April 22, 2007: Wrestling USA Magazine

Mountain Top Wrestling Club Dominates State Tournament

(Sandy, Utah) April 22, 2007 — Mountain Top Wrestling Club competed in the USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships April 20-21, 2007, in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, not only setting all-time club records for individual awards, but coming away with the team championships in both styles, with 48 athletes earning four Outstanding Wrestler awards, and 71 medals.

"This was the first time USA Wrestling-Utah has had team competition in the two styles," said Coach Bill Kilpack (III), "and it was certainly exciting. We had very strong competition team rosters, and everyone we had scoring team points for us really excelled. I'm very proud of the guys and what they've accomplished. This is a real testament to their hard work and dedication."

Mountain Top Wrestling Club earned 410 team points in the Greco-Roman tournament, outscoring the runner-up, Spanish Fork-based Diamondbacks, by 82 points. In the freestyle competition, the results were even more overwhelming, with Mountain Top earning 697 team points, outscoring runner-up Wasatch of Heber City by 173 points.

Between the two tournaments, Mountain Top wrestlers earned 28 individual titles, more than doubling the best showing the club had made at the state tournament in the past. In addition, wrestlers earned four Outstanding Wrestler awards. This was the most Outstanding Wrestler awards of any club in the state.

The youngest of those Outstanding Wrestlers was 6-year-old Garrick Kilpack of Sandy, who wrestled in the Flyweight (ages 6 and Under) division at 40 lbs., pinning two of his three opponents in the Greco-Roman tournament, including a first-round fall in his championship match. In the freestyle tournament, 7-year-old Cole Moody of West Jordan was named the Outstanding Wrestler for the Bantam (ages 7 and 8) division, where he was the champion at 55 lbs., the largest weight in the entire tournament. Having the most dominant performance in the state tournament, however, was 9-year-old Jordan McRae of South Jordan, who was the only wrestler recognized as an Outstanding Wrestler for his age division (Midget, ages 9 and 10) in both tournaments, while winning his first state titles.

Eleven Mountain Top wrestlers won double-titles, taking state championships in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. They included Garrick Kilpack, Flyweight 40 lbs., winning his first two state titles; Jed Lee of Draper, Bantam 40 lbs., winning his first two state titles; Cole Moody, Bantam 55 lbs.; Jordan McRae, Midget 60 lbs.; Addison Day of Sandy, Midget 65 lbs., winning his first two state titles; Bryson Kimball of West Jordan, Midget 112 lbs., winning his first two state titles; Gavin Krushensky of South Jordan, Midget 120-plus pounds, winning his first two state titles; William Kilpack of Sandy, Novice (ages 11 and 12) 90 lbs.; Zayne Sayers of Sandy, Novice 140 lbs., winning his first two state titles; Tyler Jensen of West Valley City, Schoolboy (ages 13 and 14) 70 lbs.; and Travis McRae of South Jordan, Cadet (ages 15 and 16) 145 lbs. For Moody, these were his second and third state titles; for William Kilpack, his fifth and sixth state titles; for Jensen, his fourth and fifth state titles; for Travis McRae, his second and third state titles.

Winning a state title in Greco-Roman was first-year wrestler Christopher Smith of Murray, Flyweight 55 lbs. Winning state titles in freestyle were brothers Jefferson and Jordan Harbaugh of South Jordan, Jefferson in Flyweight 45 lbs., and Jordan in Bantam 45 lbs. This is Jordan's second state title; he won his first in 2005. Also winning state titles in freestyle were first-year wrestler Mason Christianson of Riverton, Flyweight 50 lbs.; Ajax Revels of Riverton, Bantam 75 lbs., winning his first state title; and Tayler Johnson of Draper, Midget 70 lbs., winning his second state title, his first also coming in 2005.

Winning silver medals in both tournaments were two wrestlers: Tanner Orton of Sandy, Bantam 40 lbs.; and Matt Lee of Draper, Midget 55 lbs. Both losing to the same opponents in the finals, Orton to his teammate, Jed Lee.

