Mark Halvorson named as U.S. wrestling coach for 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore
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Mark Halvorson of Brentwood, Calif. has been named as the U.S. wrestling coach for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games, which will be held in Singapore, August 14-26.
This is the historic first Youth Olympic Games ever held. The YOG is a unique competition which will bring in young athletes from all over the world to compete in a variety of sports. This event will feature Olympic-level competition in Greco-Roman, men's freestyle, women's freestyle, and Beach wrestling.
"I am thankful for the opportunity" said Halvorson. "I believe it will be a great event. I understand that everything is Olympic protocol, an Olympic Games. It is an honor to be involved."
Halvorson will be coaching the four-athlete U.S. team which represents all three international styles. The team consists of men's freestyle wrestlers Quiton Murphy of Holley, N.Y. (63 kg/138.75 lbs.) and Jordan Rogers of Spokane, Wash. (76 kg/167.5 lbs.), Greco-Roman wrestler Luke Sheridan of Concord, Calif. (85 kg/187.5 lbs.) and women's freestyle wrestler Jenna Burkert of Middle Island, N.Y. (60 kg/132 lbs.). These athletes compete in the FILA Cadet division, for athletes 15-17 years old.
Halvorson coached the U.S. Greco-Roman athletes at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games Pan American Qualifier in Mexico earlier this year. He had a chance to see the U.S. athletes in all three styles at their qualifying event, something which will help him as he coaches them in Singapore.
"I met with some of the athletes in Fargo this week, and am in regular contact with them" said Halvorson. "They are all training hard and are excited about the opportunity. Right now, we have to have them mentally prepared to be on that kind of a stage. There is long distance travel and many other things going on. They will have to have their wits about them. As wrestlers, they are all technically sound."
Halvorson works as the varsity wrestling coach at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif. His team has won back to back North Coast Section (NCS) individual tournament team titles, four straight NCS Dual Team titles, and in 2010 their first top 10 California State Meet finish. He also has produced 14 CIF State medalists, 22 North Coast Section Champions, and 37 CIF State Qualifiers. In 2004, 2009, 2010 Halvorson was named the Contra Costa Times Coach of the Year. He has also received De La Salle Coach of the Year honors in 2004 and 2009.
He has had numerous international coaching assignments for USA Wrestling. In addition to coaching the 2010 Youth Olympic Games team, He was a 2006 FILA Junior World Team coach, and also coached a 2004 FILA Junior tour team. He was an assistant coach for the 2003 University World Team at the Olympic Hopes Tournament in Hungary. Halvorson was Team Leader for the 2001 FILA Junior World Team, and Head Coach of the 2000 FILA Cadet World Team.
He is the club coach at the Concord CYC, and is active in USA Wrestling on the local, state and national levels. Since he took over the CYC wrestling program in 1998, the CYC has produced 120 State Champions, 44 Regional Champions, 30 California Triple Crown winners, 79 USA All-Americans, 24 National Champions, 15 international tournament medalists, one Junior Pan American Champion, two Junior World Team members, one Youth Olympian, and one senior national team member. In addition, CYC has won 38 age group team state championships since he joined the organization. His CYC teams have competed in France, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, and The Netherlands.
Halvorson served as the California Greco Roman Head Wrestling coach from 1996 to 2008, and California Greco Roman Coach for the Junior National Duals in 2000. Team California won five unofficial national team championships while he was the head coach. Mark also served on the California USA Wrestling Executive Committee for two years. In 1998, he was named the Western States Developmental Coach of the Year by USA Wrestling. In 2006, he earned his National Coaches Education Program Gold Coaching level certification from USA Wrestling, the highest level of achievement in coaching.
Halvorson graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor Degree from San Francisco State University with a Social Science emphasis, and received a California Single Subject Teaching Credential from Chapman University.
Halvorson is excited about the opportunity for the young athletes on the U.S. wrestling team to have a memorable educational experience while at the Youth Olympic Games.
