As Mark Hall lay flat on his back, the Xcel Energy Center roared.

The Apple Valley wrestler let out a sigh of relief after completing a feat never before seen in Minnesota State Wrestling history: a sixth individual state title. His remarkably smooth victory over Austin Eichmann of Hastings at 170 pounds (16-1 tech fall) resembled a show Hall has performed for years—he hasn’t lost since he was a freshman.

“I’m privileged,” he said. “I’m very happy to be able to take that title…it was a fun ride.”

Hailed as the nation’s top overall wrestler, attention has followed Hall from the time he won his first state title as a seventh-grader. However, he never let the pressure get to him.

“Pressure is something—you only get as much as  you put on yourself,” Hall said. “I’ve just learned to not put as much pressure on myself and just wrestle with a full heart and have fun.”

“He handles the pressure unbelievably well,” said Apple Valley head coach Dalen Wasmund. “Actually, I think he kind of feeds on it a little bit. When he gets a little more pumped up, more excited, it makes him even better.”

Even after Hall reached his individual glory, he was quick to point out that he is in fact a 12 time state champion, enveloping the titles he won with his team in his already untouchable resume. He played a crucial role in the Eagles’ most recent title over St. Michael-Albertville, wrestling up a weight class against University of Minnesota commit (and nationally ranked wrestler) Lucas Jeske, and pinning him.

“I represent the history of Apple Valley High School,” Hall said. “It’s very special to me.”

That team title tied Hall with former Eagle Destin McCauley with 11 total championships—a mark that would stand just two days more.

“It’s an honor to have a kid like that in your program, and help you build your program,” said Wasmund.

Hall will wrestle next year at Penn State, which has the number one college wrestling team in the nation this year. The Nittany Lions’ coach, Cael Sanderson, was in attendance Saturday night to witness Hall’s quest for immortality.

“Having him as my coach, who’s going to be my mentor for probably the next greater part of my life–I’m really excited to get off to Penn State,” Hall said.

But before Hall left, the state of Minnesota had to give him one last send-off.

What a send-off it was.