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Sept.
7, 2007: Wrestling USA
Magazine
Sandy, South Jordan, West Jordan Youths Named
Outstanding Wrestlers;
Mountain Top Wrestling Club Recognizes Members for Big
Achievements in a Big Year
(Sandy, Utah) Mountain Top Wrestling Club held its
annual Awards Dinner at Draper Park, recognizing youth
athletes for their achievements during a landmark year.
Attendees from the 100-plus member team received gold
medals for their hard work and dedication over the season,
photographs of themselves in matches, and trophies for the
Most Improved, Rookie of the Year, and Outstanding
Wrestlers and an Attitude Award. "This has been a great
year, with a lot of firsts," said Coach Bill Kilpack
(III). "It was the first year USA Wrestling-Utah had team
trophies, and we ended up taking state in both freestyle
and Greco-Roman wrestling. That was amazing. We took team
trophies at a national tournament, we had three of the
seven Intermountain Champions, and had more of the guys
win national titles. Just an amazing year, so we ended up
recognizing more Outstanding Wrestlers than we ever have
before - because they deserved it." Eight trophies for
Outstanding Wrestler were awarded to William Kilpack of
Sandy, who wrestled Novice (ages 11 and 12) 90 lbs.;
Justin Schwendiman of West Jordan, who wrestled Novice 65
lbs.; Garrick Kilpack of Sandy, Flyweight (ages 6 and
under) 45 lbs.; Matt Lee of Draper, Midget 55 lbs.; Cole
Moody of West Jordan, Bantam (ages 7 and 8) 60 lbs.;
Jordan McRae of South Jordan, Midget 65 lbs.; Tayler
Johnson of Draper, Midget (ages 9 and 10) 70 lbs.; and
Addison Day of Sandy, Midget 65 lbs. This season,
William Kilpack won three National Championships and three
national runner-up finishes, eight All-American finishes,
was the Intermountain Champion for the Novice Division,
was the USA Wrestling Western Regional Champion in both
freestyle and Greco-Roman, won four state titles, and was
named the Utah Youth Wrestler of the Year by
UtahWrestling.org. Schwendiman won two National
Championships, three All-American finishes, was the
runner-up for Intermountain Champion in the Novice
division, won two state titles and two state bronze
finishes, and was the no. 6 Novice division wrestler in
the state, according to the rankings in UtahWrestling.org.
Garrick Kilpack earned three national runner-up finishes,
was a five-time All-American, won three state titles and a
state silver, was the Outstanding Wrestler in Greco-Roman
for the Flyweight division at USA Wrestling-Utah State
Championships, and was the top-ranked Flyweight wrestler
in Utah. Matt Lee earned a bronze-medal finish at the
U.S. Folkstyle Nationals, was the Intermountain Champion
for the Midget Division, won four state runner-up
finishes, was the Outstanding Wrestler in both freestyle
and Greco-Roman at the Mountain Top Classic, as was the
no. 3-ranked Midget wrestler in Utah. Cole Moody earned
two national bronze-medal finishes, was the runner-up for
Intermountain Champion in the Bantam division, won four
state titles, was the Outstanding Wrestler in Greco-Roman
at the Mountain Top Classic, and was the top-ranked Bantam
wrestler in Utah. Jordan McRae earned All-American
status at the Reno World Championships, won two state
titles, was the Outstanding Wrestler in the Midget
division in both freestyle and Greco-Roman at the USA
Wrestling-Utah State Championships, and was the no.
4-ranked Midget wrestler in Utah. Tayler Johnson earned
All-American status at the U.S. Folkstyle Nationals, was
the USA Wrestling Western Regional Champion in both
freestyle and Greco-Roman, won three state titles and a
state runner-up finish, and was the no. 5-ranked Midget
wrestler in Utah. Addison Day won four state titles, was
third for the Intermountain Champion in the Midget
division, and was the no. 8-ranked Midget wrestler in
Utah. Four trophies were presented for Rookie of the
Year. "These were all first-year wrestlers or their first
year with us, who not only made great improvements over
the year, but took it to the next level," Kilpack said.
Receiving Rookie of the Year were Mason Christiansen of
Riverton, who wrestled Flyweight 50 lbs.; Sean Keating of
South Jordan, Midget 75 lbs.; MacKelti Kilpack of Sandy,
Novice 70 lbs.; and Nathan Lamb of Draper, Schoolboy (ages
13 and 14) 115 lbs. Christiansen won a Greco-Roman state
championship, and a freestyle runner-up finish at state,
and was the no. 10-ranked Flyweight in Utah. Keating won a
national title at the U.S. Folkstyle Nationals and another
All-American finish at the Rocky Mountain Nationals, two
state runner-up finishes, and was the no. 14-ranked Midget
in Utah. Kilpack won two national titles in women's
divisions, four All-American finishes, and two state
titles, and was the no. 12-ranked Novice in Utah. Lamb won
two state titles, and another state placement.
Eight trophies were also awarded for the Most Improved
wrestlers. These were awarded to Braden Henson of Salt
Lake City, Flyweight 45 lbs.; Jed Lee of Draper, Bantam 40
lbs.; Beau McRae of South Jordan, Bantam 55 lbs.; Carter
McMillan of Sandy, Midget 60 lbs.; Tyler Schwendiman of
South Jordan, Midget 65 lbs.; Joey Day of Sandy, Novice 70
lbs.; Adam Maxwell of Sandy, Cadet (ages 15 and 16) 98
lbs.; and Travis McRae of South Jordan, Cadet 145 lbs.
"All nine showed remarkable progress by the end of the
season compared to season opening," Kilpack said, "not to
mention massive improvement over last year, for those who
had wrestled with us before." One trophy, an Attitude
Award, was to Brandon Hoyne of Sandy, Cadet 171 lbs. He
was recognized for always having a positive attitude, be
it in practice or on the mat. Brandon was a first-year
wrestler who "always found something positive in matches,
even the losses," Kilpack said. "He might walk out after a
loss against someone who beat him repeatedly, but say, 'I
scored on him this time,' or 'He couldn't pin me this
time.' And it's just obvious that he loves this sport.
He's a real pleasure to coach." The trophy recipients
were selected by the Mountain Top Wrestling Club coaching
staff. 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 teaching 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 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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