Feb.17, 2005: Wrestling USA Magazine

Mountain Top Wrestling Club Hosting Tournament - Mountain Top Classic

(Sandy, Utah) Feb. 17, 2005 — Mountain Top Wrestling Club (formerly Jordan Freestyle Wrestling) is hosting an open freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling tournament March 11­12, 2005, at Jordan High School. Greco-Roman competition will be on Friday, March 11, and freestyle competition will be on Saturday, March 12. Athletes from all around Utah and from surrounding states are expected to attend, attracting around 2,000 people.

"We're very excited about the Mountain Top Classic," said Coach Bill Kilpack (III), the tournament director. "We have been promoting it nationwide since November. We've had people call and e-mail from Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Colorado and Arizona, but there are a lot more people accessing the flier on the Web site than those who have actually contacted us. It would be great to just pack the place with athletes from a half-dozen states."

The Mountain Top Classic will award the top three teams based on a 10-man team roster. The tournament will also award the top six athletes in each weight class in eight age groups. Outstanding Wrestlers will be named for each age division. A Fastest Pin Award will also be awarded.

Kilpack said, "Being a wrestling parent, as well as a coach, I got to hear what my kids thought was cool at other tournaments we attended around the country. In the end, we figured that we'd see if we could run a tournament with all the best stuff from the past six years of competition."

The tournament will also offer a Women's Division, with all the same age divisions and weight classes as the Men's Division. "Last November, the general membership of USA Wrestling Utah voted unanimously to do this in 2005. I think it's great. I've had female athletes in my club the past couple years, and there have been three times as many more who have expressed interest, but decided not to wrestle when they learned that they would be wrestling boys. It's unfortunate, but women's wrestling is still in its infancy. There are at least a dozen colleges with women's wrestling programs now. It was in the last Olympics. It will continue to progress. Now, with this initiative from USA Wrestling Utah, I think that wrestling in this state is taking a great step forward."

Although the Women's Division is offered, female athletes do not have to remain in the Women's Division is they do not have anyone to wrestle. In that case, they may opt to move into the corresponding Men's Division age group and weight.

The Mountain Top Classic is an open tournament. Weigh-ins for the Greco-Roman tournament are from 4­6 p.m. on Friday, March 11. Wrestling will begin at 7 p.m. Athletes competing in the Greco-Roman tournament will not have to weigh in again for the freestyle tournament the next day. Athletes born in 1996 or earlier are eligible for Greco-Roman competition. Weigh-ins for the freestyle tournament are from 6:30­8:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 12. Wrestling will begin at 9:30 a.m. Athletes born 2001 or earlier are eligible for freestyle competition. Entry fees are $10 per style. All athletes must have a current USA Wrestling Card and copy of his or her birth certificate. Rosters for the team competition must be submitted by 9:15 a.m. on Saturday morning in order to pursue a team trophy. Teams must also provide one mat official and one pairing official with 2005 USWOA stamps in order to be eligible for team competition.

Wrestlers must have a red and a blue singlet or a red-blue reversible singlet. They must also have a handkerchief and bound shoe laces. Coaches must have a current USA Wrestling Coaches Card.

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 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.