The 2015-16 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Wrestling Teams were selected by USA TODAY High School Sports based on performance and level of competition.
FIRST TEAM: Meet the ALL-USA First Team
SECOND AND THIRD TEAM: Meet the ALL-USA Second and Third Team
COACH OF THE YEAR: Jeff Jordan, Graham (St. Paris, Ohio)
ATHLETE PROFILE:
Name: Mark Hall
School: Apple Valley (Minn.)
Weight: 170 lbs
College: Penn State
Hall repeats as American Family Insurance ALL-USA Wrestler of the Year thanks to a record-breaking season in which he went 48-0 and became the first Minnesota wrestler to win six individual state titles when he won the Class 3A crown on Feb. 27.
Add in the six team titles that Hall helped Apple Valley win and he became the first Gopher State wrestler to earn 12 combined titles. Hall posted a career record of 278-4, capped by a streak of 171 consecutive wins dating back to his freshman year.
“Throughout the years I gained people’s respect and gained people’s love,” he told The Pioneer Press after winning his state title, “(and I) showed people my love for them. …
“It’s been a goal of mine to be the face of Minnesota wrestling. “I think after tonight … (I will be).”
Hall proved he was in a class by himself when he topped the nation’s No. 2-ranked 170-pound grappler, Alex Marinelli of Graham (St. Paris, Ohio), in the postseason Dream Team Classic by a score of 14-5.
Hall later traveled to Cedar Falls, Iowa, for the Last Chance Trials Qualifier in April. He won there to advance to last weekend’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials. He lost in the quarterfinals and won a match in the consolation bracket before being eliminated. Three of his four opponents were significantly older and more experienced.
A Michigan native, Hall has committed to wrestle collegiately for reigning national champ Penn State.
LOOKBACK: 2015-16 ALL-USA Preseason Team
ONE YEAR AGO: 2014-15 ALL-USA Wrestling Team