblivious to the other and the unlikely similarity of their situations. Even though us as a reader can spectate both of these wrestlers' lives and understand how similar they are. Kreidler utilizes the rhetorical choice of repetition when showing off the fact that these athletes are attempting a goal that is so difficult that only 14 wrestlers had accomplished it up until this point. Because of the difficulty of this task, both wrestlers feel unequivocally alone on their journey as Kreilder exhibits with lines such as "going for four state titles, as each of them is, is such a profoundly lonely thing to do" (Kreidler, 13), and "In the end, the tournament will produce a winner in each of the sports fourteen weight classes, and it will do so in each of Iowa's three high school divisions, 1A, 2A, and 3A. That makes for forty-two state champs"(Kreidler, 14). This creates a sense of irony for the reader as we as a bystander are able to observe both sides of the story and understand that each wrestler is not in fact alone on their path to glory. This plays into the overall purpose of the book being a sports drama. Like most other reads, Mark is looking to provide a form of entertainment but that is not the only goal. By recording the journey each wrestler takes, he provides them with a small amount of recognition or glory in a sport where athletes receive so little credit for so much work. Considering the success of the book, Kreidler accomplished his goal, rewarding these athletes with an unprecedented amount of glory in the sport. When looking at the book in total, Kreilder did an amazing job. He did each athlete justice in explaining their story, highlighting their individual troubles while they approached the overall goal of eternal fame in Iowa high school athletics. He achieved his goal of giving these wrestlers recognition or glory (hence the title) in a sport that gives so little while taking so much. Because of these things I would recommend that anyone read the book Four Days To Glory by Mark Kreidler.
July 21, 2017
Once a wrestler, always a wrestler.
Kreidler gives a very good insight to the story of two young men attempting to become legends in Iowa wrestling history. Besides their personal journey's and their families, Kreidler also lets the reader learn more about a state whose identity is wrapped up in a sport that at the most last for six minutes.
It's hard for me to be totally objective about a topic I am so passionate about, but if it was poorly written or transparent, I surely would have put the book away instead of going for the pin!
Kreidler gives a very good insight to the story of two young men attempting to become legends in Iowa wrestling history. Besides their personal journey's and their families, Kreidler also lets the reader learn more about a state whose identity is wrapped up in a sport that at the most last for six minutes.
It's hard for me to be totally objective about a topic I am so passionate about, but if it was poorly written or transparent, I surely would have put the book away instead of going for the pin!
May 25, 2025
Could hardly be better!
I wrestled in a small town. This book captures the spirit of small town sports in general and wrestling in particular. Everything, including the smells, the lighting, the intensity, the winter weather, matches my boyhood anxieties wrapped up in Wrestling. Thank you, Mark Kreidler. A family photo album could not have been more nostalgic.
I wrestled in a small town. This book captures the spirit of small town sports in general and wrestling in particular. Everything, including the smells, the lighting, the intensity, the winter weather, matches my boyhood anxieties wrapped up in Wrestling. Thank you, Mark Kreidler. A family photo album could not have been more nostalgic.
September 28, 2018
This book is great if you’ve participated In wrestling or sports they detail that they have in the story I’ve experience and many athletes have they way he creates the story it’s great. I definitely would recommend this
January 11, 2018
I feel like it was a good book because I can relate to most of the book
March 25, 2018
If you ever wrestled this is a must read
August 2, 2018
Honestly, this is a pretty good story. I don't regret reading this.
October 29, 2018
pretty good kinda broing
May 29, 2019
It was a really good book because i am a wrestler my self.I also am going to Iowa in the summer for an intensive 6 day wrestling camp.
Read
June 4, 2019very good
February 10, 2020
I like this book! But there's a lot of characters>
March 24, 2020
Was a good book for a non wrestling fan. Felt a little choppy in the flow between chapters. But eventually everything fell into place.
Read
October 23, 2020I though they would on deatil about they wrestil bu they don't. THey just go from backstory and then some wresting mathces not the best,, but still.
August 4, 2022
- stuck in my head because of how much pills young wrestlers take to stay in their weight category/ starve themselves. Wreck their body
March 17, 2017
This was an amazing book. I don't even like wrestling, and this book was interesting. This book was special because it wasn't viewed as the characters. It was viewed by an article writer that then decided to write this book. If you like sports books, or good stories i recommend this book to you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2017
Four Days to Glory: Wrestling with the Soul of the American Heartland
I had a misguided assumption that this book was fiction. Well it's not, and it's about a real as books get.
