Aug. 14, 2007: The Wrestling Mall, High School News

Sandy and West Jordan Youths Win Wrestling National Championships

Sandy, Utah — Twelve-year-olds William Kilpack of Sandy and Justin Schwendiman of West Jordan won national championships in wrestling at the State Games of America, held in Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug. 4-5, 2007. Both won titles in both styles of wrestling featured at the biannual national competition: freestyle, one of the international styles practiced in the Olympic Games; and folkstyle, the style practiced in high school and college in the United States.

Kilpack just completed his sixth-grade year at Sunrise Elementary School, and rounded out an outstanding season by pinning every opponent he met in the tournament, without allowing a single point to be scored against him. Previously this season, he was Utah's only All-American at the USA Wrestling Kids Nationals in Green Bay, where he took fourth in Greco-Roman and second in freestyle; won another national title in folkstyle and runner-up finishes in freestyle and Greco-Roman at the AAU Grand Nationals, in Butte, Mont.; and won titles in freestyle and Greco-Roman at the 11-state USA Wrestling Western Regional Championships in Klamath Falls, Ore. Kilpack is now a seven-time national champion, and an eight-time state champion. He was also named the Intermountain Champion for the Novice (ages 11 and 12) division in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling in the first year of the Intermountain Champion Series.

Schwendiman, who just finished the sixth grade at Heartland Elementary, also finished out a great season, with an All-American finish at the U.S. Folkstyle Nationals, where he placed third; two AAU state championships; and two USA Wrestling-Utah state third-place finishes. He finished second behind his teammate for the Novice Intermountain Champion title. These were Schwendiman's first two national titles, although he is a four-time All-American.

Kilpack and Schwendiman were two of only three Utahns competing in wrestling at the State Games of America. Athletes from 21 states competed in the wrestling tournaments, after qualifying in their respective state games in one or both of the previous two years.

In 2005, Kilpack took titles in both styles at the State Games of America, also.

Kilpack and Schwendiman are members of Mountain Top Wrestling Club, a nonprofit organization operating through Salt Lake County Rec, which practices at Jordan High School. Coach and father Bill Kilpack (III) said, “William has all the potential in the world and, despite all that he's done already, is really just starting to take off as an athlete. It's humbling to see someone as young as he is doing things that I couldn't until I was quite a bit older.”

Kilpack has been recognized by the club coaching staff as one of the team's Outstanding Wrestlers each of the past seven years. He is currently ranked as the top Novice-division wrestler in Utah (regardless of weight) and the top Kids-division wrestler in the state (ages four to 14, regardless of weight). He has won nine championships at the Utah Summer Games. In February 2005, Utah Sports Magazine recognized him as one of Utah's Best. Kilpack wrestled in his first tournament three weeks after he turned four and, at age 12, has wrestled 685 matches.

Schwendiman has been recognized by the club coaching staff as one of the team's Most Improved wrestlers in 2005, and the Most Dedicated Wrestler in 2006. He is currently the No. 6-ranked Novice-division wrestler in Utah and No. 17-ranked Kids-division wrestler in the state. He is a Utah Summer Games champion in Greco-Roman, a runner-up in freestyle, and bronze-medalist in folkstyle. Where his teammate has been wrestling since before he could ride a bicycle, Schwendiman just finished his third season on the mat.

Coach Kilpack said, “Justin works so hard. He gets everything he's got through determination. He's had to start out in some of the toughest weights, playing catchup with some of the best in the state, but he just goes out and goes after it. And it's paid off. Kids who beat him early on get a whole different story about every time he walks out on the mat. For those who were a nightmare for him not very long ago, now he's theirs.”

Kilpack will be a seventh-grader at Indian Hills Middle School in the new school year. He said he wants to one day wrestle in the Olympics and the Pan-Am Games. He said he wants to grow up to be a surgeon.

Schwendiman will be a seventh-grader at West Jordan Middle School. He said he wants to wrestle in high school and college and, one day, coach young wrestlers like himself. He said he wants to grow up to be a teacher or "something else working with kids," he said.

Kilpack is also a skilled gymnast and football player; and plays piano and cello. Schwendiman is an avid Boy Scout, enjoys writing and art, and plays piano.

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 are held three days a week at Jordan High School. For more information, call 641-9832, e-mail coach@mountaintopwrestling.com or visit them on the Worldwide Web at www.mountaintopwrestling.com.