Dec. 20, 2005: Wrestling USA Magazine

Mountain Top Wrestling Club Marches Into 2006 Season

(Sandy, Utah) Dec. 20, 2005 — Mountain Top Wrestling Club (formerly Jordan Freestyle Wrestling) enters into its second season with the new moniker in the 2006 freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling season. Practices will begin Jan. 23, still at Jordan High School. Returning to coach the team for the sixth 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. Also returning to the coaching staff are Derek Jensen, a two-time member of the All-Marine wrestling team; Judd Kennelly, a varsity wrestler from Jordan High; Wes Machan, Utah's first world champion in Greco-Roman wrestling; and Toby Orton, a varsity wrestler from Fidalgo Island, Wash.

"Last year was an unbelievable year," said Kilpack (III). "We had so many guys just really step up and show everyone — not just in Utah, but in the country — what they were made of. We averaged almost 35 athletes at the local tournaments, which was one of the most of any of the teams there. We also took home 38 medals and 14 state titles at the state tournament; had eight national championship finishes; and 17 All-American finishes. We hosted our first tournament, the Mountain Top Classic, which turned out to be the biggest freestyle and Greco-Roman tournament in Utah. And, in October, we made a really strong showing at the Gladiator World Championships, came away with the 1st-place team trophy. 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. Last year was just amazing, and we want to just pick right up where we left off."

Among the team's accomplishments last season are eight national championships, five national runner-up finishes, three national bronze medalists, and three athletes placing fourth through sixth at AAU Grand Nationals in Santa Fe, or USA Wrestling Kids Nationals in Green Bay. Team members racked up 14 state championships, eight state runner-up finishes, four state bronze finishes, and 13 athletes placed fourth through sixth at the USA Wrestling Utah State Championships. In addition, team members were awarded 15 championships at the Utah Summer Games, 15 silver medals, and two bronzes. At the Western Regional Championships, there were two championships, and one fourth-place finisher. In addition, two received tournament Outstand Wrestler Awards, one was awarded a tournament Quick Pin Award, 11 received Outstanding Sportsmanship Awards from mat officials. The team itself came away with one team championship at the Gladiator World Championships, and three 2nd place team trophies, two in Wyoming and one in Utah.

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 Rocky Mountain Nationals. Kilpack (III) said, "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 hit the pool. 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 or her. 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 that they'll remember all their lives."

In addition to the accomplishments already listed, in six seasons, Mountain Top Wrestling Club (formerly Jordan Freestyle Wrestling), has produced one UHSCAA All-American, 21 more state champions, three undefeated wrestlers over the course of a season, six more placers at the Western Regional Championships, two placers at the Reno World Championships, 13 placers at the Gladiator World Championships, two placers at the Monster Match Nationals, one placer at the Rocky Mountain Nationals 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 All-American 15 times by AAU, the US Wrestling Federation or USA Wrestling in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling; was a seven-time Zone/Western Regional champion; and a six-time state champion in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. He also spent many years helping coach 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.

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.

Judd Kennelly of Salt Lake City was a varsity wrestler at Jordan High School under Coach May. 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, football, baseball and soccer.

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.

Babinski has coached wrestling, football and track at Jordan High School for 15 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 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 will resume at the beginning of next season in January 2006 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.