FRUITPORT – Whenever Phillip Stone-Tyler walks out on the wrestling mat for Fruitport, fans turn and watch.

When he wins they roar their approval.

That’s because they’ve just watched a really short kid get the better of a much taller kid in a sport based largely on physical strength.

For the fans, it’s a great underdog story.

Stone-Tyler appreciates the attention and support, but he really doesn’t see himself as an underdog at all.

Despite his short stature – he stands 4-foot-5 – he’s a very confident wrestler with a lot of strength and an understanding of how his height, or lack of it, can sometimes be an advantage.

More than anything, Stone-Tyler simply loves to wrestle and is thrilled every time he gets to compete, whether he wins or loses.

This is his third year of varsity wrestling and he’s had his share of success, with several tournament medals to show for it. He lost more than he won in his first two seasons – he was 15-16 as a freshman and 14-18 as a sophomore – but this year currently has a winning record at 9-8.

His most exciting recent victory came last week when he beat a Mona Shores opponent 9-7 in an overtime match.

In some ways this season has been more challenging for Stone-Tyler, because he has put on weight and has to compete with a Trojan teammate for a spot in the starting varsity lineup.

That’s why he was extra excited this week when he found out he will be one of the Fruitport wrestlers who will compete at Saturday’s Greater Muskegon Athletic Association City Meet at Muskegon High School.

“I was worried about it, because I wanted to wrestle,” said Stone-Tyler, who will compete on Saturday at 120 pounds. “Sometimes I have not been able to do that this year because I have competition. I didn’t think I would be able to on Saturday, but we had an open weight class.”

Stone-Tyler would love to place and win a medal at the city tournament, but isn’t making any predictions.

“I’m not going to say yes or no – I’m just going to go out and wrestle,” he said.

Stone-Tyler was born with dwarfism, which greatly impacted his growth rate from a height perspective and has caused a few health issues along the way.

But it has not impacted his desire to compete in sports or have a normal high school experience.

He’s a super friendly kid, a supportive teammate, a big Fruitport booster who shows up to root for other Trojan teams, and a passionate athlete who competes with a ton of determination.

“Phillip is just a normal high school kid who loves to compete and doesn’t let anything bring him down,” said Fruitport wrestling coach Chad Johnson. ‘I honestly don’t think he gets nervous. It doesn’t matter who he’s competing against. He gives it 100 percent and always has fun, which is a big part of it, too.

“He’s one of the best team guys we have. If he’s not wrestling he’s rooting on the other kids. He’s just an all-around great teammate.”

Stone-Tyler said he decided long ago to not let his height interfere with his life. He admits he was picked on sometimes when he was younger, but said that hasn’t been a problem since he transferred to Fruitport from a charter school when he began the ninth grade.

“I just decided to ignore it and do what I have to do and get through school,” he said. “Ever since I started high school it’s been good. I used to get bullied sometimes, but not really anymore, just because I am a cool person in general.

“I’m just a person who likes cheering on my school, basically. Once I came here I realized it was way better. There were a lot more people, and in my first week I think I knew just about everybody.”

The fact that Stone-Tyler has been able to accomplish so much in wrestling is extra amazing, considering he never even tried the grueling sport until his freshman year.

At the time the Trojans needed a 103-pound wrestler, Coach Johnson became aware of Stone-Tyler and actively recruited him.

“We were searching the school, Phillip at the time was on the freshman basketball team, so I got in contact with the coaches and told them we needed him to be part of our team, too” Johnson said. “Then we talked to Phillip and he jumped on board. It was the first time he stepped on a wrestling mat in his life, and he just fell in love with the sport. It was a lucky catch on our part.”

One might assume that Stone-Tyler was nervous at first, having to wrestle against kids who were much taller, particularly since he was only 4-foot-1 as a freshman.

But he claims he wasn’t intimidated at all.

“I just feel like, it’s not about the height, it’s about how you go out there and wrestle,” Stone-Tyler said. “Height doesn’t matter to me at all.”

He makes up for his lack of height with a great deal of upper body strength, which he uses to pick opponents up and gain an advantage.

“Pound for pound, he’s probably the strongest kid on the team,” Coach Johnson said.

Stone-Tyler said he does not work out with weights and has no idea where his strength comes from – but he knows it’s a very handy tool in wrestling.

He said some opponents are clearly shocked by his strength and make a point of mentioning it.

“I honestly don’t know – it just happens to be my strength, picking people up,” he said. “Some matches, when we get a break, they will just look at me and say, ‘You’re strong.’”

Coach Johnson says there are pluses and minuses to being a very short wrestler.

“I would not say it’s a disadvantage,” he said. “There are some positions that favor him, others he kind of struggles in, but he makes the best of it.

“When he’s on his feet it’s hard for kids to get at his legs and get a takedown, but it’s difficult for him to lock up a cradle when he’s on top. There are a couple of moves that he’s perfected, and those are what he uses most of the time. He’s pretty good on his feet and pretty good at taking guys down.”

Stone-Tyler agrees.

“The disadvantage is that people can reach me quick and be able to do things, but I am lower and I can go for their legs and pick them up,” he said.