Bluffdale, Riverton, Sandy and West Jordan Youths Named Outstanding Wrestlers;
Mountain Top Wrestling Club Recognizes Members for Freestyle and Greco-Roman Excellence

(Sandy, Utah) — Aug. 12, 2011 — Mountain Top Wrestling Club recently held its annual Awards Banquet, recognizing youth athletes for their achievements during the 2011 freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling season. Attendees from the 40-plus-member team received gold medals for their hard work and dedication over the season, team photos, and trophies for the Most Improved, Most Dedicated, Rookie of the Year and Outstanding Wrestlers.

“This has been a great year, with a lot of new faces," said Coach Bill Kilpack. "We had first-year wrestlers who performed very well at state levels. We had two Intermountain Champions. We had 12 All-American finishees. The club finished second in Greco-Roman as a team at the Mountain Top Classic, and finished first as a team in freestyle. It was a really great year!"

Five trophies for Outstanding Wrestler were awarded to Weston Nielsen of Bluffdale, who wrestled Flyweight (ages 6 and Under) 55 lbs.; brothers Trever and Kelly Glaubensklee of Sandy, who wrestled Intermediate (ages 9 and 10), Trever at 55 lbs. and Kelly at 70 lbs.; Ethan Wood of Riverton, Intermediate 55 lbs.; and Justin Schwendiman of West Jordan, Cadet (ages 15 and 16) 105 lbs.

This season, Nielsen took state in freestyle at the USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships, and went undefeated overall, an accomplishment only managed four times before in the club history. He was one of the two Intermountain Champions from Mountain Top Wrestling Club. He was named Outstanding Wrestler in both freestyle and Greco-Roman at the Mountain Top Classic, as well as in freestyle at the Kuna Classic in Kuna, Ida. He was also the UtahWrestling.org top-ranked Flyweight wrestler in Utah and the number-11 ranked overall youth wrestler in the state.

Trever Glaubensklee made it to the finals in Greco-Roman at the AAU Grand Nationals in Santa Fe, NM, finished third in freestyle, and sixth in folkstyle. He was the second of the Intermountain Champions on the team, and was named an Outstanding Wrestler at the Kuna Classic in Kuna, Ida. He was also the UtahWrestling.org number 4-ranked Intermediate wrestler in Utah and the number-7 ranked overall youth wrestler in the state.

Kelly Glaubensklee finished third in Greco-Roman at the AAU Grand Nationals, fourth in both freestyle and folkstyle. Of note is that he was an Intermountain Champion last year, and finished right behind his brother for the honor this year. He was the number 16-ranked Intermediate wrestler in Utah according to UtahWrestling.org and the number-20 ranked overall youth wrestler in the state.

Wood finished third in both Greco-Roman and freestyle at the AAU Grand Nationals, and earned a fourth-place finish in folkstyle. He was the number 5-ranked Intermediate wrestler in Utah according to UtahWrestling.org and the number-14 ranked overall youth wrestler in the state.

Justin Schwendiman finished third in all three styles at the AAU Grand Nationals. He took state in Greco-Roman at the USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships and fifth in freestyle. He was the number-10 ranked Cadet wrestler in Utah and also ranked number 15 for all wrestlers 15 and older by UtahWrestling.org.

Two trophies were presented for Rookie of the Year. "These were all first-year wrestlers or their first year with Mountain Top Wrestling Club," Kilpack said. "They not only showed massive improvement over the season, but took it to the next level." Receiving Rookie of the Year were Krysta Orton of Sandy, Flyweight 45 lbs., and Austin Woolley of Sandy, Schoolboy (ages 13 and 14) 91 lbs.

Orton, youngest of a wrestling family full of brothers, showed how tough she can be, making it to the finals in the USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships in freestyle, and placed in every tournament she entered over the season. As a result, she was the number-12 ranked Flyweight wrestler in the state.

Wooley placed in every tournament he entered over the season, and finished seventh in Greco-Roman at the USA Wrestling-Utah State Championships in one of the toughest classes in the age division.

Seven trophies were also awarded for the Most Improved wrestlers. These were awarded to Thomas Hekking of Sandy, Intermediate 60 lbs.; Gavin Dockstader of Riverton, Intermediate 75 lbs.; Tanner Orton of Sandy, Novice 60 lbs.; brothers Alex and Adam Maxwell of Sandy, Alex Schoolboy 112 lbs., Adam Junior (ages 17 and 18) 160 lbs.; MacKelti Kilpack of Sandy, Cadet 105 lbs.; and Joey Day of Sandy, Cadet 119 lbs.

“All seven showed dramatic improvement over the season,” Kilpack said. "Thomas went from winning only a match or two last season to placing in every tournament and brawling with Ethan at tournaments, giving him as tough of competition as he had all year. Gavin also had a real breakthrough year, going from only winning a match or two each fo the last two years to placing high, if not winning every tournament this season. Tanner came back from a difficult early season to finishing with a state title. The Maxwell boys each stepped up in terms of consistency and intensity.  MacKelti had to adjust to moving up to wrestling high-school age opponents when only in the eighth grade, and ended up placing almost every weekend, and finishing eighth in state in freestyle. Joey had a great season, having to adjust to growing out of the smallest weights in the age division to one of the toughest, and finished seventh in state. We're very proud of all of them."

Trophies for Most Dedicated went to Jackson Buehner of West Jordan and Brady Anderson of Sandy.  "Sometimes it's hard to decide on a Most Dedicated," Kilpack said. "This year, it wasn't. Jackson rarely missed a practice, always worked hard, even when his workout partners were All-Americans and he was a first-year wrestler. Not only that, when he wrapped up his competition season, he still came to practice to help those going on to the big tournaments get mat time. Brady is one of those kids who always seems to be in fourth gear. He's a good wrestler, but doesn't take it for granted, always seeming eager to learn and take direction. Not only that, but he would encourage the younger wrestlers to work, showing leadership, as well as dedication.”

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 from 6–7:30 p.m. 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.

Return to Press Releases