Earlier this week Wells High School wrestling standout Vanya Tomaszewski was honored as one of 16 wrestlers chosen to represent the state during the annual Maine-Nebraska friendship wrestling series.
The tournament was held at York High School on Monday and was the beginning of a seven-day event for the team from Nebraska. The event is in its 25th year and Nebraska won 14 of the 16 matches on Monday. The only winner of the team from Maine was York's Billy Gauthier, and one match ended in a tie.
The Maine team is made up of wrestlers from eight different schools in southern Maine and New Hampshire. Tomaszewski, a two-time state champion at 112 pounds, was thrilled to have the chance to wrestle against somebody from out of state.
"I'm pretty excited about this," Tomaszewski said. "I'm trying something new. I'm wrestling against kids that wrestle year-round."
Tomaszewski hadn't wrestled competitively since the New England Championships in the winter when he went 1-3. He did compete in high school track over the spring and wrestled a little bit. In track, he did the pole vault, javelin and ran the 100-meter dash. Tomaszewski said he hurt his back during the track season, but was 100 percent on Monday night.
"It's just in you," Tomaszewski said. "When it comes time you're ready to wrestle."
Tomaszewski just finished his sophomore year at Wells and eventually hopes to wrestle in college. An experience like wrestling against kids from Nebraska, a state known for its high-level of wrestling, can only go a long way in helping him accomplish that goal.
The team from Nebraska will travel throughout the state and wrestles different teams during the week.
The tournament alternates each year from Nebraska to Maine, and next year, Maine will travel to Nebraska and do the tour, wrestling at several schools in that state.
Tomaszewski hopes to be on that roster.
"That's what I'm hoping to do," Tomaszewski said.