Senior Drew Pravlik, a defender for the boys varsity lacrosse team, announced his commitment to Muhlenberg College on Aug. 27 via instagram.
Pravlik has played on varsity since his freshman year of high school and is a three-time letter winner. He started in the North 2 Group 4 championship game last season and was awarded honorable mention for the Fitch-Pitt Division. Pravlik said, “One of my biggest accomplishments would be winning the state championship my junior year. It was really cool because even though the actual game wasn’t the best game, the ones leading up to it were really tough wins.”
Pravlik has been playing lacrosse since he was eleven and in addition to playing on the varsity team, he is a member of the club team, 3D Garden State. Both Westfield and club teammate, senior Corey Gilford said, “We perform and play well together. We have been playing together for a while and we know each other’s tendencies. We are like milk and chocolate chip cookies.”
Pravlik has shown his versatile skills on the Westfield lacrosse team throughout his four years. Head coach William Wertheimer said, “I’m lucky with this class and most classes that I get to see the kids from 8th grade through senior year. Drew has been sort of like my leathermen, a specialty, because he started off as a defensive middie and then he went to long stick midfielder then to down defense where he ended up at the end of our playoff with a fantastic run. As a defender against some of the top attackmen he performed very well. I would describe him on the lacrosse field as a jack of all trades.”
Muhlenberg College is Division III, and plays in the Centennial Conference, coming off an 11-6 2024 season record. Pravlik said, “The first thing that attracted me to them was their coaches were super welcoming and friendly. On my visit with them I instantly struck a connection with the coaches. I am very excited to show what I can do there.”
Something special for Pravlik is that former Blue Devils teammate, Jack Paris, is also a Mule. Paris said, “I am so excited for him to come to Muhleburg. Playing with him in Westfield was incredible and obviously we had a really good year and he was a huge contributor. I think him and I can definitely do a lot of great things together here at Muhlenberg.”
This upcoming season, Pravlik will be the only returning defensive starter on the varsity team. Paris said, “He is very reliable, and rarely ever makes a mistake, so you can definitely count on him. He is an incredible leader, which will be important this season with a lot of new defensive faces. I have full confidence in everything he will do.”
Similarly Pravlik said, “I am looking to lead the team this coming season, there is going to be a young defense, so I am going to have to mesh everyone together and hopefully have another successful season.”
As a player, Pravlik has proven his leadership skills and accomplishments. “I would say something unique about Drew is that he is a quiet leader. The best way to put it is that he gets things done but he is not too vocal about doing it,” Wertheimer said.
The Muhlenberg commit explained that Westfield lacrosse has “taught [him] leadership skills and a strong work ethic.” He is “extremely excited to step up this coming season and hopefully have another successful season.”
