March
27, 2008: The Wrestling Mall, High School News
Utah Youth: Three Mountain Top
Wrestling Club Members Rocky Mountain Nationals
All-Americans
(Sandy, Utah) March 26, 2008 — Three
members of Mountain Top Wrestling Club, all Kilpack
siblings from Sandy, earned All-American honors in the
Rocky Mountain Nationals held in Denver, Colo., in
folkstyle wrestling. William, MacKelti and Siondileigh
each placed in their divisions. Siondileigh, the youngest
of the three, not only placed in the regular men's
division, but also won a national title in the women's
division.
“This was a really exciting tournament,”
said Coach Bill Kilpack (III). “Personally, it was very
exciting to see my kids performing at such a high level,
but also seeing strong performances from my other
wrestlers there was very gratifying. This is a real
testament to their hard work and dedication. I'm very
proud of them."
Siondileigh, a 9-year-old in the third
grade at Sunrise Elementary in Sandy, won a national title
after pinning every opponent in the Women's Division IV.
In the men's division, she finished fifth in 10 and Under
53 lbs. This was Siondileigh's second national title and
sixth All-American finish, which is all the more
remarkable, considering that it is her first year of
wrestling competition.
"I often forget that she's first year,"
said Kilpack, "and have to be reminded when I'm frustrated
because she doesn't understand what I'm trying to tell her
when coaching. Then I'm amazed all over again. I won one
match my first year of wrestling. She's already won more
than 20. She has found her place, I think."
Her older brother, 13-year-old William a
seventh grader at Indian Hills Middle School, made it to
the finals in the 12 and Under 106-pound bracket, pinning
every opponent and not allowing a single point to be
scored against him, before that finals match. He fell
short against a very tough opponent then, as is often the
case when an athlete has come off such a serious
disappointment, lost the match in the challenge for true
second shortly after.
"William had a great tournament," Kilpack
said. "If he had won in the finals, he probably would have
been named outstanding wrestler for the age division. His
championship match was exciting, a real brawl. And he got
to wrestle it on the center, raised mat. It's something
that he's wanted for a long time. It's a shame he didn't
win, but he's got time for that, too."
This was William's fourth All-American
finish this season, which has also included two national
titles. Over his career, he has won nine national titles
and 28 All-American finishes.
MacKelti, an 11-year-old fifth grader at
Sunrise Elementary, finished fifth in the Women's Division
VII, after a loss to the champion in triple overtime and
close matches that just fell short against two other
opponents. This was her fourth All-American finish this
season, and eighth over her short two-year wrestling
career. She has also won three women's national titles.
"MacKelti was close to winning this one,"
Kilpack said. "It was amazing to see how close the
competition was between fifth and first. She took the
champion to triple overtime. That says a lot."
Also competing in the tournament was a
fourth Kilpack sibling, 7-year-old Garrick, who was
eliminated one round short of All-American status at 6 and
Under 46 lbs.; 10-year-old Tyler Schwendiman of South
Jordan, who was also one round short of All-American
status at 10 and Under 69 lbs.; and Justin Schwendiman of
West Jordan, who competed at 12 and Under 66 lbs.
"This was an excellent experience for the
kids," said Coach Todd Schwendiman. "They really showed
how much they have progressed. There are some things we
need to work on, of course, but they're small things. And
there's still a lot of wrestling ahead of us. It was good
experience to build on for the future."
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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