Mark Hall selected as USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week

Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn./Penn State) has been selected as TheMat.com Athlete of the Week on Dec. 18, 2018.

Last Friday, 2017 NCAA champion Hall, who was ranked No. 2 in the nation at 174 pounds, took on reigning NCAA champion and No. 1 Zahid Valencia of Arizona State in a dual at Rec Hall on Penn State’s campus.

Both past NCAA champions, it was the most anticipated matchup of the weekend.

After a scoreless first period, Hall started the second period on bottom and was first on the board with an escape. Moments later, Hall came out on top of a scramble for a takedown and a 3-0 lead over Valencia. The Nittany Lion rode out the Sun Devil for the remainder of the second period as well as all of the third period for a 4-0 shutout over the nation’s No. 1 wrestler at 174 pounds.

Friday marked their fourth collegiate matchup and the two are now tied in the series, 2-2. Prior to Friday’s bout, Valencia had taken the previous two victories, winning at the 2017 All-Star Classic and then defeating Hall in the 2018 NCAA finals.

Hall’s first win over Valencia was in the semifinals of the 2017 NCAA Championships.

Each week USA Wrestling will select an Athlete of the Week based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling from youth programs through the senior level. Twitter fan votes also play a part in decision.

To nominate a wrestler for this honor please send the athlete's name, wrestling program, weekly accomplishments and career accolades to USA Wrestling Communications Coordinator Taylor Miller at tmiller@usawrestling.org.