Mark John Hall II (born January 11, 1997) is an

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freestyle wrestler and graduated

folkstyle wrestler Collegiate wrestling (also known as folkstyle wrestling) is the form of wrestling practiced at the college and university level in the United States. This style of wrestling, with some slight modifications, is also practiced at high school and ...

who currently competes at 86 kilograms. As a folkstyle wrestler, Hall was an NCAA Division I National champion (three-time finalist) and a three-time Big Ten Conference champion (four-time finalist) out of the

Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsylvan ...

. As a freestyle wrestler, Hall was the 2021 US Open National champion, 2018 Pan American Continental champion, a two–time Junior World Champion and a Cadet World Champion.

Early life and school career

Middle and high school

Hall was born and grew up in Davison, Michigan, where he started wrestling at age six at Davison Middle School. He played

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since he was 4 years old until he was 10 years old and attributes his quickness on the mat to his background. He started seventh grade in Davison Middle School, but ended up moving to Union, Kentucky to wrestle for Ryle High School. The move was originated because the MHSAA does not allow middle schoolers to compete in the varsity high school level, while the

KHSAA The Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) has been the governing body of the U.S. state of Kentucky high-school athletics since 1917. It is located in Lexington. Sports The organization sanctions competition in the following sports ...

does. In that year (2010), Hall compiled a 42–3 record and made it to the finals of the state championships at 119, where he finally lost to the defending state champion Myron Bradbury. In 2011, Hall moved once again to wrestle at

Apple Valley High School Apple Valley High School is the name of two high schools in the United States: * Apple Valley High School (California) * Apple Valley High School (Minnesota) {{Schooldis ...

in Minnesota and decided to repeat 7th grade. He posted a 46–3 record as a seventh-grader and won a state title at 130 pounds. As an 8th-grader, he was unbeaten with a record of 43–0 and won his second state title now at 145 pounds. In his freshman year, he moved up another weight class and went on to win his third state title, this time at 152 pounds. As a

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, he moved up a weight class for the final time and went on to win his fourth state championship at 165 pounds, he also became a Cadet World Champion in freestyle wrestling. In his two remaining years ( junior and

senior Senior (shortened as Sr.) means "the elder" in Latin and is often used as a suffix for the elder of two or more people in the same family with the same given name, usually a parent or grandparent. It may also refer to: * Senior (name), a surname ...

) he won two more state titles at 165-pounds, making him a six-time Minnesota state champion and receiving the 2016 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award. He also won the Junior World Championships and reached quarterfinals in the Olympic Team Trials in 2016 as a high school senior. Hall posted a 278–5 record overall and is often considered the best Minnesota high school wrestler in history due to his accomplishments.

College career

He enrolled with the Penn State Nittany Lions

2016–17

At the beginning of the season, Hall was having a good redshirt season as he was 13–1 with seven

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, but he surpassed the expectations so much by comfortably winning the Southern Scuffle that PSUs Head Coach Cael Sanderson pulled his redshirt. As a true freshman, Hall went on to compete at the Big Ten Championships, where he posted a 2–1 record, making him the tournament's runner-up and qualifying for the nationals. At the national tournament, he defeated all 5 opponents, including top-ranked Zahid Valencia and #2-ranked Bo Jordan, making him the 2017 NCAA Division I Champion and receiving the InterMat Freshman of the Year Honor.

2017–18

Posted an undefeated 24–0 record in regular season. Went on to win his first Big Ten title, defeated #6 ranked wrestler Myles Amine in the finals and qualified for the NCAA tournament. Advanced to his second-straight final at NCAAs, but ultimately lost to the top-ranked wrestler in the country Zahid Valencia, making him the 2018 NCAA Division I Runner-up at 174-pounds. After-season, Hall won a gold medal in the prestigious 2018 Pan American Championships in freestyle wrestling.

