BP’s Lembke wins MN/USA bracket
Blooming Prairie’s Maverick Lembke attempts to return his opponent to the mat during a match at the MN/USA state wrestling tournament. Lembke went 5-0 to win his 42-45-pound division. Submitted photo
Blooming Prairie youth wrestler Maverick Lembke took first place in the 42-45-pound bracket of the eight-and-under division at the MN/USA state tournament last week.
Lembke was a force to be reckoned with and pinned all five of his opponents on his way to standing atop the podium.
The seven-year-old phenom has been on a tear this year, boasting an 86-12 record with 75 pins, but his successes on the mats are nothing new – he’s been doing this for quite some time.
Lembke has been wrestling since he was four and has already amassed a record of 195-41 with 165 pins.
According to his father, Heath, Lembke’s motivation to win comes from a competitive spirit he shares with his older brothers Lane and Peyton.
“We’re a wrestling family. He has a brother who wrestled in high school and in college for a bit, and another brother who’s in junior high wrestling. Everything in the house is a competition among them. Maverick’s biggest drive is to be better than his brothers,” said Heath Lembke.
After winning at the MN/USA state tournament, Lembke will now shift his focus to winning the NYWA state tournament beginning the first weekend of April.
However, wrestling is bigger than just the wins and losses for Lembke.
“I just love having fun,” said Maverick.