Special kid, special coach

Adam Hall wrote out a list of 13 goals for his senior wrestling season at Bonners Ferry High and posted them on his bedroom wall so he would see them each time he walked out of his room.

None is more important than dominating his opponents. It’s not cockiness. It’s an assuredness in his abilities.

“I want to break my opponent in every match,” said the 152-pound Hall, who became the first Badger in school history to capture three Tri-State titles and is heavily favored to do the same at the State 3A tournament later this month.

The word dominate also best describes his career. Hall, 35-0 this season, has won 112 straight matches since his freshman year when he lost 8-3 in overtime to a seasoned senior in the 125-pound state final. His career record is 152-4.

He has the best record in North Idaho since Jared Lawrence of Sandpoint went undefeated (1994-98).

Hall, who has signed a letter of intent with Boise State, took second in the junior national freestyle tourney last summer, losing 7-5 in the finals to Cyler Sanderson, the younger brother of undefeated four-time NCAA champ Cael Sanderson of Iowa State.

Hall has set the bar high in his prep career. He not only has met each challenge, but has far exceeded them.

It started the moment after his last loss. His drive, though, is rooted as far back as 13 years ago when he hooked up with BF head coach Conrad Garner.

Garner has had a front-row seat in the growth of a boy into a man. Not just the physical development, but the mental maturity – especially the mental maturity.

It’s been a father-son type relationship that both get choked up about when they talk about it. They admit there will be tears when Hall steps off the mat for the final time at state.

Some might say that anyone could have coached Hall and he would have been just as successful. Hall adamantly disagrees.

“I can’t put into words how much he’s impacted me,” said Hall, who possesses a vibrant personality and rarely is at a loss for words. “I don’t know what to say. There’s so many things I can say about the guy. He gives up his family and luxuries and things for us.”

When Hall was given the outstanding wrestler award at Tri-State this year, he told his coach that he was dedicating it to his late Grandpa Hall, who watched Adam’s father, Roland, become the first in BF school history to win a state title (1971) but died before his grandson won his first as a sophomore.

Garner was so overcome with emotion that he asked a reporter to give him a couple of minutes to regain his composure before an interview.

“He’s taken me to places I probably never would have gone,” Garner said of the various Western Regionals and national youth tournaments.

Garner, 43, a biology teacher, is in his 20th year as BF’s coach. A 1980 Lakeland High graduate, Garner qualified for state once. “I was just a grub in the room,” he said of his high school days.

BF has finished second at state the past two years, the first state trophies under Garner. The Badgers will have a tug of war with two-time state champ Weiser and American Falls to decide the state title.

Hall wants a team title for his coach.

“I want it for him more than I want it for myself,” Hall said. “I’ve won state titles for myself. I want this for him.”

Garner has no problem describing his relationship with Hall.

“He’s like the son I never had,” said Garner, who has two daughters. “My daughters call him their brother from another mom.”

Last week, Garner’s youngest daughter celebrated her ninth birthday. “Adam came to her birthday party,” Garner said. “There he was with a bunch of 9-year-olds.”

Garner believes he’s filled more the role of a doctor than a coach for Hall, who admits his high anxiety nature has been a challenge for Garner.

“I’ve felt more like a psychologist than a coach most of the time,” Garner said. “When he was younger, he’d win by a major decision and wonder why he didn’t get the pin. I remember his freshman year, (assistant coach) Steve (Neumeyer) and I sat in the gym for three hours after a match talking with Adam about it.”

That’s when Garner decided that Hall needed a mandatory 30-minute cool down after matches before they talked about it.

“He’s gone to seminars and read a lot of sports psychology books,” Hall said. “It’s helped me a lot. I’m naturally an extremely intense person.”

Said Hall: “(Garner’s) the brains and (Neumeyer’s) the brawn. Steve pushes me in practice. We go live about 20 to 30 minutes each practice.”

Garner doubts he’ll coach another athlete of Hall’s caliber.

“I don’t want to say I’ll never coach somebody like him, but the probability of coaching another one like him is pretty rare,” Garner said.

Especially one who has been as dominating.