Four Days to Glory provides a foundation for the appreciation of wrestling to the uninitiated, provided, they're not guided by common misconceptions. First of all WWE is NOT wrestling. Next, wrestling is difficult to understand, and understanding can only be accomplished through love – not of the sport but of another individual. Once interest is piqued through the love of another human, the haunting inhumanity compels the spectator like watching your child in a formula one car on a rain slick fast track and equally emotionally and physically draining. Once hooked, an obsession evolves as love of the sport replaces ignorance and the need for the involvement of a loved one.
Finally, one must appreciate that eventually every wrestler must admit the one he faces is better that day. No excuses. No teammates to blame. Such obvious truths makes men out of boys in this sport above any other. After wrestling, life is a cake walk. Boot camp? Mere child's play.
The narrative slowly develops a tone of a convert appreciating the particularly unique ruddy dynamic of American folkstyle wrestling. The authenticity of the empathy for the the rural Iowa families of Jay Borschel, Dan LeClere and their teammates bleeds through the page and blends with the ink. By chapter three you're hooked, and obviously Kreidler, the author, is no sports page hack.
More important than being about wrestling, it's about wrestlers – not just the winners but those willing to give their last ounce of will to be one. It's about the drive, desire, insanity and valor of wrestling. Kreidler, in this brilliant tale, pretty much covers the entirety of the sport from “Little Guys” to collegiate championships – even mentioning dusty icons like Frank Gotch, Dan Gable, Tom Brands and Cael Sanderson.
More than the immoderate drive and discipline, what sets wrestling apart from grappler to score keeper is that they thrive on thanklessness. The training rooms are small, hot and muggy, and no one participates for popularity. Spectators are slim to none, and girls typically prefer the captains of team sports. Unlike socially correct team athletes, wrestlers aren't hung-up on prettiness. Many wrestling moves are as unsightly as road kill. Gushing noses are common attire. All eventually yield to tears and puking in the waste can. Ringworm and impetigo are more common than jock itch. Twisted ears are badges of honor. Eventually an angry bubble rises to the surface and pops in the public eye – raw, ugly and humiliating to wrestler, family and spectators. It's all forgotten in an instant as everyone is glued to the next match and the wrestler ingests just enough food and water to get him through the next fall without pushing the scales above his weight class while winning burns like a hot iron on an open wound.
I recommend this book which I feel is a modern sports classic.
I had a misguided assumption that this book was fiction. Well it's not, and it's about a real as books get.
Four Days to Glory provides a foundation for the appreciation of wrestling to the uninitiated, provided, they're not guided by common misconceptions. First of all WWE is NOT wrestling. Next, wrestling is difficult to understand, and understanding can only be accomplished through love – not of the sport but of another individual. Once interest is piqued through the love of another human, the haunting inhumanity compels the spectator like watching your child in a formula one car on a rain slick fast track and equally emotionally and physically draining. Once hooked, an obsession evolves as love of the sport replaces ignorance and the need for the involvement of a loved one.
Finally, one must appreciate that eventually every wrestler must admit the one he faces is better that day. No excuses. No teammates to blame. Such obvious truths makes men out of boys in this sport above any other. After wrestling, life is a cake walk. Boot camp? Mere child's play.
The narrative slowly develops a tone of a convert appreciating the particularly unique ruddy dynamic of American folkstyle wrestling. The authenticity of the empathy for the the rural Iowa families of Jay Borschel, Dan LeClere and their teammates bleeds through the page and blends with the ink. By chapter three you're hooked, and obviously Kreidler, the author, is no sports page hack.
More important than being about wrestling, it's about wrestlers – not just the winners but those willing to give their last ounce of will to be one. It's about the drive, desire, insanity and valor of wrestling. Kreidler, in this brilliant tale, pretty much covers the entirety of the sport from “Little Guys” to collegiate championships – even mentioning dusty icons like Frank Gotch, Dan Gable, Tom Brands and Cael Sanderson.
More than the immoderate drive and discipline, what sets wrestling apart from grappler to score keeper is that they thrive on thanklessness. The training rooms are small, hot and muggy, and no one participates for popularity. Spectators are slim to none, and girls typically prefer the captains of team sports. Unlike socially correct team athletes, wrestlers aren't hung-up on prettiness. Many wrestling moves are as unsightly as road kill. Gushing noses are common attire. All eventually yield to tears and puking in the waste can. Ringworm and impetigo are more common than jock itch. Twisted ears are badges of honor. Eventually an angry bubble rises to the surface and pops in the public eye – raw, ugly and humiliating to wrestler, family and spectators. It's all forgotten in an instant as everyone is glued to the next match and the wrestler ingests just enough food and water to get him through the next fall without pushing the scales above his weight class while winning burns like a hot iron on an open wound.
