Jan. 4, 2008: Wrestling USA Magazine

Mountain Top Wrestling Club Opens 2008 Season Feb. 4

(Sandy, Utah) Jan. 4, 2008 — Mountain Top Wrestling Club will open the 2008 freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling season on Feb. 4, 2008, at Jordan High School. Returning to coach the team are Bill Kilpack (III), a national AAU wrestling champion and alternate for the Greco-Roman Pan-Am team; his father, Bill Kilpack (Jr.), one of the original coaches of the much lauded Sundance Wrestling Club; Derek Jensen, a two-time member of the All-Marine wrestling team; and Mike Johnson, a former youth wrestler who successfully coaches kids in a number of sports.

“Last year was a really great year,” said Kilpack (III). “We took state in both freestyle and Greco-Roman and had some really dominant wrestlers. We had more kids at the local tournaments than any previous year, took home 71 medals, 28 state titles and four outstanding wrestler trophies at the USA Wrestling-Utah state tournament; had three of the seven Intermountain Champions, 15 national championship finishes and 47 All-American finishes. We hosted the Mountain Top Classic again, which was a leg in the Intermountain Champion series, and hosted wrestlers from seven states. We have as strong a core group as ever, with more parental support than ever, coming down from as far as Clearfield and up from as far as Spanish Fork. Last year was just amazing, and we want to just pick right up where we left off, building and continuing to improve our members both as athletes and individuals.”

The team's three Intermountain Champions, 15 national championships, 47 All-American finishes were tallied between the three main styles of wrestling: freestyle, Greco-Roman and folkstyle. In addition to the 28 state championships, team members earned 16 state runner-up finishes, 18 state bronze finishes. At the USA Wrestling Western Regional Championships, there were eight who placed, including four championships. Members also earned eight Outstanding Wrestler awards and two Fastest Pin awards in 2007. In addition to the two team state championships, Mountain Top Wrestling earned a team championship at the USA Wrestling Salt Lake Slam and the U.S. Folkstyle Nationals, and two 2nd place team trophies.

Mountain Top Wrestling Club will compete in open tournaments throughout Utah and will supplement the in-state schedule with tournaments in Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, California and Nevada. In addition, the team will return to compete in the Western Regional Championships, return to the Reno World Championships and Rocky Mountain Nationals, and return to the USA Wrestling Kids Nationals. Kilpack (III) said, "The traveling is important to the development of the athletes. It allows them to get more mat time during the season, provides them folkstyle experience before reaching high school, and provides new opponents who they have not met week after week. Just as importantly, the travel provides a reward for the wrestlers’ hard work and the support of their families."

Kilpack (Jr.) said, “The wrestling trips make the season fun. The kids wrestle, then stay in a hotel after and hit the pool. The trips are not only a reward for the kids, but for their families. Wrestling is a family sport. Every successful wrestler has strong family support. It takes dedication from the kids as well as their parents. Traveling gives the kids something that they'll remember all their lives.”

This year’s coaching staff has a long and successful wrestling history.

Kilpack (III) of West Jordan was an original member of the Sundance Wrestling Club, arguably the finest freestyle/Greco-Roman wrestling team in Utah history. As a competitor, he garnered an AAU national championship, seven national silver medals, seven more national medals, and was a member of the Pan-Am team in Greco-Roman wrestling holding an alternate position. In addition, he was named All-American 15 times by AAU, the US Wrestling Federation or USA Wrestling in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling; was a seven-time Zone/Western Regional champion; and a six-time state champion in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. He also spent many years helping coach Sundance teammates.

Kilpack (Jr.) of West Jordan was one of the two original coaches of the Sundance Wrestling Club, and a member of the University of Utah wrestling team. Sundance was arguably the finest freestyle/Greco-Roman wrestling team in Utah history, producing the first two world champions from Utah, and dozens of other international and national honors. He was also a member of the University of Utah wrestling team.

Jensen of West Valley City was a varsity letterman all three years of high school at Hunter High School, was a Utah Summer Games champion, a Region champion, a two-time freestyle state champ, and competed at nationals as a senior in high school. Following high school, he was a member of the wrestling team at Palo Mar College in California before joining the military, where he was twice named to the All-Marine Wrestling Team.

Johnson of Draper wrestled as a child, but had to choose between wrestling and basketball. As a result, he was a varsity letterman in both basketball and football all three years of high school, and a member of the All-Regional All-Star team in basketball. His love of the sport and passion for helping kids as a coach now continues through several sports.

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.