Earning silver medals in the freestyle tournament were four wrestlers: Christopher Smith, Bantam 55 lbs.; Tyler Schwendiman of South Jordan, Midget 60 lbs., who also met his teammate Jordan McRae in the finals; Clark Hinton of Sandy, Midget 87 lbs.; and Adam Maxwell of Sandy, Cadet 98 lbs.

Earning bronze medals in freestyle were nine athletes: Braden Henson of Taylorsville, Flyweight 45 lbs.; Nathan Lampros of Sandy, Bantam 45 lbs.; Beau McRae of South Jordan, Bantam 55 lbs.; Sean Keating of Riverton, Midget 75 lbs.; Joey Day of Sandy, Novice 70 lbs.; Matthew Findlay of Draper, Novice 75 lbs.; Wesly Orton of Sandy, Schoolboy 75 lbs.; Tavish Sandness of West Jordan, Schoolboy 110 lbs.; and Devin Sayers of Sandy, Cadet 160 lbs.

Taking fourth-place bronze medals in freestyle were three wrestlers: Skylar Orton of Sandy, Midget 50 lbs.; Justin Schwendiman of West Jordan, Novice 65 lbs.; and first-year wrestler Nathan Lamb of Sandy, Schoolboy 115 lbs.

Earning sixth-place medals were two wrestlers: first-year wrestler Carter McMillan of Sandy, Midget 65 lbs.; and Matthew Vierkant of Sandy, Schoolboy 90 lbs.

In Greco-Roman, winning runner-up honors were eight athletes: Braden Henson, Flyweight 45 lbs.; Mason Christianson, Flyweight 50 lbs.; Beau McRae, Bantam 55 lbs.; Tayler Johnson, Midget 70 lbs.; Matt Findlay, Novice 75 lbs.; first-year wrestler Ella-Maereen Kilpack, Schoolboy/girl 105 lbs.; Tavish Sandness, Schoolboy 110 lbs.; and Devin Sayers, Cadet 160 lbs.

Winning bronze in Greco-Roman were eight athletes: Devin Johnson of Draper, Bantam 55 lbs.; Skylar Orton, Midget 50 lbs.; Tyler Schwendiman, Midget 60 lbs.; Justin Schwendiman, Novice 65 lbs.; Wesly Orton, Schoolboy 75 lbs.; Matthew Vierkant, Schoolboy 90 lbs.; Tait Sandness of West Jordan, Schoolboy 115 lbs.; and Adam Maxwell, Cadet 98 lbs.

Three wrestlers earned fourth-place bronze medals in Greco-Roman: Carter McMillan, Midget 65 lbs.; Sean Keating, Midget 75 lbs.; and Joey Day, Novice 70 lbs.

Taking a fifth-place bronze medals in Greco-Roman was first-year wrestler Kevin Maxwell of Sandy, Schoolboy 80 lbs.

Taking a sixth-place bronze medals in Greco-Roman was first-year wrestler MacKelti Kilpack of Sandy, Novice 70 lbs.

Also competing in the tournament in both styles was Jaron Fox of South Jordan, Midget 50 lbs.; and Cole Kimball of West Jordan, Midget 60 lbs. Also competing in the freestyle tournament were Devin Johnson, Bantam 50 lbs.; twins Garrett and Greg Lamb of Sandy, Garrett at Midget 65 lbs., and Greg and Midget 70 lbs.; Zane Rasmussen, Draper, Midget 70 lbs.; Jacob Skousen, Midget 70 lbs.; MacKelti Kilpack, Novice 70 lbs.; Kevin Maxwell, Schoolboy 80 lbs.; Ella-Maereen Kilpack, Schoolboy/girl 105 lbs.; Tait Sandness, Schoolboy 115 lbs.; and Brandon Hoyne of Sandy, Cadet 171 lbs.

"This was about as exciting a state tournament as I can remember," said Coach Bill Kilpack (Jr.). "The character showed on the mat was outstanding. We pulled out some tough matches, beating some opponents who have beaten us all season, as well as preventing others from their attempts at upsets. It was really something to have so many of the kids recognized, and to have all that add up to having the program recognized as the best in the state in both styles."

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. The program will start back up for the freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling season in late January. For more information, call 641-9832, e-mail coach@mountaintopwrestling.com or visit them on the Worldwide Web at www.mountaintopwrestling.com.