Mark Hall found his love for wrestling at a young age with the help of youth wrestling coach Chase Metcalf, older brother of former U.S. team member Brent Metcalf. Chase, a two-time Michigan state champion, junior national champ and state winner of the Dave Schultz award, became Hall’s mentor and the two formed a brotherly bond.

In September 2005, Chase, who had just turned 21, died in a car accident. Hall, who was eight years old, took almost two months off from wrestling to work through his grief. Returning to the mat, he determined to push himself to become a better wrestler every day, the way Chase did.

He and his father traveled across the country for camps and tournaments. He later enrolled at Apple Valley High School in Minnesota, where he found great training partners and top competition. He became the first six-time Minnesota High School State Champion with a career record of 277-4, including 171 consecutive wins and 189 career pins. Hall helped AVHS win six team state titles, also a state record, and he is the only Minnesota wrestler to earn 12 combined individual and team state titles.

Adding to his impressive resume, Hall is a two-time USA Wrestling UWW Junior National Champion and was Outstanding Wrestler at the 2016 UWW Junior Freestyle Nationals. He won the FILA Cadet World Championship in 2014. In April, he advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2016 Olympic Trials at 74 kg.

In his spare time, Hall volunteers at Habitat for Humanity and Mary’s Place, a transitional home for women and children. A good student, he maintained a 3.72 GPA throughout his high school career. He will wrestle collegiately at Penn State University.

In recognition of outstanding wrestling and scholastic achievements, citizenship and community service, Mark Hall II is the 2016 recipient of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award.