The biggest moment for West Michigan wrestling at the 2026 MHSAA Individual State Finals came from Whitehall sophomore Kassie Sapp, who delivered one of the tournament’s most exciting victories inside Ford Field.
Sapp captured the Girls 130-pound state championship, defeating Cecilia Williams of Mason, 6-4, in a stunning upset. Williams entered the match as a 23-Under World Champion and multiple-time state champion, making Sapp’s victory one of the most notable wins of the weekend.
With poise and confidence on the biggest stage in Michigan high school wrestling, Sapp controlled the match when it mattered most to secure the title. The victory marked a historic moment for Whitehall’s girls wrestling program and highlighted the rapid growth of girls wrestling across the state.
Lakeshore Wrestlers Make Their Mark at Ford Field
While Sapp’s championship moment stole the spotlight, she wasn’t the only West Michigan wrestler making noise at Ford Field. Athletes from across the lakeshore and surrounding communities battled through deep brackets to earn All-State honors, bringing home podium finishes and representing their schools with pride. From dramatic third-place victories to hard-fought runs to the state finals, wrestlers from Whitehall, Fruitport, Reeths-Puffer, Spring Lake, Hesperia, Hart, Shelby, Ravenna, and Orchard View all left their mark on the state’s biggest stage.
Whitehall
- Cody Manzo — 126 lbs (Division 3)
3rd Place — defeated Brandon Rohde (Grass Lake) by major decision, 16-2
- Max Krukowski — 132 lbs (Division 3)
6th Place
- Liam Leeke — 157 lbs (Division 3)
7th Place
Hart
- Kole Thomas — 126 lbs (Division 3)
5th Place — defeated Matthew Martin (Tawas) by fall
Shelby
- Brody Fessenden — 157 lbs (Division 3)
5th Place — won by fall in the placement match
Hesperia
- Noah Walker — 285 lbs (Division 4)
2nd Place (State Runner-Up) — lost to Sawyer Blaszczyk (Charlevoix), 5-2 TB
- Carter Fuentes — 106 lbs (Division 4)
3rd Place
Ravenna
- Mason Carringer — 285 lbs (Division 4)
7th Place — sophomore finished season 42-14
Orchard View
- Darius Flowers — 165 lbs (Division 3)
7th Place
Fruitport
- Boys
- Murphy Lengkeek — 132 lbs (Division 2)
3rd Place — defeated Joshua Ledford (Zeeland East), 9-6
- Alex Aardema — 138 lbs (Division 2)
6th Place
- Chase Rosema — 215 lbs (Division 2)
8th Place
- Girls
- Bryelle Hirdes:
State Qualifier — first female wrestler in Fruitport history to reach the MHSAA state finals.
Reeths-Puffer
- Boys
- Landon Learn — 113 lbs (Division 1)
3rd Place — defeated Gabriel Ryzyi (Detroit Catholic Central), 1-0 UTB
- Girls
- Sidney Shackelford — 145 lbs
5th Place — defeated Rylie Egan (Mason), 8-4
Spring Lake
- Trevor Christner — 106 lbs (Division 2)
3rd Place — defeated Isaiah Ruffin (Ypsilanti Community), 11-1 (Major Decision)
From championship victories to hard-earned podium finishes, West Michigan wrestlers once again proved they can compete with the best in the state. Kassie Sapp’s headline-making title highlighted a weekend filled with determination, resilience, and pride for lakeshore programs. Whether standing atop the podium, battling through consolation rounds, or making program history by simply reaching the state finals, each athlete carried the support of their school and community onto the mat at Ford Field. As the season comes to a close, the performances from these wrestlers leave plenty for local fans to celebrate and build on for the future of West Michigan wrestling.
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