I recommend this book which I feel is a modern sports classic.
January 8, 2015
First, I have to admit that I might be a little too randomly related to events in this book to be a fair and unbiased reviewer.
The book chronicles the attempt of two high school wrestlers to become the 15th and 16th four time Iowa State Champions during the winter of 2005. My brother's team wrestled in several tournaments with Dan LeClere's North Linn Lynx that year. It was so weird seeing one of my brother's teammates mentioned when he faced Dan, and I was actually at the Tournament covered in the chapter "Saturday in Wyoming."
So it was glaringly obvious that Kreidler (currently living in Sacramento) is not an Iowan (at one point he calls the University of Iowa, "Iowa University"), but it was also equally clear that he knew his wrestling. Not only did he document the senior wrestling seasons of Dan Le Clere and Jay Borschel, but he filled in the important details around that season needed to accurately capture what I affectionately refer to as "the cult of wrestling".
Anyone who's spent much time around wrestling and caught wrestling fever will love this book. Not only does he cover the drive and desire of Dan and Jay in their respective wrestling rooms and the ridiculous physical and mental demands of the sport, but he also covers at length the kiddie programs that started Jay and Dan down the road to wrestling glory, their dads' dedication to the sport, the legend of Dan Gable that motivated countless Iowa wrestlers (including Dan and Jay) to strive for greatness (and to wrestle collegiately for the University of Iowa). If you love wrestling, even if you don't know a lot about the sport, you will absolutely love this book. Kreidler captures the magic of this demanding sport and the state that has claimed it for it's own.
The book chronicles the attempt of two high school wrestlers to become the 15th and 16th four time Iowa State Champions during the winter of 2005. My brother's team wrestled in several tournaments with Dan LeClere's North Linn Lynx that year. It was so weird seeing one of my brother's teammates mentioned when he faced Dan, and I was actually at the Tournament covered in the chapter "Saturday in Wyoming."
So it was glaringly obvious that Kreidler (currently living in Sacramento) is not an Iowan (at one point he calls the University of Iowa, "Iowa University"), but it was also equally clear that he knew his wrestling. Not only did he document the senior wrestling seasons of Dan Le Clere and Jay Borschel, but he filled in the important details around that season needed to accurately capture what I affectionately refer to as "the cult of wrestling".
Anyone who's spent much time around wrestling and caught wrestling fever will love this book. Not only does he cover the drive and desire of Dan and Jay in their respective wrestling rooms and the ridiculous physical and mental demands of the sport, but he also covers at length the kiddie programs that started Jay and Dan down the road to wrestling glory, their dads' dedication to the sport, the legend of Dan Gable that motivated countless Iowa wrestlers (including Dan and Jay) to strive for greatness (and to wrestle collegiately for the University of Iowa). If you love wrestling, even if you don't know a lot about the sport, you will absolutely love this book. Kreidler captures the magic of this demanding sport and the state that has claimed it for it's own.
March 12, 2016
Four Days to Glory, a novel by Mark Kreidler, follows the lives of Seniors Jay Borschel (from Linn-Mar) and Dan Leclere (North Linn) on their road to becoming 4 time state champions. Mark Kreidler follows these two through their everyday lives in there last wrestling season as a high schooler, and keeps note of what they do to prepare to get their fourth wrestling titles. They will do whatever it takes to reach their goal.
Four Days to Glory was written in 2006 and published in 2007, and is a non-fictional sports book. Mark Kreidler’s tone is very informing and intense at many parts which keeps you on the edge of your seat. Kreidler detailed this novel very well. His descriptions of their workouts and matches were the best part of the book because he would describe the motions they were making, their faces changing, and the sweat and blood rolling down their face. He really wanted us to be there at that moment and watch how intense the workouts/matches were and how hard they went at them. Jay and Dan were both on a journey for the same thing and gave it their all to make it become a reality.
As I said earlier, what I like best about the book is how he describes and details their workouts and matches, he makes you feel like you are right there observing. I was really in to this book because I am thrilled about wrestling and my uncle coached Jay Borschel, so it means a lot to me. I really enjoyed this book overall and think others should read this. People who would be interested in this book would be people who have wrestled or know about the sport. Most of the book he uses wrestling terms that would be hard to get if you know nothing about the sport.
