All photos provided courtesy of Sarah Klimek
When the ball hit the back of the net Wednesday night, Fremont senior forward Deagan Klimek didn’t just score another goal — he etched his name into program history. His strike against Montague was the 100th of his high school career, a number reserved for only the most prolific finishers. Few ever get there, and even fewer do it against a rival.
Mentioning the rivalry again, I know, I am beating a pretty dead horse here but I am officially calling it now. Fremont V Montague IS a rivalry and pretty much everyone knows it. Fremont sure does.
“Reaching the 100th goal mark means a lot to me knowing that I have had this particular goal for several years and knowing that not many people get this chance,” Klimek said. “It definitely felt good scoring my 100th goal against Montague knowing how they ended our season last year in the district finals.”
The Wildcats had spoiled Fremont’s dream of a deep postseason run less than a year ago. They celebrated on the Packers’ field while Fremont was left stunned, empty-handed. That sting lingered, and when the two sides met again, it wasn’t just another game on the schedule. This time, the Packers flipped the script, dominating from the opening whistle in an 8-0 rout.
Klimek provided the exclamation point, finishing with three goals and two assists, and his milestone strike was the centerpiece. It wasn’t just the 100th goal of a remarkable career. It was catharsis.
“The feeling when the ball hit the back of the net was unreal,” Klimek said. “I took a step back and thought about all of the hard work that I have put in and all who have helped me succeed at my goal.”
He was quick to share credit. “These goals are not my own, I would not have reached this goal without the hard work and team effort of my former and current teammates,” Klimek said.
That team-first mindset is what head coach Steve Vissia sees every day. “Of course it is a huge blessing to have a player like Deagan who consistently puts the ball in the back of the net. However, his impact goes way beyond scoring goals. It doesn’t matter what we are doing in practice, he is the one working the hardest, leading by example, and selling out to make the team better.”
Fremont has never had a boys player like him. The girls’ program has celebrated 100-goal scorers in Kailey Hindes and Mia Clemence. On the boys’ side? Before Klimek, the record was 46. That’s not just breaking a record — that’s obliterating it.
And he’s not done yet. “After making the 100th goal, I plan to keep building on that number and exceeding 110 goals. As a team our goal is to win districts and keep our run going throughout regionals,” Klimek said.
The Packers are right in the thick of the West Michigan Conference title race, tied with North Muskegon atop the standings. Klimek has been central to that push, delivering goals when it matters most — the equalizer in a 2-2 draw with North Muskegon, the game-winner in a 4-2 slugfest with Ludington. He doesn’t just score in blowouts. He scores when his team needs him most.
That clutch gene, combined with his year-round work ethic, has made him as dependable as he is dangerous. “Deagan is a leader who leads by example. He plays year-round and his hard work has paid huge dividends for him,” Vissia said. “When we condition in practice, he is the one who finishes first and sets the tone. I would much rather coach someone with heart vs. someone with talent, but Deagan has both.”
The roots of Klimek’s success stretch far beyond the practice field. He credits his family as the foundation. His father has coached him since he was four, instilling not only discipline but also a competitive edge that’s carried through every stage of his career. His mother was the one who softened the sting of tough losses, always reminding him of the bigger picture. And his older brother, Marcus, might have been the toughest defender he ever faced — never giving an inch, never letting him coast. “They’ve always pushed me to be the best player and person I can be,” Klimek said.
For Fremont overall, it’s more than just a personal milestone. It’s a program-defining moment. The Packers have watched other schools in the area produce historic scorers, but now they have their own — and he’s still adding to his tally.
There are bigger goals ahead. A conference crown. A district title. A chance to make noise in the postseason. Leading the charge is a senior who has already rewritten the record books.
In a rivalry game oozing some beef history, Klimek’s 100th wasn’t just another mark in a scorebook. It was a reminder that great players seize great moments — and sometimes, those moments feel just a little like revenge…
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