"There will be a cultural and educational program there for the kids" said Halvorson. "It looks like it will be a great event for them. They will have the opportunity to interact with lots of other kids from around the world, and to get involved in a lot of different activities."
This is the historic first Youth Olympic Games ever held. The YOG is a unique competition which will bring in young athletes from all over the world to compete in a variety of sports. This event will feature Olympic-level competition in Greco-Roman, men's freestyle, women's freestyle, and Beach wrestling.
"I am thankful for the opportunity" said Halvorson. "I believe it will be a great event. I understand that everything is Olympic protocol, an Olympic Games. It is an honor to be involved."
Halvorson will be coaching the four-athlete U.S. team which represents all three international styles. The team consists of men's freestyle wrestlers Quiton Murphy of Holley, N.Y. (63 kg/138.75 lbs.) and Jordan Rogers of Spokane, Wash. (76 kg/167.5 lbs.), Greco-Roman wrestler Luke Sheridan of Concord, Calif. (85 kg/187.5 lbs.) and women's freestyle wrestler Jenna Burkert of Middle Island, N.Y. (60 kg/132 lbs.). These athletes compete in the FILA Cadet division, for athletes 15-17 years old.
Halvorson coached the U.S. Greco-Roman athletes at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games Pan American Qualifier in Mexico earlier this year. He had a chance to see the U.S. athletes in all three styles at their qualifying event, something which will help him as he coaches them in Singapore.
"I met with some of the athletes in Fargo this week, and am in regular contact with them" said Halvorson. "They are all training hard and are excited about the opportunity. Right now, we have to have them mentally prepared to be on that kind of a stage. There is long distance travel and many other things going on. They will have to have their wits about them. As wrestlers, they are all technically sound."
Halvorson works as the varsity wrestling coach at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif. His team has won back to back North Coast Section (NCS) individual tournament team titles, four straight NCS Dual Team titles, and in 2010 their first top 10 California State Meet finish. He also has produced 14 CIF State medalists, 22 North Coast Section Champions, and 37 CIF State Qualifiers. In 2004, 2009, 2010 Halvorson was named the Contra Costa Times Coach of the Year. He has also received De La Salle Coach of the Year honors in 2004 and 2009.
He has had numerous international coaching assignments for USA Wrestling. In addition to coaching the 2010 Youth Olympic Games team, He was a 2006 FILA Junior World Team coach, and also coached a 2004 FILA Junior tour team. He was an assistant coach for the 2003 University World Team at the Olympic Hopes Tournament in Hungary. Halvorson was Team Leader for the 2001 FILA Junior World Team, and Head Coach of the 2000 FILA Cadet World Team.
He is the club coach at the Concord CYC, and is active in USA Wrestling on the local, state and national levels. Since he took over the CYC wrestling program in 1998, the CYC has produced 120 State Champions, 44 Regional Champions, 30 California Triple Crown winners, 79 USA All-Americans, 24 National Champions, 15 international tournament medalists, one Junior Pan American Champion, two Junior World Team members, one Youth Olympian, and one senior national team member. In addition, CYC has won 38 age group team state championships since he joined the organization. His CYC teams have competed in France, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, and The Netherlands.
Halvorson served as the California Greco Roman Head Wrestling coach from 1996 to 2008, and California Greco Roman Coach for the Junior National Duals in 2000. Team California won five unofficial national team championships while he was the head coach. Mark also served on the California USA Wrestling Executive Committee for two years. In 1998, he was named the Western States Developmental Coach of the Year by USA Wrestling. In 2006, he earned his National Coaches Education Program Gold Coaching level certification from USA Wrestling, the highest level of achievement in coaching.
Halvorson graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor Degree from San Francisco State University with a Social Science emphasis, and received a California Single Subject Teaching Credential from Chapman University.
Halvorson is excited about the opportunity for the young athletes on the U.S. wrestling team to have a memorable educational experience while at the Youth Olympic Games.
"There will be a cultural and educational program there for the kids" said Halvorson. "It looks like it will be a great event for them. They will have the opportunity to interact with lots of other kids from around the world, and to get involved in a lot of different activities."
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