Oct. 13, 2006: Deseret Morning News

Young Utah Wrestler Bringing Home Awards

WOODS CROSS — Brandon George is so good, he even wins at wrestling when he's not on the mat.

The 12-year-old Millcreek Junior High student recently picked up a prestigious victory without even breaking a sweat or donning his singlet. The Woods Cross resident was named the 2006 youth wrestler of the year by UtahWrestling.org.

The honor is just the latest in a long line of accomplishments that George has achieved this year. He wrestled his way to an impressive 87-8 record, earned a national title, racked up three state championships and picked up a Western Regional crown along the way.

Not too shabby for a seventh-grader, by George. And all of that was certainly enough to attract the attention of the statewide wrestling organization, which hands out the annual award.

"Brandon is a genuinely tough kid," said Bill Kilpack, who's the editor of UtahWrestling.org and an editor for Wrestling USA magazine, in a news release. "I've had the chance to watch him develop for some time now, because he and my son spent a number of years butting heads every weekend, and his growth as an athlete and as a young man had been remarkable to see."

George began the season by placing second at the U.S. Folkstyle Nationals in January. He then won a state championship the next week at the 4A/5A Junior High State Championships. He later won both the freestyle and Greco-Roman titles at the USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships to claim first-place prizes in all three styles.

On a larger stage, he placed fifth at the Reno World Championships, which Kilpack calls "one of the toughest folkstyle tournaments in the country," and he won gold at the USA Wrestling Western Regional Championships in Klamath, Ore., and a Greco-Roman national title at AAU Grand Nationals in Omaha, Neb. He also was a runner-up in freestyle and folkstyle at that latter meet.

George continued his success on the local scene by beating an Ohio All-Star wrestler while representing the Utah All-Star team in July.

All that helped George earn a No. 1 ranking in the Novice division (11-12) and for all kids divisions (ages 4-14). William Kilpack of Sandy finished ranked second overall. George improved his ranking from being the third-ranked Novice in 2005 (and ninth overall).

During his career, George has won five state championships, three national titles and notched nine All-American finishes. One of his highlights was winning the World Cup tournament in Boise back in 2003.

George is the third boy to be named Utah youth wrestler of the year since UtahWrestling.org began the recognition in 2004. Last year, Kilpack, then 10, won after claiming national titles in freestyle, Greco-Roman and folkstyle. Also of Sandy, Carson Kuhn earned the inaugural award as a 12-year-old. He won a national title in 2004 in freestyle.