Sept. 7, 2007: Wrestling USA Magazine

Sandy, South Jordan, West Jordan Youths Named Outstanding Wrestlers;
Mountain Top Wrestling Club Recognizes Members for Big Achievements in a Big Year

(Sandy, Utah) Mountain Top Wrestling Club held its annual Awards Dinner at Draper Park, recognizing youth athletes for their achievements during a landmark year. Attendees from the 100-plus member team received gold medals for their hard work and dedication over the season, photographs of themselves in matches, and trophies for the Most Improved, Rookie of the Year, and Outstanding Wrestlers and an Attitude Award.

"This has been a great year, with a lot of firsts," said Coach Bill Kilpack (III). "It was the first year USA Wrestling-Utah had team trophies, and we ended up taking state in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. That was amazing. We took team trophies at a national tournament, we had three of the seven Intermountain Champions, and had more of the guys win national titles. Just an amazing year, so we ended up recognizing more Outstanding Wrestlers than we ever have before - because they deserved it."

Eight trophies for Outstanding Wrestler were awarded to William Kilpack of Sandy, who wrestled Novice (ages 11 and 12) 90 lbs.; Justin Schwendiman of West Jordan, who wrestled Novice 65 lbs.; Garrick Kilpack of Sandy, Flyweight (ages 6 and under) 45 lbs.; Matt Lee of Draper, Midget 55 lbs.; Cole Moody of West Jordan, Bantam (ages 7 and 8) 60 lbs.; Jordan McRae of South Jordan, Midget 65 lbs.; Tayler Johnson of Draper, Midget (ages 9 and 10) 70 lbs.; and Addison Day of Sandy, Midget 65 lbs.

This season, William Kilpack won three National Championships and three national runner-up finishes, eight All-American finishes, was the Intermountain Champion for the Novice Division, was the USA Wrestling Western Regional Champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman, won four state titles, and was named the Utah Youth Wrestler of the Year by UtahWrestling.org.

Schwendiman won two National Championships, three All-American finishes, was the runner-up for Intermountain Champion in the Novice division, won two state titles and two state bronze finishes, and was the no. 6 Novice division wrestler in the state, according to the rankings in UtahWrestling.org.

Garrick Kilpack earned three national runner-up finishes, was a five-time All-American, won three state titles and a state silver, was the Outstanding Wrestler in Greco-Roman for the Flyweight division at USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, and was the top-ranked Flyweight wrestler in Utah.

Matt Lee earned a bronze-medal finish at the U.S. Folkstyle Nationals, was the Intermountain Champion for the Midget Division, won four state runner-up finishes, was the Outstanding Wrestler in both freestyle and Greco-Roman at the Mountain Top Classic, as was the no. 3-ranked Midget wrestler in Utah.

Cole Moody earned two national bronze-medal finishes, was the runner-up for Intermountain Champion in the Bantam division, won four state titles, was the Outstanding Wrestler in Greco-Roman at the Mountain Top Classic, and was the top-ranked Bantam wrestler in Utah.

Jordan McRae earned All-American status at the Reno World Championships, won two state titles, was the Outstanding Wrestler in the Midget division in both freestyle and Greco-Roman at the USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, and was the no. 4-ranked Midget wrestler in Utah.

Tayler Johnson earned All-American status at the U.S. Folkstyle Nationals, was the USA Wrestling Western Regional Champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman, won three state titles and a state runner-up finish, and was the no. 5-ranked Midget wrestler in Utah.

Addison Day won four state titles, was third for the Intermountain Champion in the Midget division, and was the no. 8-ranked Midget wrestler in Utah.

Four trophies were presented for Rookie of the Year. "These were all first-year wrestlers or their first year with us, who not only made great improvements over the year, but took it to the next level," Kilpack said. Receiving Rookie of the Year were Mason Christiansen of Riverton, who wrestled Flyweight 50 lbs.; Sean Keating of South Jordan, Midget 75 lbs.; MacKelti Kilpack of Sandy, Novice 70 lbs.; and Nathan Lamb of Draper, Schoolboy (ages 13 and 14) 115 lbs.

Christiansen won a Greco-Roman state championship, and a freestyle runner-up finish at state, and was the no. 10-ranked Flyweight in Utah. Keating won a national title at the U.S. Folkstyle Nationals and another All-American finish at the Rocky Mountain Nationals, two state runner-up finishes, and was the no. 14-ranked Midget in Utah. Kilpack won two national titles in women's divisions, four All-American finishes, and two state titles, and was the no. 12-ranked Novice in Utah. Lamb won two state titles, and another state placement.

Eight trophies were also awarded for the Most Improved wrestlers. These were awarded to Braden Henson of Salt Lake City, Flyweight 45 lbs.; Jed Lee of Draper, Bantam 40 lbs.; Beau McRae of South Jordan, Bantam 55 lbs.; Carter McMillan of Sandy, Midget 60 lbs.; Tyler Schwendiman of South Jordan, Midget 65 lbs.; Joey Day of Sandy, Novice 70 lbs.; Adam Maxwell of Sandy, Cadet (ages 15 and 16) 98 lbs.; and Travis McRae of South Jordan, Cadet 145 lbs. "All nine showed remarkable progress by the end of the season compared to season opening," Kilpack said, "not to mention massive improvement over last year, for those who had wrestled with us before."

One trophy, an Attitude Award, was to Brandon Hoyne of Sandy, Cadet 171 lbs. He was recognized for always having a positive attitude, be it in practice or on the mat. Brandon was a first-year wrestler who "always found something positive in matches, even the losses," Kilpack said. "He might walk out after a loss against someone who beat him repeatedly, but say, 'I scored on him this time,' or 'He couldn't pin me this time.' And it's just obvious that he loves this sport. He's a real pleasure to coach."

The trophy recipients were selected by the Mountain Top Wrestling Club coaching staff.

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.