COACHES CORNER Hall made big impact
By Steve Fraser, U.S. National Greco-Roman Coach Dennis Hall is one of the most decorated Greco-Roman wrestlers in U.S. history. He pioneered our Greco program for- ward in a time when we were struggling to establish ourselves as a World contender. His intense style and attitude helped show other Greeks (Greco wrestlers) that Americans can win internationally. Dennis Hall had a “refuse to lose” way about himself. He was
all about proving to the World that he was the toughest and fiercest athlete in his weight class. He was not afraid of anyone and would wrestle each opponent with a tenacity that was fero- cious. My first day on the job with USA Wrestling as National Coach
was in Prague, Czech Republic at the 1995 World Championships in October. Hall beat four World champions on his way to win the 1995
World Title at 57 kg that weekend. In the finals against World champion Jury Melnichenko from Kazakhstan, Dennis was in a fierce battle. The match was as intense and exciting as they come. I will never forget the last minute or so of the match. Dennis
was winning the match and Melnichenko had one last shot on top in par terre to try and turn Dennis to win. Melnichenko had both a great straight lift and a great gut wrench. The referee blew the whistle to start the match again and Melnichenko secured a very tight lock around Hall’s torso. Melnichenko torqued one way and then the other way. Dennis fought like a wild tiger defending the attack. Then Melnichenko, with all his might twisted and squeezed
Dennis so hard that it looked like Dennis just had to go over. Dennis’s arm and shoulder were cocked backed so far against the joint that it looked like Dennis would break his arm! But he did not submit! He defended till the bitter end. Match
over! Dennis Hall wins the World championship! Dennis later told me that he remembered those last seconds
of the match and said that Melnichenko would have had to break his arm to turn him. This attitude is what it takes to become the World’s best in the tough sport of Greco-Roman wrestling. It takes focus and desire that is
almost crazy. And it takes this attitude not only in competition but every day in the practice room. At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Dennis won a silver
Steve Fraser
medal. After not making the 2000 Olympic Team, Dennis came back
in 2004 to beat Brandon Paulson (Olympic and World silver medalist) at 55kg in one of the most exciting finals in the Olympic Trials. Paulson and Hall went 17 minutes in a sudden- death match before Dennis scored to win the match. Throughout his career, Hall trained mostly on his own in
Stevens Point, Wis. He was smart enough to know that to become the best in the World he would need to train with the very best international wrestlers at times. Dennis was great at bringing over to the States tough oppo-
nents to train with on a daily basis. A lot of the time he invested his own money to do so. People like Ivan Ivanov (World silver medalist), Stephen Ivanov from Bulgaria, Mario Oliveras (World champion from Cuba), to name just a few. Hall was a self-made champion who worked harder than most
to become World class. His career spanned over four Olympic Games, which in itself is a tremendous feat. His Olympic silver medal in Atlanta, along with his World gold
medal and World bronze medal prove he is one of our country’s best Greco-Roman wrestlers ever. If we all “expect to win” like Dennis Hall did we will certainly
reach the top podium step to hear our U.S. National Anthem being proudly played.
26 USA Wrestler
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