March 5, 2005: Wrestling USA Magazine

Mountain Top Wrestling Members Snare 41 Medals at Wasatch Tournament

(Sandy, Utah) March 5, 2005 < Mountain Top Wrestling Club (formerly Jordan Freestyle Wrestling) traveled up to Heber City, Utah, to compete in the Wasatch folkstyle and freestyle wrestling tournament at Wasatch High School, earning 41 medals in freestyle and folkstyle wrestling, March 4-5, 2005. In freestyle, 31 wrestlers competed, earning 22 medals. In folkstyle, 27 athletes competed, earning 19 awards.

"This was the biggest tournament of the season, and the guys really performed, said Coach Bill Kilpack (III). "This is the most hardware the guys have taken home in all the years we've been doing this. They really stepped up, winning matches against opponents who have beaten them each of the last couple weeks, and some in very dominating fashion. It was great to see them continue to develop and progress."

Of the 22 freestyle medals earned, Mountain Top team members took 11 gold. The team was led by a quintet of wrestlers, all of whom won every match by fall or technical fall (gaining a 10-point lead): Beau McRae of South Jordan, Flyweight (ages 6 and Under) 50 lbs.; Tayler Johnson of Draper, Bantam (ages 7 and 8) 60 lbs.; Kyler Machan of West Jordan, Midget (ages 9 and 10) 55 lbs.; Matthew Findlay of Draper, Midget 60 lbs.; and William Kilpack of Sandy, Midget (ages 9 and 10) 65 lbs. McRae won his championship match with a 15-second fall; Johnson won his gold-medal match by technical fall; Machan won his championship match by technical fall with a score of 10-0; Findlay won his gold-medal match with a 10-second fall; and Kilpack won his championship match with a 20-second fall.

Also taking home golds were first-year wrestler Tanner Orton of Midvale, Flyweight (ages 6 and under) 35 lbs., won his championship match by decision; Devin Johnson of Draper, Flyweight 45 lbs., won his championship match by decision; Tyler Schwendiman of South Jordan, Bantam 50 lbs., won his championship match with a 15-second fall; and first-year wrestler Marques Valdez of West Valley City, Novice 130 lbs., won his championship match by fall. Also winning gold were Skylar Orton of Midvale, Bantam 45 lbs., and Helaman Suesue of Salt Lake City, Flyweight 60 lbs.

Winning freestyle silver were five competitors. First-year wrestler Cole Clark of South Jordan, Bantam 60 lbs., won his silver medal match by decision, with a score of 9-5; Jordan McRae of South Jordan, Bantam 50 lbs., won his silver-medal match by technical fall, with a score of 12-1; first-year wrestler Nick Hulbert of West Valley City, Midget 95 lbs., won his second-place match by technical fall with a score of 10-0; Tyler Jensen of West Valley City, Novice (ages 11 and 12) 60 lbs., won his silver-medal match by technical fall with a score of 14-3; and Ray Hinnen of West Jordan, Novice 75 lbs., won his silver-medal match with a 35-second fall.

Taking freestyle bronze were four athletes: first-year wrestler Cole Moody of West Jordan, Flyweight 45 lbs.; Wesly Orton of Midvale, Novice 60 lbs.; Dylan Carlson of Kearns, Schoolboy (ages 13 and 14) 115 lbs.; and Jessica Osborne of Salt Lake City, Junior (ages 17 and 18) 105 lbs.

Winning fourth-place bronze medals were first-year wrestler Garrick Kilpack of Sandy, Flyweight 35 lbs.; and Austin Anderson of West Jordan, Bantam 50 lbs.

Of the 19 folkstyle tournament medals earned, 11 were gold. Tanner Orton, Flyweight 35 lbs., won his championship match by fall; Jordan Harbaugh of South Jordan, Flyweight 40 lbs., won his championship match by fall; Devin Johnson, Flyweight 45 lbs., won his gold-medal match by decision; Tayler Johnson, Bantam 60 lbs., won his championship match by fall; Kyler Machan, Midget 55 lbs., won his championship match with a 16-second fall; Matthew Findlay, Midget 60 lbs., won his championship match by fall; William Kilpack, Midget 65 lbs., won his gold-medal match by technical fall, with a score of 14-3; Tyler Jensen, Novice 60 lbs., won his championship match by decision with a score of 9-5; and Marques Valdez, Novice 130 lbs., won his gold-medal match by fall. Also winning gold were Skylar Orton, Flyweight 45 lbs.; and Helaman Suesue, Flyweight 60 lbs.

Winning folkstyle silver medals were four wrestlers: Garrick Kilpack, Flyweight 35 lbs.; Benjamin De La Cruz of West Valley City, Flyweight 45 lbs.; Beau McRae, Flyweight 50 lbs.; and Jordan McRae, Bantam 50 lbs.

Winning folkstyle bronze were two athletes: first-year wrestler Caleb Carlson of Kearns, Flyweight 40 lbs.; and Tyler Schwendiman, Bantam 50 lbs.

Winning fourth-place bronze medals were Cole Clark, Bantam 60 lbs.; and Riley Tatum of West Jordan, Flyweight 45 lbs.

Also competing from Mountain Top Wrestling Club in both the freestyle and folkstyle tournaments were first-year wrestler Hunter Harrington of Draper, Flyweight 50 lbs.; Justin Schwendiman of South Jordan, Midget 60 lbs.; Brayden Schwendiman of South Jordan, Novice 60 lbs.; Daniel Bactista of Kaysville, Novice 80 lbs.; and Danny Huntsman of West Jordan, Junior 125 lbs.

Also competing from Mountain Top in the freestyle tournament were Benjamin De La Cruz of West Valley City, Flyweight 45 lbs.; Riley Tatum, Flyweight 45 lbs.; Timothy Coté of Sandy, Midget 60 lbs.; Phillip Coté of Sandy, Novice 95 lbs.; and Josh Wright of Taylorsville, Cadet (ages 15 and 16) 98 lbs.

Also competing in the folkstyle tournament were Travis McRae of South Jordan, Schoolboy 105 lbs.; and Dylan Carlson, Schoolboy 115 lbs.

"There was a lot of progress made this last week," said Coach Bill Kilpack (Jr.). "Each match, win or lose, we try to make sure the kids learn something. We came back from some losses, taking those little things and turning matches around. That's what it's all about: taking another step up that ladder. They're a great bunch of kids, working hard and improving week after week."

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 www.mountaintopwrestling.com.