"To Be The Best is a novel that is not only worthy of consideration for wrestlers and their friends and families but will also appeal to individuals who may not know the difference between a takedown and a touchdown.  It is a great read for anyone who has felt the competitive fire burn within their hearts."
     Mark Palmer - College Wrestling Examiner and Writer for InterMat

"Whether it's about physical battles on the mat or emotional struggles off the mat, To Be The Best captures the realities of high school wrestling very well. Hertel knows his stuff when it comes to telling a compelling wrestling story."                                                                                                Jeff Beshey - The Guillotine  (Minnesota Amateur Wrestling)

Kirkus Discoveries says, "...the depth of Hertel's obvious knowledge of wrestling and his ability to build psychologically realistic characters makes this a startlingly interesting read."
To read this review in its entirety, click here.

The Grand Forks Herald says, "Hertel's passion and respect for the sport is clear as a reader flips through the pages of To Be the Best.  The novel is about more than just wrestling, however.  It also focuses on the struggles of teenagers - their triumphs and downfalls during the high school years."

To Be The Best has a five-star ranking on Amazon.com with readers calling it: -       “Fantastic!”
-       “GREAT BOOK FOR WRESTLING FAMILIES”
-       “Not just a wrestling story”
-       “Super ‘keep you on the edge of your seat’ book”