Sharon Hall receives her Beach Person of the Year award from Beach Nationals Event Director Lou Lombardo and USA Wrestling's Woman of the Year Patricia Fox.

Sharon Hall of LeRoy, N.Y. has been named the 2011 USA Wrestling Beach Person of the Year. This award is presented by USA Wrestling's Developing Styles Program to a person who has made major contributions to Beach wrestling in the United States. 

The award was presented during the weekend of the U.S. Beach National Championships and World Team Trials in Rochester, N.Y., July 9-10.

Hall is a member of the local organizing committee which has conducted the USA Wrestling Beach National Championships in Rochester, N.Y. for the last five years. 

She has served as the assigned head pairing official for the tournament twice, including at this year’s event. Hall has been a pairing official for every Beach Nationals held in Rochester.

Hall takes a leadership role in the organization and promotion of the Beach Nationals each year. She conducts registration and is always available to help athletes and their families with all aspects of the competition.

Her involvement in Beach Wrestling is just part of a long career of service as a USA Wrestling volunteer leader.

Hall got involved with wrestling volunteer leadership when her son Robert was an active high school wrestler.

“I couldn’t just sit in the stands. I volunteered and did whatever was needed. I did anything that was asked of me. I jumped in with both feet,” said Hall.

She has worked as a pairing official for 19 years, and has been the New York State Pairing Director for the last five years. She has worked many major national, regional, state and local events as a pairing official since she started her volunteer service. 

Other state leadership posts have included being New York State Kids Director for four years, as well as the New York Section Five Membership Director. She has also served as treasurer for the Genesee Valley Wrestling Club.

Hall served six years as the assigner of mat and pairing officials for the Empire State Games and was a pairing official for the tournament for over a decade. She also coordinated the Western qualifier for the Empire Games for many years.

Hall is recognized by her peers for her friendly nature and relaxed approach when conducting wrestling events.

“Sharon is one of the most stable people in the nation,” said longtime friend and mat official Rick Spicer of New York. “She holds New York State together. She bridges the different sections of the state. In spite of all of the things that occur during a tournament, she remains calm in every situation.”

“When I face a challenge with parents and kids, I work to have a calmer demeanor talking to them. You need patience and calmness to help parents and coaches to logically look at the decisions made at an event,” she said.

Sharon is especially fond of the Beach Nationals event because of the hard work and effort of those in her community.

“The local committee hosting the event is an integral part of its success and has been very supportive. That makes it all pull together so nicely. The kids who are here to compete are familiar faces, and enjoy having us involved in the tournament,” she said.

USA Wrestling Beach Person of the Year
2011 – Sharon Hall, LeRoy, N.Y.
2010 – Laura Dermody, Monroe County Sports Commission, Rochester, N.Y.
2009 - Lou Lombardo, Rochester, N.Y.