2018–19

Compiled a perfect 23–0 record during regular season and avenged last year's loss at the National Finals beating Zahid Valencia 4 points to none. Won second-straight Big Ten title downing #4-ranked Myles Amine in the finals and qualifying for the 2019 NCAA Division I National Tournament. Got to the finals for the third-consecutive time defeating multiple high-ranked wrestlers, ultimately lost a close 4–3 to Zahid Valencia, making him the 2019 NCAA National Runner-up.

2019–20

Hall recorded a 20–1 record during regular season. In the 2020 Big Ten Conference Championships, he went 3–0, remarkably downing #6-ranked Dylan Lydy and avenging his loss in regular season by beating #2-ranked Michael Kemerer in the finals, winning his third-straight title. Going into the 2020 NCAA Wrestling Championships, Hall was seeded #1 and was a favorite to reach the finals for the fourth time and win the title a second time. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event wasn't able to take place, as it got cancelled. Hall wasn't able to finish his college career with an NCAA Title but was able to finish it with a Big Ten Championship in New Jersey. After the season, Hall earned All-American honors due to his performance throughout the season. Overall, Hall was a one-time NCAA Champion, two-time NCAA finalist, four-time NCAA All-American, three-time Big Ten Champion and four-time Big Ten Finalist as a college wrestler.

Freestyle career

Age-group

In the age-group, Hall was a two-time Junior World Champion and a Cadet World Champion in 2014, 2016 and 2017.

Senior level

2015-16

After making his senior debut in 2015 with a third-place finish at the Grand Prix of Spain, Hall qualified for the 2016 US Olympic Team Trials after winning the Last Chance Qualifier at 74 kilograms, but lost in the second round to the US Open champion Andrew Howe. He then went on to defeat Iran's Ahmad Bazrighaleh in a charity match at the annual Beat The Streets event.

2018-20

He made his return to the senior

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scene at the 2018 Pan American Championships, where he won the 74 kilograms championship and outscored his three opponents combined by 21 points to 1. In 2019, he once again won the Last Chance Qualifier now for the World Team Trials, but was stopped in his third match, this time by his collegiate rival Zahid Valencia. Hall was then scheduled to wrestle Tommy Gantt on August 30, 2020 at Chael Sonnen's Wrestling Underground I. However, an injury forced him to pull out of the bout on August 27.

2021–2022

After almost two years of inactivity, Hall eventually came back at the PRTC Summit I on January 31, but was defeated by '20 US National runner-up Nate Jackson in his comeback. Hall then competed at the 2021 America's Cup on February, compiling victories over two-time NCAA DI All-Americans Brett Pfarr and Josh Shields, '19 U23 World Team Member Muhamed McBryde and Christopher Foca. Hall then wrestled at the prestigious Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series on March 7. Dominating his way to the finals, Hall earned a technical fall and two

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, including one after dismantling '20 Henri Deglane International and '16 NCAA champion

Myles Martin Myles Najee Martin (born May 20, 1996) is an American freestyle wrestler and graduated folkstyle wrestler who competes at 86 kilograms. In freestyle, he placed second at the '19 US National Championships and is a two-time US U23 National Champi ...

. In the finale, he was dominantly stopped by his long-time rival Zahid Valencia, claiming silver. On March 27, Hall competed at the US Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier, in his third attempt to claim the championship and advance to the US Olympic/World Team Trials. After three straight wins, Hall was once again defeated by Nate Jackson in the semifinals, losing his chance of qualifying for the Olympic Trials. Subsequently, he won his next match but was defeated in the third–place match by fellow

NCAA champion The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...

Drew Foster to place fourth. Hall competed at the US Open National Championships from May 1 to 2. The number one seed, he ran through the bracket with technical falls up until the finale, where he battled '21 NCAA runner–up Trent Hidlay, beating him on points and claiming the US Open Championship. Hall then avenged a loss from the US Last Chance OTT by tech'ing

Drew Foster on June 18, at FCA: Truth & Technique. To open up 2022, Hall competed at the prestigious Yasar Dogu International on February 27, but failed to place.

