Volleyball, sand soccer, triathlons, pole vaulting and now wrestling — the Grand Haven State Park truly has it all.

Five wrestlers represented the area at Ford Field over the weekend at the MHSAA individual state championship tournament, finishing with stellar results across the board.

Local wrestlers advance at state tournament

FRUITPORT — Redemption is a powerful motivator.

GRAND HAVEN TWP. — Grand Haven's Cody Miller and Riley Rhone are a combined 79-4 this season on the wrestling mat, but it's a handful of losses last season that the two standout grapplers remember most as they prepare for a trip to this weekend's individual state finals meet at Ford Field.

The annual Grand March at Ford Field will feature plenty of local pride this year, as the Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Fruitport wrestling programs will be sending representatives to the individual state finals on March 1-2 in Detroit.

A long winter of growth for a young crop of Grand Haven wrestlers produced a plentiful harvest Saturday, as the postseason got underway with the individual district tournament.

GRAND HAVEN TWP. — After five consecutive seasons of hoisting the team district championship trophy, the Grand Haven wrestling team could only watch as O-K Red Conference rival Hudsonville celebrated on their home mat.

FRUITPORT — Illness and injury could very well define the winter prep season, as athletes deal with the realities of competing with their opponents and the Lakeshore winter.

The prep sports calendar was put on ice last week, as an unprecedented streak of inclement weather produced by a polar vortex covered West Michigan with snow, ice and subzero temperatures.

SPRING LAKE TWP. — The Spring Lake wrestling team has come a long way already this season, developing from a roster defined by youth to one described by potential.

GRAND HAVEN WRESTLING WINS SPARTA INVITE

FRUITPORT — The Fruitport wrestling program held its annual Legends Invitational on Saturday, as the Trojans embraced their past, present and future.

The Fruitport wrestling team finished 2-0 at the Grand Rapids Union quad on Wednesday with sizable wins over the host Red Hawks and Grand Rapids West Catholic.

GRAND HAVEN TWP. — As the team scores were being read over the loudspeakers in the Grand Haven Fieldhouse gym, nine hours of hard work and intensity were beginning to culminate into jubilation for the Grand Haven wrestling team on Saturday.

As we all attempt to break out of our collective comatose state that is often brought on by extra helpings of holiday cheer, the majority of high school winter sports teams will also be jumping back into action after the holiday break.

GRAND HAVEN TWP. — Family fights fiercer.

GRAND HAVEN TWP. — With a lineup full of experience from returning stars and committed newcomers, Grand Haven wrestling hosted Spring Lake, Howell, Battle Creek Lakeview and Reeths-Puffer over the weekend, hoping to test their talented roster early in the season.

The Grand Haven and Fruitport wrestling teams traveled to quad invitationals Wednesday, while the Fruitport bowling teams battled with O-K Black Conference rival Mona Shores. 

The Grand Haven and Spring Lake wrestling programs, along with the Grand Haven-Spring Lake co-op hockey team were in action over the weekend. Here’s a recap of their contests. 

Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Fruitport wrestling all return some of their top talent from a year ago for another round this winter, making for exciting preseason vibes all around.

The Spring Lake and Fruitport wrestling teams met for a rivalry romp in their first time on the mat Wednesday, getting an intense first taste of what their rosters have in store for the season.

The Grand Haven wrestling team opened its season with an impressive sweep at Holland High School on Wednesday, defeating Forest Hills Northern (66-12) and Kelloggsville (65-9) in non-conference action.

Few things are as satisfying to a parent as seeing their children succeed.

The Fruitport wrestling program will have a new leader this winter, as ​Mike Michelli has accepted the head coaching position for the Trojans.

FRUITPORT — Skilled athletes can rise to the occasion from time to time, but dedicated tacticians always find a way to get their hand raised.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

BYRON CENTER — On the wrestling mat, matches are decided one-on-one. Teams can train, coaches can mentor and parents can cheer, but at the end of the day, the results are cut and dry.

The Grand Haven wrestling program sent five performers to this weekend’s Division 1 individual regionals at Grand Ledge High School.

GRAND HAVEN TWP. — The Grand Haven wrestling program enjoyed a rare playoff home meet Wednesday night as they hosted the Division 1 team regionals.

GRAND HAVEN TWP. — Injuries, inexperience and a grueling wrestling season can wear down even the most talented performers, but when the postseason push comes calling, only the best of the best have what it takes to answer.

FRUITPORT SENDS FOUR TO REGIONALS

NORTON SHORES — The pressure of continuing a winning streak can sometimes cause teams to falter in the important moments.

GRAND HAVEN GRAPPLERS FINISH FOURTH

Believe it or not, the winter prep postseason is upon us. While the basketball teams are just digging into their second conference runs, the wrestling teams are charging full steam into the district tournament. With the team and individual competitions this week, there is plenty of playoff a…

SPRING LAKE TWP. — Other than maybe a sudden-death wrestling match between the coaches, Thursday night's quadrilateral tournament at Spring Lake High School couldn't have ended in a more dramatic fashion.

GRAND HAVEN TWP. — If anyone knows how to capitalize on a second wind, it is a band of Buccaneers.

Fruitport grapplers go 1-1

Winter has ebbed away, for now, giving the Lakeshore our first false spring of the year. Celebrate the farcical freedom from freezing by heading out to these can’t miss prep sporting events; you don’t even have to brush off the car.

The Grand Haven, Spring Lake, and Fruitport wrestling teams had important invitational tournaments Saturday and each team came away with positive results.

FRUITPORT — Living up to a history as rich as that of Fruitport wrestling is a tall task, one made easier by the presence and support of the program’s esteemed alumni.

The Spring Lake wrestling team traveled to Coopersville on Wednesday and came away with back-to-back losses to the host Broncos and Belding to finish 0-2.

GRAND HAVEN TWP. — The Adam H. Provencal Invitational serves as a benchmark event for many wrestling programs across Michigan.

The Spring Lake wrestling team, the Grand Haven-Spring Lake co-op hockey team and the Western Michigan Christian competitive cheer team were all in action this weekend. Check out how they performed.

The Grand Haven wrestling program hosted a large dual meet Saturday that saw the Buccaneers go up against local schools such as Spring Lake, Fruitport and Reeths-Puffer. The Buccaneers’ hockey team was also in action Friday and Saturday, picking up two wins at home.

The Spring Lake and Grand Haven wrestling teams took to the road Wednesday night for some tough competition against elite programs.

SPRING LAKE FINISHES 5-0 AT FHE

There are few sports as mentally and physically grinding as wrestling.