Nov. 29, 2005: The Wrestling Mall, High School News

Jordan Junior Wrestlers Take Springville by Storm

(Sandy, Utah) Nov. 29, 2005 — Five Jordan Junior Wrestling members traveled to Springville recently to compete in folkstyle wrestling. All five took medals, including two championships.

"This was a great opener for the junior-high wrestling season," said Bill Kilpack (III), who coached the athletes at the tournament. "Since they didn't split the middle school and junior high divisions, we had a little bit of a surprise when we had fifth graders wrestling a few eighth graders, but they just went to town and showed older kids how to do it."

Winning the team's lone championship in the Junior High Division was 10-year-old William Kilpack of Sandy, who wrestled in the Advanced 76-pound bracket when only in fifth grade. "This was a little alarming, walking out for his first junior-high match and having a good eighth grader to wrestle," Kilpack said. "But he just got it done. That kid probably hasn't seen that much air time in his life. Three big throws, then a fall. It was really exciting." In this match, the opponent scored one point for an escape. It was the only point scored on him in the tournament.

Taking second in the Junior High Division was 10-year-old Justin Schwendiman of Sandy, who wrestled in the Beginner 61-pound bracket. "Justin had a breakthrough," Kilpack said. "It's always exciting to see when things finally click into place, and young athletes start to really perform. Justin lost that championship match over a couple mistakes. If he wasn't so new to the sport, he would have come away with the championship. I don't think the match will turn out the same way if they meet again later this season."

Placing third in the Junior High Division was 10-year-old Nick Hulbert of West Valley City, who wrestled in the Intermediate 83-pound bracket, also as a fifth grader. "Nick ran into a really quality eighth-grade kid second round, but didn't quit for an instant," Kilpack said. "He took the loss, kept his head up, and went out to win his next two matches by fall, and tie up that third-place position."

Two young wrestlers competed in the Elementary Division: 8-year-old Tyler Schwendiman of South Jordan; and 4-year-old Garrick Kilpack of Sandy.

Schwendiman wrestled in the 55-pound Advanced bracket, winning the championship by pinning all three of his opponents.

Kilpack wrestled in the 35-pound Beginner bracket, winning two matches to make it to the finals, then falling short of an older more experienced young athlete.

Jordan Junior Wrestling is a folkstyle wrestling program offered through Salt Lake County Recreation. For more information, go to http://members.aol.com/jordanjuniors/ or email jordanjuniors@aol.com.