University Park— It’s a day that all competitors, no matter the sport, probably dread once they know their careers are close to over, and that day came for a former Penn State wrestling star Saturday.
Mark Hall fell in consolation action to former North Carolina State wrestler Trent Hidlay, 9-4.
After the match, Hall took off his shoes, which signifies a wrestler’s retirement from the sport.
Mark Hall leaves his shoes on the mat. .
📸: @aaronmorekin pic.twitter.com/Lc2za37Ujy
— WrestlersGrind (@_wrestlersgrind) April 20, 2024
Hall was visibly emotional while walking out of the Bryce Jordan Center after a long, decorated career at Penn State.
Hall, 27, won a national championship and added two more runner-ups as a collegiate wrestler with PSU. He had a chance to win a second championship, but nationals were not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also won three Big Ten Championships.
As a freestyle wrestler, Hall won a gold medal at the 2018 Pan American Games, the 2022 World Cup and the 2021 U.S. Nationals.
Hall is now an assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania.
