Jordan Junior Wrestlers Place 11,
Take 4th at State Championships

(Sandy, Utah) Feb. 2, 2009 — Nineteen members of Jordan Junior Wrestling entered the 4A/5A Junior High State Championships held at Roy High School in Roy.  Of those 19, 11 placed, including three state champions of the four in the finals.

“Overall, this was as good a showing at state as Jordan Junior Wrestling has ever had,” said Coach Bill Kilpack (III). “It's the most state champions we've ever had, and the best overall finish, with fourth in the Junior High Division and sixth in the Middle School Division.  We dropped some matches we really shouldn't have, which would have made for at least two more in the finals, but that's why you wrestle.  Each match can provide a surprise.  I'm very proud of them for their accomplishments.”

Leading the team was 13-year-old William Kilpack of Sandy, in the 128-pound Junior High division.  He pinned every opponent, including a 45-second fall in his championship match, and did not allow a single point to be scored against him. 

Eleven-year-old Cole Eldredge of Sandy, in the 90-pound Middle School division, also won a state title, pinning every opponent, including a fall in 1:07 in the finals.  He allowed only one point to be scored against him, in his semi-final match.

Fourteen-year-old Tyler Jensen of West Valley City won the title in the 75-pound Junior High division, finishing out the day with an overtime win in the finals, where the first wrestler to get a takedown won the match.

Also making it to the finals was 11-year-old Tyler Schwendiman of South Jordan, Middle School 76 lbs.  He pinned two of his three opponents to get to the finals, where he had his best match to date against the eventual champion.

Finishing third were brothers Hayden and Brigg Butler of Saratoga Springs.  Eleven-year-old Hayden wrestled in the 70-pound Middle School bracket, winning every match by fall or technical fall, other than a one-point loss to the eventual champion.  Thirteen-year-old Brigg was in the 108-pound Junior High bracket, with his only loss coming in overtime to the eventual champion.

Also finishing third was Cody Jensen of West Valley City in the Junior High 70-pound division.

Finishing fourth was Cyle Brown of West Valley City in the Junior High 138-pound division.

Taking fifth was Wesly Orton of Sandy, Junior High 104 lbs.

Taking sixth were Justin Schwendiman of West Jordan, Junior High 75 lbs.; and Chris Lewis of West Valley City, Junior High 100 lbs.

Jordan Junior Wrestling finished fourth as a team in the Junior High Division and sixth as a team in the Middle School Division, the best overall finish in the team's history.

Also competing were Skylar Orton of Sandy, Middle School 65 lbs.; Alex Maxwell of Sandy, Middle School 80 lbs.; Lorenzo Dudley of West Valley City, Junior High 96 lbs.; Ulises Arellano of West Valley City, Junior High 108 lbs.; Mitch Nazer of Sandy, Junior High 116 lbs.; Preston Jones of West Valley City, Junior High 120 lbs.; Dan Valentine of Sandy, Junior High 120 lbs.; and Daniel Ramirez of West Valley City, Junior High 128 lbs.

"There was some real growth this year in a team with very limited previous experience," said Bill Kilpack (Jr.).  "We had a lot of first-year wrestlers who won matches at state, and lost very close ones that kept them out of medals.  It's great to see that kind of growth."

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 www.jordanjuniorwrestling.com or email jordanjuniors@aol.com.

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