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December 2004: Wrestling USA
Magazine
Jordan Freestyle Wrestling Changes Name, Storms Into
2005 Season
(Sandy, Utah) Dec. 15, 2004 34 Jordan Freestyle Wrestling
has changed its name to Mountain Top Wrestling Club, and
will enter into its first season with the new monniker 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 5:307 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
http://www.mountaintopwrestling.com.
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