|
 Jan.
28, 2008: Wrestling USA
Magazine
Jordan Junior Wrestlers Place 11, Take 6th at State
Championships
(Sandy, Utah) Jan. 28, 2008 — Twenty members of Jordan
Junior Wrestling entered the 4A/5A Junior High State
Championships held at Mt. View High School in Orem. Of
those 20, 11 placed, including three in the finals.
"This was a good showing of how much the guys have grown
since last season," said Coach Bill Kilpack (III). "We
placed three more than last year, and were one match away
from taking fifth. Had the wind been blowing a little
different that day, we might have three more placers, but
you can't win them all. I'm very proud of them for their
accomplishments." Winning a state championship was
13-year-old Jake Ribald of West Jordan, in the 124-pound
division. He led the team, pinning every opponent,
including his championship match, where he won by fall in
the second round. Also making it to the finals were
brothers Cody and Tyler Jensen of West Valley City.
Twelve-year-old Cody wrestled in the 60-pound bracket and,
although he fell short in the finals, he finished with a
win, defending his silver medal in the challenge for true
second match. Thirteen-year-old Tyler wrestled in the
75-pound bracket, maintaining a lead through the entire
match, until a last-second reversal took the lead and the
championship. "There was some real excitement in these
weights," Coach Derek Jensen said. "Tyler got to pay back
one opponent who beat him in overtime last year, and
really showed his stuff, despite that last-second loss.
And Cody, I'm just amazed at how much improvement he's
made since last season, when he finished fifth. Pretty
exciting!" Also winning a silver by winning his
challenge for true-second match was 12-year-old Zayne
Sayers of Sandy, in the 165-pound bracket. "That win was
well deserved," Kilpack said. "Zayne finally got to beat
his nemesis. I can't even tell you how many times this kid
came out ahead over the past two or three years. But, this
year, Zayne just took it to him, and came away with a very
satisfying win, 16-8." Taking a bronze medal was
12-year-old William Kilpack of Sandy at 105 lbs.
Finishing fourth were 12-year-old Matt Findlay of Draper,
at 86 lbs.; 11-year-old Clayton Moss of Sandy, at 100
lbs.; and 12-year-old Nick Hulbert of Salt Lake City at
112 lbs. Taking fifth were 13-year-old Rami Haddadin at
85 lbs.; and 10-year-old Derek Spachman of Saratoga
Springs at 90 lbs. Finishing sixth was 10-year-old
Tayler Johnson of Draper at 76 lbs. Jordan Junior
Wrestling finished sixth at a team in the Middle School
Division. Also competing were Rylan Kramer of Riverton,
at 65 lbs.; Justin Schwendiman of West Jordan, at 65 lbs.,
before having to withdraw with an injury; Alex Maxwell of
Sandy at 70 lbs.; Addison Day of Sandy, 73 lbs.; Bronzon
Battaglia of Sandy, 83 lbs.; MacKelti Kilpack of Sandy, 83
lbs.; Kevin Maxwell of Sandy, 85 lbs.; Mitch Nazer of
Sandy, 96 lbs.; and Ella-Maereen Kilpack of Sandy, 116
lbs. "There was some real improvement this year over
last," said Coach Jensen. "It's great to see that kind of
growth. Not just on the mat, but in the kids as young men
and women." Jordan Junior Wrestling is a folkstyle
wrestling program offered through Salt Lake County
Recreation, operating out or Jordan High School in Sandy.
The middle school/junior high team is for grades five
through nine; the elementary team is for grades four and
younger. For more information, go to
http://members.aol.com/jordanjuniors/ or email
jordanjuniors@aol.com. |
