WHO’S NEXT? USAW STAR OF THE FUTURE Hall making his mark


By Jessica Cullen Idaho’s Tanner Hall is an exceptional athlete. A high school


senior, he just won his third high school state title and has already made his mark on the national and international scene. “I try and work harder than anyone out there so I know that


[my competitors] shouldn’t beat me,” Hall said. Hall has been busy on the USA Wrestling circuit. He is a 2009


and 2010 Junior Nationals freestyle champion and was also the 2010 FILA Cadet National champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. He placed second at the Pan-American Youth Olympic


Games Qualifier in freestyle, was third at the 2010 FILA Junior World Team Trails in both styles and was third in Greco-Roman and fourth in freestyle at the 2010 FILA Junior Nationals. He was one of two freestyle wrestlers invited to join the newly recognized freestyle resident program at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. “He was chosen because he was the No. 1 recruit in the


entire country,” said Brandon Slay, the National Freestyle Resident Coach. “It’s because of his performance and potential to be an Olympic champion and his personality. He has a fabu- lous attitude and is coachable.” U.S. National Freestyle Development Coach Bill Zadick,


agrees with Slay. “Tanner has a passion for learning and he wants to be the


best wrestler that he can be. He works hard at it and has fun in the practice room everyday. These characteristics, along with a great training environment, I feel are the building blocks for future success," Zadick said. Hall is appreciative of the opportunity given to him. “I feel honored that I was picked for one of the two spots. I


hope to get the freestyle program up and running again. It’s a way for me to plow the road for years to come,” he said. Accepting the offer was an easy decision for Hall. He will fol-


low his dreams to try out for the 2012 Olympics team instead of attending college right away. “What they’re offering [at the Olympic Training Center] is


worth so much. They send you to tournaments, feed you and put you in a room. The experience is amazing,” Hall explained. Hall hasn’t decided where he will attend college to wrestle


yet. This is common for athletes coming to the OTC to train, Slay said. Many begin their education at colleges in the area. Some decide to compete in college after first training at the OTC. “It gives these athletes a year of exposure to cutting edge, international wrestling and experience that will improve their level of success. It also gives them another year of maturity before they enter college. This combination will set them up for immediate success at the collegiate level while giving them a four to five year 'jump' on preparing to be a World and Olympic Champion,” said Zadick. “When these athletes graduate college, and enter the senior ranks, they will transition quicker and be ready to make an impact on the international level.” Hall’s goal of becoming Olympic champion has lots of small


steps ahead. “It’s definitely something to be proud of,” he says of his three


20 USA Wrestler


Idaho’s Tanner Hall is a top young prospect in freestyle wrestling. John Sachs photo.


state championships. “But I see it as a stepping stone for bigger goals.” That’s where the resident program comes in. Hall said he


hopes to improve on his technique and skill as he tries out for the Olympic team next year. “I hope that with the access to the best coaches and workout


partners and the tournaments I enter will help me improve,” Hall said. He will reap the benefits of wrestling against Senior athletes


that come to visit the OTC for national camps. “Training with Senior level competition makes (developmental athletes) develop faster. They will succeed at a higher level faster,” said Slay. Hall will have access to the best workout partners and coach-


es in the country, and his life will be all about wrestling. “He will have the ability to plug into full time freestyle focus for


over a year. For someone who desires to be an Olympic cham- pion in freestyle wrestling, it’s imperative to begin the journey early,” said Slay. While his dreams are of Olympic gold, he doesn’t forget


where he started. “My dad wrestled in college at Idaho State University and then


moved to Utah State after the program was cut. I was intro- duced to wrestling at around 7 or 8. Actually, my coach and I always joke that I got into wrestling because girls would always pick on me.” No one’s picking on him now.


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