Most high school wrestlers would be thrilled with a top-five finish at the state finals, at any point in their careers.

Fruitport’s Murphy Lengkeek already has one, and still has three years to go.

Lengkeek, only a freshman, finished third in the 132-pound division at this weekend’s Division 2 individual state finals at Detroit’s Ford Field. He earned a medal and won All-State honors.

Lengkeek finished with a 4-1 record on the day and a 51-8 mark in his first season of varsity wrestling.

He defeated Holland’s Aiden Segovia 8-4 in the first round and Fenton’s Aiden Velzy with a pin in the quarterfinals.

Lengkeek lost to Gull Lake’s Rasler Warner in the semifinal round, then bounced back to beat Carleton Airport’s Kyle Link 4-2 in the consolation semifinals. He downed Zeeland East’s Josh Ledford 9-6 in the third-place match.

“What a season for Murphy!” said Fruitport head coach Chad Johnson. “Finishing third as a freshman and stacking up 51 wins is nothing short of incredible. Being halfway to 100 wins in his very first year says everything about the hard work, dedication, and toughness he brought to the mat all season long.

“Murphy definitely made a name for himself in the wrestling community this year, and I fully expect to see him enter the rankings next season at number one or two.

“So proud of the effort, the heart, and the commitment he showed every single match. This is only the beginning. The future is bright and the best is still ahead.”

Two other Trojans also finished in the top eight of their weight classes, and also won medals and earned All-State status.

Alex Aardema finished in sixth place at 138 pounds with a 2-3 record on the day. He finished the season with a 41-20 mark.

“Alex was seen as an underdog at nearly every tournament this season – except by us.” Coach Johnson said. “He’s a fierce competitor who worked tirelessly all season, dedicating himself to the team in every way we needed. We liked the draw he got and were confident he could pull off some upsets, and he did, earning All-State honors as a sophomore. Two more seasons for Alex to continue climbing the podium. So proud of the season he put together!”

Senior Chase Rosema finished his career by taking eighth place at 215 pounds with a 2-3 record. He finished the season with a 38-15 mark.

“Chase had an incredible tournament and truly answered the call to finish his career with All-State honors—a moment that will forever be remembered at Fruitport,” Johnson said. “His improvement from last season, when he was knocked out of districts, to now finishing as an All-State wrestler, is a remarkable comeback story. It will be tough losing Chase next season, but we are forever grateful for his contributions to the program.”