Dec. 3, 2006: The Wrestling Mall, High School News

Jordan Junior Wrestlers Buffalo the Tooele Tournament

(Sandy, Utah) Dec. 3, 2006 — Thirty-three members of Jordan Junior Wrestling traveled to Tooele to compete in the Tooele K-9 folkstyle wrestling tournament. Of those 33, all 33 placed, including 12 champions.

“This was a great second tournament for the season,” said Coach Bill Kilpack (III). “Some of our experienced wrestlers who looked a bit rusty at the last one really sharpened up to dominate their divisions, and our new wrestlers have really improved. It's really great to see the growth from one weekend to the next.”

Winning championships were 12 athletes: four on the elementary team, and seven on the junior high/middle school team. The four elementary team champions included 6-year-old Spencer Maxwell of Sandy, in the Beginner 46-pound Grade K-1 bracket; 8-year-old Skylar Orton of West Jordan, in the Expert 52-pound Grade 2-3 bracket; 7-year-old Justyn Ribald of West Jordan, in the Intermediate 60-pound Grade 1-3 bracket; and 7-year-old Helaman Suesue of Salt Lake City, in the Expert 71-pound Grade 1-2 bracket. In the Middle School/Junior High division, fifth grader Logan Stewart of West Valley City won the Beginner 76-pound Grade 5-7 bracket; sixth grader William Kilpack of Sandy won the Expert 90-pound Grade 5-6 bracket; fifth grader Clayton Moss of Sandy won the Beginner 95-pound Grade 5-7 bracket; fifth grader Nicholas Heninger of South Jordan won the Intermediate 97-pound Grade 5-7 bracket; seventh grader Jake Ribald of West Jordan won the Expert 103-pound Grade 6-8 bracket; sixth grader Nick Hulbert of Salt Lake City won the Intermediate 108-pound Grade 6-8 bracket; and eighth grader Nick Pappas of Taylorsville won the Expert 140-pound Grade 7-9 bracket.

Taking second were eight athletes: five on the elementary team and three on the junior high/middle school team. The elementary runner-ups included seven-year-old Beau McRae of South Jordan, in the Expert 55-pound Grade 1-3 bracket; Jordan McRae of South Jordan, in the Expert 57-pound Grade 3-4 bracket; 9-year-old Matt Lee of Draper, in the Expert 61-pound Grade 3-4 bracket; 9-year-old Tyler Schwendiman of South Jordan, in the Expert 64-pound Grade 3-4 bracket; and 9-year-old Tayler Johnson of Draper, in the Expert 70-pound Grade 3-4 bracket. In the Middle School/Junior High division, runner-ups were seventh grader Hayden Babka of Draper, in the Intermediate 108-pound Grade 6-8 bracket; fifth graders Colton Groissant of West Valley City, in the Intermediate 122-pound Grade 5-8 bracket; and ninth grader Aaron Reyes of Taylorsville, in the the Expert 140-pound Grade 7-9 bracket.

Placing third were nine young athletes: three on the elementary team and six on the junior high/middle school team. The elementary bronze medalists included Devin Johnson of Draper, in the Expert 52-pound Grade 2-3 bracket; Jed Lee of Draper, in the Expert 43-pound Grade K-1 bracket; and Semisi Vakapuna of Magna, in the Expert 67-pound Grade 1-3 bracket. The junior high bronze medalists were sixth grader Townes Falcon of West Jordan, in the Intermediate 73-pound Grade 6-7 bracket; Kevin Maxwell of Sandy, in the Beginner 76-pound Grade 5-7 bracket; sixth grader Zack Grandy of Draper, in the Beginner 95-pound Grade 5-7 bracket; sixth grader Mitch Nazer of Sandy, in the Expert 95-pound Grade 6-7 bracket; eighth grader Adam Maxwell of Sandy, in the Expert 103-pound Grade 6-8 bracket; and sixth grader Zayne Sayers of Sandy, in the Expert 130-pound Grade 6-8 bracket.

Placing fourth was 5-year-old Garrick Kilpack of Sandy, in the Expert 43-pound Grade K-1 bracket; sixth grader Justin Schwendiman of West Jordan, in the Expert 68-pound Grade 5-6 bracket; and seventh grader Jacob Westover of Sandy, in the Beginner 76-pound Grade Grade 5-7 bracket.

"It's really something to take 33 kids and have 20 of them place first or second," said Coach Bill Kilpack (Jr.). "It just shows that the kids are applying themselves, working hard at practice, and learning. Things will only continue to improve from here on out."

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