Personal life

Hall holds a very close relationship with his father Mark Hall (senior), stating he always keeps him in the right path and is very grateful for it. His father, who was a state runner–up in 1976, also inspired him to wrestle along with his older brother and one of his former coaches. This coach was an accomplished wrestler in Chase Metcalf, Brent Metcalf's older brother, whom Hall was very close to and considered him an older brother or father and the person who pushed him the most while wrestling. When Hall was 8 years old, Metcalf died in an automobile accident, and that experience helped him to push himself more than ever. Hall still uses Metcalf's wrestling bag to this day.

Freestyle record

! colspan="7", Senior Freestyle Matches , - ! Res. ! Record ! Opponent ! Score ! Date ! Event ! Location , - , Win , 35–8 , align=left,

, style="font-size:88%", 2–1 , style="font-size:88%", March 16, 2022 , style="font-size:88%", Rudis+: Snyder vs. Cox , style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;", Detroit, Michigan , - ! style=background:white colspan=7 , , - , Loss , 34–8 , align=left, Tarzan Maisuradze , style="font-size:88%", 5–8 , style="font-size:88%", February 27, 2022 , style="font-size:88%", 2022 Yasar Dogu International , style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;", Istanbul, Turkey , - , Win , 34–7 , align=left, Drew Foster , style="font-size:88%", TF 12–2 , style="font-size:88%", June 18, 2021 , style="font-size:88%", FCA: Truth & Technique , style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;", Charlotte, North Carolina , - ! style=background:white colspan=7 , , - , Win , 33–7 , align=left, Trent Hidlay , style="font-size:88%", 5–4 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5, May 1–2, 2021 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5, 2021 US Open National Championships , style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=5, Coralville, Iowa , - , Win , 32–7 , align=left, Michael Battista , style="font-size:88%", TF 10–0 , - , Win , 31–7 , align=left, Nick Reenan , style="font-size:88%", TF 11–0 , - , Win , 30–7 , align=left, Joe Williams , style="font-size:88%", TF 10–0 , - , Win , 29–7 , align=left, Job Ayala , style="font-size:88%", TF 10–0 , - ! style=background:white colspan=7 , , - , Loss , 28–7 , align=left, Drew Foster , style="font-size:88%", 1–6 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=6, March 27, 2021 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=6, 2020 US Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier , style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=6,

Forth Worth, Texas Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Texas and the 13th-largest city in the United States. It is the county seat of Tarrant County, covering nearly into four other counties: Denton, Johnson, Parker, and Wise. According ...

, - , Win , 28–6 , align=left, Taylor Lujan , style="font-size:88%", 15–10 , - , Loss , 27–6 , align=left, Nate Jackson , style="font-size:88%", 1–3 , - , Win , 27–5 , align=left, Devin Skatzka , style="font-size:88%", 7–1 , - , Win , 26–5 , align=left, Dalton Swayze , style="font-size:88%", TF 10–0 , - , Win , 25–5 , align=left, Ramon Fry , style="font-size:88%", TF 11–0 , - ! style=background:white colspan=7 , , - , Loss , 24–5 , align=left, Zahid Valencia , style="font-size:88%", TF 0–11 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4, March 7, 2021 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4,

Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series 2021 The Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series 2021 was a wrestling event held in Ostia, Rome, Italy between 4 and 7 of March 2021. The first United World Wrestling United World Wrestling (UWW) is the international governing body for the sport of amat ...

, style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4,

Rome, Italy , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (Romulus and Remus, legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg ...

