PLYMOUTH – It’s no doubt that Micah Calhoun stands out.
The Plymouth 2017 senior and boys Kizer Award winner has made his mark in two of the most disparate sports possible. As a junior Calhoun made the cut to qualify for the state championship in golf. After missing the state championship in wrestling by one point as a junior, Calhoun was on the mat this winter in Indianapolis for the state championship. Thursday he hopes to qualify for his second state tournament in golf.
“It’s really a unique skill set,” said PHS golf coach Ben Weymouth. “You’re a state qualifier using your strength to literally throw your opponent around, but then he also has the fine muscle skills required to play golf. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard of anybody with that range of skills.”
“Honestly I don’t think I’ve ever heard of wrestlers that were golfers or golfers that were wrestlers. I don’t know any,” admitted Calhoun. “I think there are some similarities mentally being tough and approaching your shots.”
While golf is Micah’s favorite sport his first athletic experience was in wrestling.
“I was four,” he said. “Of course then you get a medal for participating, it’s more about building your confidence and getting involved and getting you experience, they just want to make you feel good about what you’re doing.”
Micah had plenty of reason to feel good as he excelled at the sport. He also enjoyed something most wrestlers would find interesting – cutting weight.
“Yeah, that was my favorite part and I know that sounds strange,” he said. “It was something that really nobody else did, and I kept doing it in high school. I think what I like the most about it is that discipline and mental toughness it teaches you to cut 10 pounds in a week, but I suppose I’m kind of an expert at it. I gotta admit I had some pretty small meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas some years.”
It was a skill he felt gave him an edge.
“You know what weight you are at your peak, physically and mentally and strength wise,” said Micah. “When you hit that weight you feel you’re most physically fit and strong and that’s an advantage.”
Another similarity between Calhoun’s favorite sports is the loneliness of competition. A wrestler is alone under the spot light, one on one with his opponent with no place to hide. Hitting your first tee shot in a golf tournament is close to the same.
“It’s really kind of awesome, when you’re out there on the biggest stage you can get in a state championship and wrestling it’s like a gun fight,” he said. “That first tee shot at the state tournament when they announce your name and you step up there, you realize what’s on the line and it’s just you, no teammates there’s no feeling like that.”
Micah finds it easy to stay grounded in those situations for a reason he is quick to point to. His faith keeps him focused on what is truly important, and thankful for the stage he gets to stand on.
“Honestly I believe it’s my faith in Jesus that allows me to mentally stay focused and honor Him in everything that I do,” he said. “I’m very thankful and really believe that I’ve been given the chance to be on this stage so I can have a chance to share my faith. I’ve been put in a special place and I’m thankful for that chance.”
It’s something that comes as naturally to the Plymouth senior as his back swing.
“I had the opportunity for a number of years to be a part of my dad’s ministry,” said Calhoun. “He was a full time evangelist for 13 years. My brothers are older so they had more of that experience than I did, but there’s something about watching your dad preach and seeing people giving their lives to the Lord that is just really exciting.”
Thursday will be exciting as well as Calhoun tries to make it back to the state in golf competing in the regional at Stonehenge Golf Course in Warsaw.
“I feel pretty good,” he said. “I’ve been here before. I know what shots I have to hit, what shots I can drop, holes that I have to score well on. Honestly I’m just going to go out there and have fun. I find the game of golf really relaxing.”
