Golf and wrestling are the types of sports that have individual and team components, which seem to suit Killian Prewitt very well.
Prewitt, a three-sport Fremont senior athlete who has signed to play golf at Spring Arbor University, is quite competitive as an individual but he’s also shown to be supportive of teammates.
You can’t get much more supportive than what Prewit exhibited at the MHSAA individual wrestling state finals this season and last. He was there for close buddy Tee Ward when Ward fell just short of winning a state title last year and he was right there again when Ward captured the crown.
“He’s very reliable and will always help if needed,” Ward said about Prewitt, whom he’s known since they met at wrestling practice as first-graders. They’ve been thick as thieves ever since.
“He didn’t have to wrestle (this season), seeing how he was going to play golf in college, but he stuck around to help me get better throughout the season.”
Ward, a wrestling signee with Division I Northern Illinois University, capped a dream senior season on the mats by finishing 53-1 overall and seizing the Division 2 state championship at 138 pounds.
Prewitt finished a strong 36-11 in his senior season, moving between the 132- and 138-pound weight classes.
In the fall, Prewitt and Ward were key members of an historic Fremont soccer team that posted a 21-2-1 record, captured West Michigan Conference and district titles, and advanced to the Division 3 regional finals for the deepest state tournament run in program history.
“Killian is one of those individuals that a coach really enjoys working with and coaching,” said Fremont boys golf coach Larry Yachcik, who met Prewitt when he signed up for high school golf four years ago. “He’s self-motivated to get better. He is practicing constantly on those things that will make him better.”
Prewitt is the reigning CatchMark SportsNet WMC Golfer of the Year. Last spring, he was voted for the award after he averaged 38.1 in nine-hole WMC jamboree events. He took first place in one jamboree, second in another, and he tied for runner-up in a third jamboree.
In 18-hole events during the 2023 season, Prewitt was medalist at the Newaygo County Championship (76) and third in the Lakeview Invitational (78).
Prewitt’s goals this season are to see his team win the WMC Lakes Division title and advance to the state championships, as a team and/or individual.
“Killian is a fierce competitor on the golf course,” Yachcick said. “Prior to each match, he looks at the seeding and gets himself mentally ready to play against some of the very best as the No. 1 seed on our team. He plays amongst some of the very best players in West Michigan and wants to read himself physically and mentally each and every match.”
This golf season is still young with most events still ahead of Prewitt and the Packers.
The 17-year-old son of Jen Messer and Will Prewitt, who carries a 3.3 GPA, is focused on finishing strong in what’s been a banner senior year for him and his classmates when one considers all the various successes.
Prewitt and Ward have been wrestling practice partners “since the jump,” according to Prewitt.
“We both had a very competitive personality and both wrestled and played soccer,” Ward said.
As good friends tend to do, Ward took a playful jab at Prewitt — “He’s funny and kind of dumb, but very friendly” — before saying nice things about him.
Ward said that while he’s never watched Prewitt compete in golf, he’s played a couple of rounds with him and “somehow he always hit the ball straight.”
In true buddy fashion, Prewitt is always ready to volley barbs back at Ward.
When asked if Ward can hang with Prewitt on the golf course, Prewitt quickly responded, “No, not even close,” before he smirked.
What if Prewitt gave Ward 20 shots?
“No, not going to happen.”
At the end of the day, Prewitt wants to help Ward or any of his teammates.
Yachcik said that Prewitt is willing to work with teammates and coach them, helping them to learn various nuances of the game, especially the short game. That’s an area where Prewitt has really strengthened his game in the last two years to become the player he is today, according to Yachcik.
“Killian during his four years has become one of the very best players not only in our conference, but around West Michigan,” Yachcik said. “He has only begun to reach his potential as he goes into the next phase of his life in college.”
Photos by Scott DeCamp | CatchMark
