UtahWrestling.org Turns Four

UtahWrestling.org, recognized or sanctioned by the Utah Wrestling Coaches Association, USA Wrestling-Utah, the Junior High Wrestling General Committee and AAU Wrestling Utah, has now been online for more than four years.  In that time, it has grown to become the source for Utah wrestling information.  Since its inception in October 2003, the site has grown in the number of visitors going to the site, as well as participation from coaches, athletes and parents, submitting tournament and/or dual meet results, letters to the editor, and event dates.  In January 2008, the site had its greatest number of visitors yet — 18,716 visits.  This is a drastic increase from the 12,445 visits from the same month in 2007, not to mention the massive growth from it's first January, back in 2004, when it had 2,901 visits.

"This year has been a great experience," said Bill Kilpack, editor of UtahWrestling.org.  "By far, the 2007–2008 high-school wrestling season has had the most support from coaches, parents, wrestlers and team managers sending me information.  Each year, the number of people participating goes up a little, but this past six months or so has shown a really significant increase.  I still remember the coach who called to scream and swear at me about what a horrible job I was doing the first year but, now, I have coaches and parents calling and e-mailing me to thank me and tell me about how much they use the site.  What a great change.  And it's all because of the increased participation from coaches, parents and athletes.  It's not physically possible for me to be everywhere.  So, for this to work, I had to have help statewide.  It's been happening, thus far.  I think that things will only continue to improve."

In addition to providing information for upcoming tournaments, the site provides results and rankings by the Utah Wrestling Coaches Association, as well as its own rankings, for high school, junior high and youth athletes.  Information is posted for wrestling opportunities nationwide, ranging from the high-school tournament schedules to junior-high tournaments, to freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments, and national tournaments offered through the various venues and sanctioning bodies around the country.  Local and national media come to the site to gather information and contact Kilpack for information about events, programs and athletes.

"UtahWrestling.org is and always will be an open book," Kilpack said.  "If there's an opportunity for Utah athletes out there, I'll try to make sure that the information is available.  Utah wrestling has a lot to offer. We have quality athletes who are every bit as qualified and worthy of college scholarships as any other state in the nation."

In addition to the 66 percent growth in visits from the same month last year, highlights have included support from the online wrestling community nationwide.  This includes linking to UtahWrestling.org, as well as being officially recognized by wrestling governing bodies as a central communication hub for their organization.  The site was created at the request of the Utah Wrestling Coaches Association in October 2003, unofficially adopted by USA Wrestling-Utah in 2004 (followed by official adoption in 2006), supported as the communication hub of the Junior High Wrestling General Committee in 2005, and recognized by AAU Wrestling Utah in 2007.  In addition to the site's success, Kilpack has been asked to serve as the Utah Editor for Wrestling USA Magazine, American Adrenaline Magazine and Intermat.

"It's very gratifying to have the participation and support of the parents and the athletes themselves," Kilpack said.  "It's amazing to have averaged about 604 visits a day.  Not bad for a sport being cut by some colleges.  It's information like this that can help the people making those decisions realize that support for wrestling is stronger than they might have previously understood.  The new program at Utah Valley State College is a perfect example.  That resulted from grassroots support and an open-minded administration."

Wrestling USA Magazine has been the voice of national high school wrestling since 1965. For more information, see www.wrestlingusa.com. American Adrenaline Magazine started in 2004, and is dedicated to becoming the national voice of youth wrestling. For more information, see www.americanadrenaline.com. Intermat is the official media Web site of the National Wrestling Coaches Association.  For more information, see www.InterMatWrestle.com.

Kilpack is editor of UtahWrestling.org, a past AAU national champion, a seven-time national silver medalist, an AAU All-American, and earned an alternate position on the U.S. Pan-Am Team in Greco-Roman. He is Utah Editor for Wrestling USA Magazine, American Adrenaline Magazine and Intermat. He is a member of the Board of Directors for USA Wrestling-Utah, coaches an independent freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling program through Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation, Mountain Top Wrestling Club, and is co-founder of the Intermountain Champion Series, established to recognize the greatest athletes in the Intermountain West.  He is also director of AAU Wrestling Utah.