, - , Win , 24–4 , align=left, Clayton Pye , style="font-size:88%", Fall , - , Win , 23–4 , align=left,

, style="font-size:88%", Fall , - , Win , 22–4 , align=left, Hunter Lee , style="font-size:88%", TF 11–0 , - ! style=background:white colspan=7 , , - , Win , 21–4 , align=left, Christopher Foca , style="font-size:88%", 4–3 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4, February 10–11, 2021 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4, 2021 America's Cup , style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;"rowspan=4, Concord, North Carolina , - , Win , 20–4 , align=left, Josh Shields , style="font-size:88%", 5–2 , - , Win , 19–4 , align=left, Muhamed McBryde , style="font-size:88%", TF 10–0 , - , Win , 18–4 , align=left, Brett Pfarr , style="font-size:88%", 6–2 , - , Loss , 17–4 , align=left, Nate Jackson , style="font-size:88%", 3–4 , style="font-size:88%", January 31, 2021 , style="font-size:88%", PRTC Summit I , style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;", Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , - ! style=background:white colspan=7 , , - , Loss , 17–3 , align=left, Zahid Valencia , style="font-size:88%", 0–5 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3, May 17–18, 2019 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3, 2019 US World Team Trials Challenge Tournament , style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=3, Raleigh, North Carolina , - , Win , 17–2 , align=left, Nick Becker , style="font-size:88%", 6–4 , - , Win , 16–2 , align=left, Ben Harvey , style="font-size:88%", TF 10–0 , - ! style=background:white colspan=7 , , - , Win , 15–2 , align=left, Chad Walsh , style="font-size:88%", TF 10–0 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3, May 5, 2019 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3, 2019 US Last Chance World Team Trials Qualifier , style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=3, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania , - , Win , 14–2 , align=left, Quint Eno , style="font-size:88%", TF 10–0 , - , Win , 13–2 , align=left, Chad Haegele , style="font-size:88%", TF 10–0 , - ! style=background:white colspan=7 , , - , Win , 12–2 , align=left, Ethan Ramos , style="font-size:88%", 6–0 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3, May 3–6, 2018 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3, 2018 Pan American Continental Championships , style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=3,

Lima, Peru Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of t ...

, - , Win , 11–2 , align=left, Santiago Martinez , style="font-size:88%", 10–1 , - , Win , 10–2 , align=left, Rashji Mackey , style="font-size:88%", 5–0 , - , Win , 9–2 , align=left, Ahmad Bazrighaleh , style="font-size:88%", 8–5 , style="font-size:88%", May 19, 2016 , style="font-size:88%", 2016 Beat The Streets: Time Square , style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;", New York City, New York , - ! style=background:white colspan=7 , , - , Loss , 8–2 , align=left, Andrew Howe , style="font-size:88%", TF 0–10 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2, April 9, 2016 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2, 2016 US Olympic Team Trials , style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=2, Iowa City, Iowa , - , Win , 8–1 , align=left, Logan Massa , style="font-size:88%", 13–11 , - ! style=background:white colspan=7 , , - , Win , 7–1 , align=left, Anthony Valencia , style="font-size:88%", 5–4 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4, April 1–3, 2016 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4, 2016 US Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier , style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4, Cedar Falls, Iowa , - , Win , 6–1 , align=left, Nestor Taffur , style="font-size:88%", 10–6 , - , Win , 5–1 , align=left, Santiago Martinez , style="font-size:88%", TF 18–8 , - , Win , 4–1 , align=left, Thomas Domerese , style="font-size:88%", TF 10–0 , - ! style=background:white colspan=7 , , - , Win , 3–1 , align=left, Chris Laverick , style="font-size:88%", TF 10–0 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4, July 11, 2015 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4, 2015 Grand Prix of Spain , style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4, Madrid, Spain , - , Win , 2–1 , align=left, Sergio Blanco , style="font-size:88%", TF 12–2 , - , Loss , 1–1 , align=left, Carmelo Lumia , style="font-size:88%", 3–4 , - , Win , 1–0 , align=left, Alberto Martinez Navarro , style="font-size:88%", 6–4 , -

NCAA Record

! colspan="8", NCAA Championships Matches , - ! Res. ! Record ! Opponent ! Score ! Date ! Event , - ! style=background:white colspan=6 , 2019 NCAA Championships at 174 lbs , - , Loss , 13–2 , align=left, Zahid Valencia , style="font-size:88%", 3–4 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5, March 23, 2019 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5,

2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships The 2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships took place from March 21 to March 23 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the PPG Paints Arena. The tournament was the 89th NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, and featured seventy teams across tha ...

