You know a wrestling team performed well across the board at a weekend tournament when none of the guys took first place in their weight class, yet the full squad came within a half point of winning the overall championship.

That was the case on Saturday, when the Fruitport wrestling team took second place out of 19 teams at the Sparta Invitational.

Cedar Springs won the title with 172.5 points while the Trojans finished second – just barely – with 172.

Amazingly, not a single Trojan emerged as an individual champion. The team had two wrestlers finish second in their weight class, three who finished third and three who finished fifth. Fruitport may have well won the title, but did not have a wrestler to compete in one of the 14 weight classes.

The key was that a lot of guys won a few matches and piled up the team points, and those all count in the end.

“So proud of this squad,” said Fruitport head coach Chad Johnson. “Everyone stepped up and did their part in a loaded tournament. I loved the way we competed. It was easily the best we’ve looked all season.

“Knocking off multiple state-ranked opponents proved what this team is capable of. We’ve been battle-tested all year, and now it’s all coming together.”

The top Trojans were Zach Aardema (132 pounds) and Chase Rosema (215), who both finished second in their weight classes. Aardema scored 21.5 team points while Rosema scored 24.

Aardema, now 20-3 on the season, posted a 3-1 record. He won one match by pin and one by technical fall after gaining a 17-1 lead. He advanced to the 132-pound title match and lost to Grand Haven’s Hayden Bessinger.

Rosema, now 17-6 on the season, also posted a 3-1 record, and all three victories came by pin. He lost the 215-pound title match to East Kentwood’s Tyler Meeuwsen.

Finishing in third place for Fruitport were were Cooper Lengkeek (157), who scored 17.5 team points; Rylan Thorsen (113), who scored 18.5 team points; and Murphy Lengkeek (138), who scored 19 team points.

Finishing fifth were Alex Aardema (144), who scored 17 points; Davis Johnson (150), who scored 15 points; and Colton Smith, who scored 16.5 points.

Luke Westerlund (285) finished sixth and scored 14 points.