What's your assessment of Mark Hall so far?

[SWPA]

157 #1
165 #1
174 #1
197 #1

Hall seems to fit in well.

 

[nerfstate]

2nd grade

Is this true, or fun with hyperbole? I’d believe it.

 

[TangSoo]

Mark Hall made marked improvements in his game since last March. Particularly his top game and his strength/power. He overpowered Zahid. I don't think that version of Zahid can beat Mark Hall this year. Having said that, I think there is a different version of Zahid, the Saturday night version which is stronger and bigger. That Saturday night match is still a tossup in my mind (although I'd bet on Mark after last night).

 

[dbldoofus]

How did you compare in size when you followed him into the men's room?

Ha! Didn’t happen.

 

[jack66]

Mark Hall made marked improvements in his game since last March. Particularly his top game and his strength/power. He overpowered Zahid. I don't think that version of Zahid can beat Mark Hall this year. Having said that, I think there is a different version of Zahid, the Saturday night version which is stronger and bigger. That Saturday night match is still a tossup in my mind (although I'd bet on Mark after last night).

There is also the version that won't be taking down next time they meet.

 

[Aardvark86]

How did you compare in size when you followed him into the men's room?

My favorite Churchill story:

Walks into the restroom and demonstrably walks to the urinal at the far end opposite the labor leader.
“What’s the matter Winston, feeling a little testy” he is asked.
“No, it’s just that every time you see something big you want to nationalize it.” He replies.

 

[nerfstate]

There is also the version that won't be taking down next time they meet.

He didn’t want to last night. Zeke overruled him. Mark’s handfighting in the 1st was the real separator, IMO. Kept Z away from his favorite shots, and the full court press with the hulk hands on the head set up the dominant ride. Throw in some vintage Hall balance and awareness on that counter, and it was both a complete and repeatable result (though hardly guaranteed).

 

[jack66]

He didn’t want to last night. Zeke overruled him. Mark’s handfighting in the 1st was the real separator, IMO. Kept Z away from his favorite shots, and the full court press with the hulk hands on the head set up the dominant ride. Throw in some vintage Hall balance and awareness on that counter, and it was both a complete and repeatable result (though hardly guaranteed).

I agree that it is a repeatable result, but ZV's best chance in March will be to make at a free-style match if he can.

 

[Antaeus]

157 #1
165 #1
174 #1
197 #1

Hall seems to fit in well.

ZV’s best chance will be to look at this and figure out that 184 is his best chance in March.

 

[lockhavenlion3]

ZV’s best chance will be to look at this and figure out that 184 is his best chance in March.

do you think that will happen? wondered if the cut has gotten to him. seemed like a fatigued, broken wrestler at the end; head on the mat doing virtually nothing. don't think he's been handled that way for a long time. kudos to wreck on an outstanding game plan.

 

[Antaeus]

Depends on whether he associates that obvious fatigue with something other than the perpetual weight loss. (i.e. travel, cold, etc.)

Perhaps his advisers will recommend he follow The Bo/Cassar path of allowing your body to dictate your weight class and having the confidence to know you can compete if you get there in a healthy fashion.

Would have been better if he figured it out between seasons, but based upon his frame there’s probably still time in the season to grow healthy.

 

[nerfstate]

Depends on whether he associates that obvious fatigue with something other than the perpetual weight loss. (i.e. travel, cold, etc.)

Perhaps his advisers will recommend he follow The Bo/Cassar path of allowing your body to dictate your weight class and having the confidence to know you can compete if you get there in a healthy fashion.

Would have been better if he figured it out between seasons, but based upon his frame there’s probably still time in the season to grow healthy.

It's only a hunch, but I feel like Mark being at 174 is a primary motivator for ZV to stay there. He knows he has Martin's number, and likes top competition. Or maybe he really did have the flu last night, and he will major Mark next time. I say doubtful, but reality cares nothing of my opinions.

 

[Antaeus]

It's only a hunch, but I feel like Mark being at 174 is a primary motivator for ZV to stay there. He knows he has Martin's number, and likes top competition. Or maybe he really did have the flu last night, and he will major Mark next time. I say doubtful, but reality cares nothing of my opinions.

I’d normally agree with what you said, but that was a butt whooping. A 3-2 match going down to the wire and I’d agree, but last night was a lop-sided match. Like I said unless he can rationalize another reason unknown to us, I saw nothing that said this rundown version of ZV can close that gap with Mark by season’s end.

 

[nerfstate]

I’d normally agree with what you said, but that was a butt whooping. A 3-2 match going down to the wire and I’d agree, but last night was a lop-sided match. Like I said unless he can rationalize another reason unknown to us, I saw nothing that said this rundown version of ZV can close that gap with Mark by season’s end.

Will we see the rundown version in March? That's all I'm questioning. It absolutely could be the cumulative effects of a tough cut (in spite of what ZV says to the contrary), but it could also be that long jet ride on Tuesday, if you catch my drift. Zain didn't look himself against Sorenson at CHA. We don't have all the facts.

 

[diggerpup]

Aside from the amazing counter, the match reminded me the way Matt Brown would physically dominate Mike Evans their senior season.

Brown would easily escape for his one.

Then Hulk Hands would just brutalize Evans from top like a rented mule for 2 minutes.

 

[nitlion6]

Will we see the rundown version in March? That's all I'm questioning. It absolutely could be the cumulative effects of a tough cut (in spite of what ZV says to the contrary), but it could also be that long jet ride on Tuesday, if you catch my drift. Zain didn't look himself against Sorenson at CHA. We don't have all the facts.

Zain's fact was he was sick.
Zahid did not appear any more tired than the entire Sun Devil team.

 

[nerfstate]

Zahid did not appear any more tired than the entire Sun Devil team.

My point to a t. We don't know. I want to believe it was the Matt Brown effect--it's what it looked like to me. But tough to reconcile that with 8-2 9 months ago. We'll get a chance to find out, I think.

 

[Ja1339]

It's hard to get down on an elite guy who has finished first and second in his true freshman and sophomore campaigns, but . . .

so far Mr. Hall does not seem to be putting away his opponents with the same measure of dominance, flair and panache as he did previously.

Are guys at 174 catching up or catch on? Is Mark in a post-sophomore slump after the loss to Zahid? Can he rebound against Valencia in two weeks? Or is there really no reason yet for concern?

A few points:

• Hall won 6-4 over Finesilver in a very close match this year. Last year, he beat him 12-3 at the Scuffle and then previously a 19-4 tech at Keystone.

• Early last year, Hall tech-ed Johnny Sebastian at Keystone 19-4. At NCAAs, he won a close one 4-1 against Sebastian.

• In March 2016, Hall beat Valencia at NCAAs. He has lost twice since that time to him.

• Last year, Hall tech-ed Stephani of Bucknell. This year he failed to tech fall him (though in fairness he did win by 13.)

In hindsight this sounds a bit like finding a pimple on Kate Upton, lol

 

[nitlion6]

My point to a t. We don't know. I want to believe it was the Matt Brown effect--it's what it looked like to me. But tough to reconcile that with 8-2 9 months ago. We'll get a chance to find out, I think.

The reconciliation is easy. Mark maintained position, not granting easy access to his legs and he made the hand fighting physical. The other aspect that isn't being given enough consideration is while Valencia appears to be a large 174 pounder, Mark is no longer a small 174 pounder. Mark is thick and ripped. Mark concedes nothing in size anymore.