, - , Win , 13–1 , align=left, Myles Amine , style="font-size:88%", TB 2–1 , - , Win , 12–1 , align=left, Taylor Lujan , style="font-size:88%", 5–3 , - , Win , 11–1 , align=left, Brandon Womack , style="font-size:88%", 8–3 , - , Win , 10–1 , align=left, Devin Kane , style="font-size:88%", MD 10–2 , - ! style=background:white colspan=6 , 2018 NCAA Championships at 174 lbs , - , Loss , 9–1 , align=left, Zahid Valencia , style="font-size:88%", 2–8 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5, March 17, 2018 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5,

2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships The 2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships took place from March 15 to March 17 in Cleveland, Ohio, at the Quicken Loans Arena. The tournament went into its 88th NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, and featured 62 teams across that leve ...

, - , Win , 9–0 , align=left, Daniel Lewis , style="font-size:88%", Fall , - , Win , 8–0 , align=left, Taylor Lujan , style="font-size:88%", 6–2 , - , Win , 7–0 , align=left, Dylan Lydy , style="font-size:88%", TF 21–3 , - , Win , 6–0 , align=left, Austin Rose , style="font-size:88%", MD 12–2 , - ! style=background:white colspan=6 , 2017 NCAA Championships at 174 lbs , - , Win , 5–0 , align=left, Bo Jordan , style="font-size:88%", 5–2 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5, March 18, 2017 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5,

2017 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships In 2017, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, a U.S. college wrestling tournament, was held in St. Louis, Missouri. The winning team was Penn State, and Kyle Snyder won the individual heavyweight competition. Team results Champ ...

, - , Win , 4–0 , align=left, Zahid Valencia , style="font-size:88%", 4–3 , - , Win , 3–0 , align=left, Zach Epperly , style="font-size:88%", MD 10–2 , - , Win , 2–0 , align=left, Jadaen Bernstein , style="font-size:88%", TF 16–0 , - , Win , 1–0 , align=left, David Kocer , style="font-size:88%", 8–2 , -

Stats

! Season ! Year ! School ! Rank ! Weigh Class ! Record ! Win ! Bonus , - , 2020 , Senior , rowspan=4,

Penn State University The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a public state-related land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsylvania. Founded in 1855 as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania, Penn State became ...

, #1 (Nationals Cancelled) , rowspan=4, 174 , 23-1 , 96.00% , 72.00% , - , 2019 , Junior , #1 (2nd) , 30-1 , 96.77% , 45.16% , - , 2018 , Sophomore , #2 (2nd) , 32-1 , 96.97% , 69.70% , - , 2017 , Freshman , #3 (1st) , 31-3 , 91.18% , 61.76% , - , colspan=5 bgcolor="LIGHTGREY", Career , bgcolor="LIGHTGREY", 116-6 , bgcolor="LIGHTGREY", 95.12% , bgcolor="LIGHTGREY", 61.79%

Awards and honors

*2020 **NCAA Division I First Team All-American (174 lbs) ** Big Ten Conference (174 lbs) *2019 ** NCAA Division I (174 lbs) ** Big Ten Conference (174 lbs) *2018 ** Pan American Championship (79 kg) ** NCAA Division I (174 lbs) ** Big Ten Conference (174 lbs) *2017 ** NCAA Division I (174 lbs) ** Big Ten Conference (174 lbs)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hall, Mark Living people 1997 births American male sport wrestlers Apple Valley High School (Minnesota) alumni