January 6, 2015
As my book was a non-fiction book, based on a true story, I will try my best to answer all of these questions to the best of my abilities. The plot in my story was very realistic, and this is because it was based on a true story. In my story, the plot had nothing missing and it appeared to make a great deal of sense.
This story takes place in Iowa, specifically in two small towns tracking two famous Iowa high school wrestlers. This book took place in the late 1990's to the early 2000s. Yes, this setting is very fitting for the plot and it very greatly helped the events of the book.
The characters were very believable due to this being a true story. They were also very relatable, because they went through some of the very same things that I go through right now as a high schooler. They were also insanely likable, because they just had that nice and happy personality that you love to be around.
The author's tone towards this book was very interesting. It quite often changed due to the events that were going on in the book. For example when Jay had bronchitis going into the state tournament, there was a very gloomy tone. Although when both Jay and Dan won their fourth IHSAA wrestling state title, the tone was as joyous as it possibly could be.
This book would be suited for any young wrestler or person of any age looking to get some quick inspiration to meet their dreams. I would recommend this book very highly. The way that Mark Kreidler captures the adventure of two midwestern wrestlers is just absolutely amazing.
This story takes place in Iowa, specifically in two small towns tracking two famous Iowa high school wrestlers. This book took place in the late 1990's to the early 2000s. Yes, this setting is very fitting for the plot and it very greatly helped the events of the book.
The characters were very believable due to this being a true story. They were also very relatable, because they went through some of the very same things that I go through right now as a high schooler. They were also insanely likable, because they just had that nice and happy personality that you love to be around.
The author's tone towards this book was very interesting. It quite often changed due to the events that were going on in the book. For example when Jay had bronchitis going into the state tournament, there was a very gloomy tone. Although when both Jay and Dan won their fourth IHSAA wrestling state title, the tone was as joyous as it possibly could be.
This book would be suited for any young wrestler or person of any age looking to get some quick inspiration to meet their dreams. I would recommend this book very highly. The way that Mark Kreidler captures the adventure of two midwestern wrestlers is just absolutely amazing.
January 12, 2016
The first thing I have to say about this book is that you have to be a wrestler in order to truly understand this book. One word to describe 4 Days to Glory; remarkable. Just imagine you are a 3 time state champion wrestling going for your fourth title. Mark Kreidler really got a lot of information about the two wrestlers from Iowa to write such a remarkable nonfiction novel. A good epigraph for this book is: “Champions are made from something they have deep inside of them, a desire, a dream, a vision.” -Muhammad Ali. I agree the that the author does a good job on bringing Jay and Dan, their loved ones and supported in their lives. I am glad to see most people are giving this book 5/5 stars. It deserves it. The author does a great job getting you feeling for the characters and the time, training and determination they put into the sport. Although it is an amazing story about to Iowa legends, you don’t have to even read the book to know they are going to easily win state again their senior year. I did though in fact like the way the book was set up, the two main characters Jay and Dan were the main characters. Neither one was more important than the others.
As a reader and a wrestler the author did an amazing job on getting thinking about wrestling. Many times throughout the book I found myself connecting back to some of my previous seasons. I could really relate to Jay and Dan. That’s my favorite part of 4 Days to Glory.
As a reader and a wrestler the author did an amazing job on getting thinking about wrestling. Many times throughout the book I found myself connecting back to some of my previous seasons. I could really relate to Jay and Dan. That’s my favorite part of 4 Days to Glory.
February 12, 2012
Jay Borschel and Dan LeClere are both three-time Iowa state champions in wrestling. This is no small feat, yet it is not enough to raise either boy from the ranks of “merely good” athletes to “excellent. For that distinction they will need to become “four timers” and join an elite group of Iowa wrestlers who achieve immortality. In addition to struggling with the pressure to exceed in the ring and the classroom, both boys face added pressures. Jay is an exceptional athlete who feeds off his criticism from Internet fans and local sports journalists. Dan is a legacy, his own father was a wrestling champion and Dan’s brother, Chris is entering the sport in Dan’s shadow and without Dan’s talent. Jay is virtually ignored in his school and town for his prowess and Dan is pointed out as his rural town’s one chance for notice on a regional scale.
Author does a good job bringing Jay and Dan, their families, friends, school mates and other community figures to life. Writing is very accessible and flows easily while reading. The suspense is well crafted. More straight reportage in chapters than storytelling. Not as memorable as Friday Night Lights.
Author does a good job bringing Jay and Dan, their families, friends, school mates and other community figures to life. Writing is very accessible and flows easily while reading. The suspense is well crafted. More straight reportage in chapters than storytelling. Not as memorable as Friday Night Lights.
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