LAST YEAR: The Trojans had a very good 6-1 conference record in 2025, but still finished third in the O-K Silver behind Belding and Hopkins. Six Fruitport athletes made All-Conference and six qualified for the West Michigan All-Star Meet.

A LOT OF TALENT BACK: The Trojans return a ton of experienced athletes. The long list includes four of the six who earned All-Conference honors – long distance runners Landon Johnson (senior), Ryder Merkins (senior) and Christian Pavlidge (sophomore); and shot put and discus specialist Luke Westerlund (senior). Merkins has the eighth best time in the 800-meter run in Fruitport recorded history. Westerlund is already third in shot put distance and fourth in discus distance in Fruitport recorded history.

Also returning from last year are sophomore Leland Brauer (top freshman shot put thrower in recorded school history), senior Ryder Chan (pole vault), senior Nathaniel Cribley-Cotto (sprints and relays), junior Alan Jackson (sprints and relays), senior Damien Jones (high jump), junior Connor King (hurdles), junior Sean O’Brien (long jump and relays), senior Braylan Richards (hurdles), and sophomore Dylan Winskas (long distance runner).

PROMISING FRESHMEN: Four ninth-graders are showing potential to make significant contributions right away this year – Johnnie Kempker (sprints), Jaiden McCoy (sprints), Emmitt Renauldo (pole vault) and Elliott Saffell (hurdles).

CONFERENCE OUTLOOK: Belding and Hopkins will both be strong again, but Fruitport head coach Tim McKeeby expects the Trojans to give those two teams an even more serious run for their money for the O-K Silver title.

FIRST COMPETITION: Tuesday in a conference meet at Godwin Heights.

COACH QUOTE: “Lots of key returners, and left off (last season) with good chemistry. We have always tried our best, but there has been a notion in the back of our minds that “next year is our year.” Well, that “next year” is here and we are ready to compete for a conference title – Tim McKeeby.