Callan Hall

Heart of Gold

The Gold Medalist who puts God and community first.

At four years old, Callan Hall picked a baton twirling class out of a local parks and recreation catalog. Little did she know then that she would one day compete as part of Team USA and be recognized as one of the best in the world at the discipline of three-baton. For Callan, the journey to gold medal and World Champion status hasn’t always been easy, particularly because she has competed and excelled in three other sports and stayed at the head of her class academically all along the way. The opportunity to do all the things she loves the most, her family, and most of all, her faith, have been her inspiration to keep putting in the hard work necessary for a multi-sport scholar-athlete to succeed at the highest levels. “Sports make me busy,” she says, “but I have to hold myself accountable, and work hard to reach the goals that I want.”

Her relentless determination was put to the test when she suffered a severe ankle injury her sophomore year. Callan spent three months on the sidelines, missing most of the basketball season. When she was greenlighted to play again, “I became very discouraged because a large portion of my muscle memory had gone away, I no longer had the same flexibility or smoothness, and I was in pain,” she says. With hard work during physical therapy and the support of her teammates, Callan worked through her frustrations and was ultimately able to play in the final basketball game of the regular season as well as the post season games, helping her team finish runner-up at Kansas 5A State. Even more importantl to Callan, her faith grew tremendously during this trying time. “When I couldn’t do the things that I loved, I was able to learn that I am a part of His plan; which is something much bigger than myself,” she says.

Callan actively shares her faith with others as committed member of her church, a Sunday school teacher, and a teen Bible study leader. She volunteers her time and talents to help out wherever there is need in her community. “I am extremely fortunate to be a member in a church that is constantly reaching out and serving our community,” she says. She takes part in annual outreach events and particularly enjoys the opportunity to play a hands-on role in serving others, whether that means cleaning up trash, mowing lawns, or taking food and water to the homeless. “These experiences have really helped me realize it often is the little things that we can do to make a difference in other’s lives.”