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Dec.
16, 2004: The Wrestling Mall, International News
Jordan Freestyle Wrestling Changes Name, Storms Into 2005
Season
(Sandy, Utah) Dec. 15, 2004 — Jordan
Freestyle Wrestling has changed its name to Mountain Top
Wrestling Club, and will enter into its first season with
the new moniker in the 2005 freestyle and Greco-Roman
wrestling season. Practices will begin Jan. 24, still at
Jordan High School. Returning to coach the team for the
fifth straight year are Bill Kilpack (III), a national AAU
wrestling champion and alternate for the Greco-Roman
Pan-Am team; his father, Bill Kilpack (Jr.), one of the
original coaches of the much lauded Sundance Wrestling
Club; and Chris Babinski, the Jordan High School wrestling
coach. Officially joining the coaching staff this season
are Wes Machan, Utah's first world champion in Greco-Roman
wrestling; Toby Orton, a varsity wrestler from Fidalgo
Island, Wash.; and Derek Jensen, a two-time member of the
All-Marine wrestling team.
“Last year was a amazing year,” said
Kilpack (III). “We had a whole new wave of kids, making
the club about 90 percent first-year wrestlers.
Nonetheless, we still averaged 24 or so kids at
tournaments, which was one of the most of any of the teams
there. We also took home 24 medals and three state titles
at the state tournament, placed three out of five kids at
the Western Regional Championships, and two out of eight
at the Reno World Championships. We weren't sure how
things would go, with so many new wrestlers and families,
but it was a real pleasure. We have as strong a core group
as ever, with more parental support than ever, coming down
from as far as Clearfield and up from as far as Spanish
Fork. We're going to host our own tournament this year,
the Mountain Top Classic, and that will just add to the
high expectations we have for this season.”
Among the team's accomplishments last
season are three state champions, seven state silver
medalists, five state bronze medalists, and eight athletes
placing fourth through sixth. In addition, team members
were awarded 11 championships at the Utah Summer Games,
and five silver medals. At the Western Regional
Championships, two were awarded silver medals, two more
bronze medals, and still two more were awarded for
placements from fourth to sixth. In addition, one was
awarded a tournament Most Pins in Least Time Award, two
earned Fastest Pin Trophies, and the team came away with
three 2nd place team trophies, two in Wyoming and one in
Colorado.
Mountain Top Wrestling Club will compete
in open tournaments throughout Utah and will supplement
the in-state schedule with tournaments in Idaho, Wyoming,
Colorado and Nevada. In addition, the team will return to
compete in the Western Regional Championships, return to
the Reno World Championships, and make their second
showing at Kids Nationals in Wisconsin. The traveling is
important because it allows the wrestlers to get more mat
time during the freestyle/Greco-Roman season, provides
them folkstyle experience before reaching high school, and
provides new opponents who they have not met week after
week. Just as importantly, the travel provides a reward
for the wrestlers’ hard work and the support of their
families.
Kilpack (Jr.) said, “The wrestling trips
make the season that much more fun. The kids wrestle, then
stay in a hotel after and play in the pool. Last year,
they were swimming in a super warm pool while it was
snowing. I can't imagine that anyone had ever done that
before. Following the tournaments, we usually take over a
restaurant and have a good time. It's not only a reward
for the kids, but for their families. Wrestling is a
family sport. Every successful wrestler has a strong
family behind him. There are a lot of practices and early
weigh-ins for tournaments every weekend for several
months. It’s tough and takes dedication from the kids as
well as their parents. Traveling gives everyone a little
more from their wrestling experience and, this year,
hitting some of the big tournaments will make it all that
much more of an experience they'll remember all their
lives.”
In five seasons, Jordan Freestyle
Wrestling (now Mountain Top Wrestling Club), has produced
one All-American, 21 state champions, three undefeated
wrestlers over the course of a season, seven placers at
the Western Regional Championships, two placers at the
Reno World Championships, and one representative on the
Utah National Team.
This year’s coaching staff has a long and
successful wrestling history.
Kilpack (III) of Sandy was an original
member of the Sundance Wrestling Club, arguably the finest
freestyle/Greco-Roman wrestling team in Utah history. As a
competitor, he garnered an AAU national championship,
seven national silver medals, seven more national medals,
and was a member of the Pan-Am team in Greco-Roman
wrestling holding an alternate position. In addition, he
was named AAU All-America multiple times in both freestyle
and Greco-Roman wrestling, and spent many years helping
coach younger Sundance teammates.
Kilpack (Jr.) of West Jordan was one of
the two original coaches of the Sundance Wrestling Club,
and a member of the University of Utah wrestling team.
Sundance was arguably the finest freestyle/Greco-Roman
wrestling team in Utah history, producing the first two
world champions from Utah, and dozens of other
international and national honors. He was also a member of
the University of Utah wrestling team.
Machan of West Jordan was the first Utah
wrestler in the state's history to win a World
Championship, winning it in Greco-Roman wrestling. He was
an original member of the Sundance Wrestling Club, where
the second world champion in Utah history also rose from
the Sundance ranks. Machan qualified for the world team
twice, although he was only able to compete the time he
won the title. In addition to his world championship, he
was a three-time AAU national champion, twice in
Greco-Roman and once in freestyle, and a three-time
national bronze medalist, twice in freestyle and once in
Greco-Roman.
Orton of Midvale was a varsity wrestler at
Anacortes High School in Fidalgo Island, Washington. It
was during this time that he came to appreciate the
competitive nature of wrestling and other sports. As an
adult, he has coached community sports such as wrestling,
soccer and a championship baseball team.
Jensen of West Valley City was a varsity
letterman all three years of high school at Hunter High
School, was a Utah Summer Games champion, a Region
champion, a two-time freestyle state champ, and competed
at nationals as a senior in high school. Following high
school, he was a member of the wrestling team at Palo Mar
College in California before joining the military, where
he was twice named to the All-Marine Wrestling Team.
Babinski has coached wrestling, football
and track at Jordan High School for 14 years, where he has
produced one high school All-American, a one-year team
record of 24-1, and two athletes who advanced to
collegiate competition. Babinski also developed Utah’s
first 5A dual state championship tournament, where 17 of
the 22 5A competed to determine the dual meet state
champions. He has served as the Utah representative in the
National Wrestling Coaches Association for the past eight
years.
Mountain Top Wrestling Club is a nonprofit
501(c)3 corporation dedicated to providing a venue for
individuals to learn, develop and refine their athletic
skills and abilities; and educating regarding the rules
and regulations of freestyle, folkstyle and Greco-Roman
wrestling. It is open to male and female athletes ages
four and older who live anywhere in the State of Utah.
Practices are held three days a week from 5:30–7 p.m. at
Jordan High School. For more information, call 641-9832,
e-mail
coach@mountaintopwrestling.com or visit them on the
Worldwide Web at
www.mountaintopwrestling.com.
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