Jan.
30, 2008: The Wrestling Mall, High School News
Jordan Junior Wrestlers Place 11,
Take 6th at State Championships
(Sandy, Utah) Jan. 28, 2008 Twenty
members of Jordan Junior Wrestling entered the 4A/5A
Junior High State Championships held at Mt. View High
School in Orem. Of those 20, 11 placed, including three in
the finals.
This was a good showing of how much the
guys have grown since last season, said Coach Bill
Kilpack (III). We placed three more than last year, and
were one match away from taking fifth. Had the wind been
blowing a little different that day, we might have three
more placers, but you can't win them all. I'm very proud
of them for their accomplishments.
Winning a state championship was
13-year-old Jake Ribald of West Jordan, in the 124-pound
division. He led the team, pinning every opponent,
including his championship match, where he won by fall in
the second round.
Also making it to the finals were brothers
Cody and Tyler Jensen of West Valley City. Twelve-year-old
Cody wrestled in the 60-pound bracket and, although he
fell short in the finals, he finished with a win,
defending his silver medal in the challenge for true
second match. Thirteen-year-old Tyler wrestled in the
75-pound bracket, maintaining a lead through the entire
match, until a last-second reversal took the lead and the
championship.
"There was some real excitement in these
weights," Coach Derek Jensen said. "Tyler got to pay back
one opponent who beat him in overtime last year, and
really showed his stuff, despite that last-second loss.
And Cody, I'm just amazed at how much improvement he's
made since last season, when he finished fifth. Pretty
exciting!"
Also winning a silver by winning his
challenge for true-second match was 12-year-old Zayne
Sayers of Sandy, in the 165-pound bracket. "That win was
well deserved," Kilpack said. "Zayne finally got to beat
his nemesis. I can't even tell you how many times this kid
came out ahead over the past two or three years. But, this
year, Zayne just took it to him, and came away with a very
satisfying win, 16-8."
Taking a bronze medal was 12-year-old
William Kilpack of Sandy at 105 lbs.
Finishing fourth were 12-year-old Matt
Findlay of Draper, at 86 lbs.; 11-year-old Clayton Moss of
Sandy, at 100 lbs.; and 12-year-old Nick Hulbert of Salt
Lake City at 112 lbs.
Taking fifth were 13-year-old Rami
Haddadin at 85 lbs.; and 10-year-old Derek Spachman of
Saratoga Springs at 90 lbs.
Finishing sixth was 10-year-old Tayler
Johnson of Draper at 76 lbs.
Jordan Junior Wrestling finished sixth at
a team in the Middle School Division.
Also competing were Rylan Kramer of
Riverton, at 65 lbs.; Justin Schwendiman of West Jordan,
at 65 lbs., before having to withdraw with an injury; Alex
Maxwell of Sandy at 70 lbs.; Addison Day of Sandy, 73
lbs.; Bronzon Battaglia of Sandy, 83 lbs.; MacKelti
Kilpack of Sandy, 83 lbs.; Kevin Maxwell of Sandy, 85
lbs.; Mitch Nazer of Sandy, 96 lbs.; and Ella-Maereen
Kilpack of Sandy, 116 lbs.
"There was some real improvement this year
over last," said Coach Jensen. "It's great to see that
kind of growth. Not just on the mat, but in the kids as
young men and women."
Jordan Junior Wrestling is a folkstyle
wrestling program offered through Salt Lake County
Recreation, operating out or Jordan High School in Sandy.
The middle school/junior high team is for grades five
through nine; the elementary team is for grades four and
younger. For more information, go to
http://members.aol.com/jordanjuniors/ or email
jordanjuniors@aol.com.
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