Gunning for a third straight title

WELLS — If you step inside any gym where the Wells High wrestlers are competing, you’re bound to run into Vanya Tomaszewski.

You’ll know him by the big smile on his face.

He doesn’t leave home without it, and it never seems to leave him.

“I’m just a happy guy, I guess,” is how the Warrior junior explains his radiant countenance.

That glow, however disappears in a hurry when he steps onto the mat.

There, he’s all business.

Then you’d know him as the little guy who always seems to have the upper hand on his hapless opponent.

At 112 pounds, Tomaszewski is most often the best wrestler in the building.

He’s certainly the best that Wells has seen in a dozen years ”“ since the days of Dave Romilly ”“ with a pair of state championship titles to prove it.

Not that two is enough.

Not when three ”“ which would tie the school record held jointly by Romilly and Sean Sheehy ”“ or even four are within his grasp.

“That’s one of the goals I’m planning on,” he said. “But my main goal is to at least place in the New Englands. By my senior year, if I could win New Englands, that would be my main goal. But I’m going to take it a step at a time.”

And when Tomaszewski takes a step, chances are it’s going to be a daring one.

Such was the case when he and his younger brother Igor left their native Russia seven years ago ”“ after being orphaned ”“ to start life over in Wells with their adoptive family.

The remarkable Tomaszewski family now numbers 12 children.

One can learn a lot about wrestling ”“ and life ”“ just trying to compete for seconds at the dinner table.

“The way he’s grown up,” said Warrior coach Scott Lewia, “with his life experiences, (it) has made him a really well-rounded kid.”

Round, however, is not how one would describe Tomaszewski’s physique.

The word ”˜chiseled’ would be far more appropriate.

His upper body strength is naturally prodigious, which he put to great use as a fifth grader in the school production of “The Stars of Broadway”.

Tomaszewski’s role called for him to do a handstand on a chair and soon enough, word filtered back to Lewia about the youngster with the Popeye forearms.

It wasn’t long before Tomaszewski found himself on the floor, and loving it.

“I just wanted to try doing it,” he said. “It came to be that I liked it. I just went on from there.

“I wasn’t bad. I was okay. From the sixth grade on, I just kept getting better and better. Finally I got to high school. That’s when it all kicked in and came together.”

Did it ever.

He slid into the 112 spot in the Warrior lineup two years ago, and has been a fixture there ever since.

Which isn’t to say that he’s resting on his laurels.

Since capturing title No. 2 last winter, Tomaszewski says he’s stepped up his conditioning, and is always striving for improvement.

“Wrestling with (Shane Daly, now graduated),” he said, “helped make my moves better. Just learning how to be quicker. I’m moving on this year using all that I’ve learned last year more this year. Basically, I’m working harder this year than I did last year.”

Lewia said that he’d like to see his young charge become more aggressive.

“We tell him that he’s got to get more explosive,” Lewia said. “He gets kind of defensive on his feet. He’s so quick on his feet that he needs to get more offensive.”

That’s all Maine’s other 112 pounders need to hear.

That Tomaszewski has become tougher than before.

Tougher, and happier, you might say, with each passing meet or practice.

“I’m glad that I’m here,” he said.

So, too, are legions of hockey fans, the ones who don’t have to ask, ”˜Which one’s Vanya”

They know that already.

— Contact Dan Hickling at dhickling@journaltribune.com.