Triple threat: Owls senior gets stronger on mat, field, track

December 13, 2016

Bradan Thomasma enjoyed playing football, wrestling and running track at an early age, so he knew he wanted to compete in those sports when he entered Seymour High School.

“My dad (Pieter) got me started in football and I thank him so much for that. I started wrestling in the Seymour Wrestling Club, and I started running track in seventh grade,” he said.

Thomasma is wrestling at 170 this winter, and posted a record of 4-1 in the opening day at Bedford North Lawrence, and has continued to win as he posted a 7-0 record at Scottsburg and placed fourth at Evansville Memorial’s Invitational this past weekend.

Thomasma moved up from the 160-pound class he wrestled as a junior and said he has to prepare for stronger opponents.

“They’re a lot stronger than they were at 160,” Thomasma said. “I think I can control a match if I get locked up. I just like to wrestle and see that happens and see what develops in a match. That will determine what moves I like to use.”

He said a lot of factors, like depending on the score, as to which position he chooses at the start of the second period or third period.

“If I’m down I want to be on the bottom because it’s easier to get a reversal than it is to pin somebody,” he said.

Thomasma said he does not have a favorite pinning move.

“It’s really just what shows up,” he said. “You could be running a wing, and a half (nelson) would show up. As long as you can run one move really well you can win.”

The weight room has helped him and all the other athletes improve their athletic skills.

“I’ve gotten bigger, and definitely stronger and faster,” Thomasma said. “In wrestling you’re using about all your body. I definitely like to be in control. When I started wrestling I really had the confidence I was going to be successful.”

This fall Thomasma played outside linebacker, and also lined up at wide receiver on the football field.

“On defense I keyed on the most outside guy,” Thomasma said. “Say it was a tight end. That was my key, based on what they did.”

For Thomasma, practice is important in all sports, especially in wrestling where he works one-on-one with a teammate.

He said the harder he works in practice the better he is prepared for his matches.

This spring, Thomasma plan on running the 800 and a leg in the 3,200 relay in track.

He said he is hoping to run anchor again this spring on the relay team.

Thomasma aims to get into the 1:50s in the open 800 this spring.

“It’s going to take a lot of my teammates pushing me and me pushing myself,” Thomasma said. “The good thing about track is you have that team, and you always have someone pushing you. It could be the coaches, it could be your best friend, it could be your teammate. You have do what you have to do to win that race.

“If you’re behind two people going into that second lap you know what you have to do to win. You can pass them early or you can pass them later in the race.”

Thomasma said the key in the open 800 is getting off to a good start and make sure you are up front when you cut in at the cones.

Whenever he’s on the field, mat or track, Thomasma keeps a positive mindset.

“Attitude is everything,” Thomasma said.”If your attitude is not there you can have a bad practice and a bad game. Your attitude reflects on your teammates, your peers, everyone. That’s what my mom and my dad have taught me to have a good attitude and work hard.”

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Name: Bradan Thomasma

School: Seymour High School

Parents: Alisha and Pieter Thomasma

Siblings: Alexis, Caitlin, Delaney

Sports: football 4 years, wrestling 4 years, track and field 4 years

Athletic highlights: track: 2015 sectional champions, regional qualifier; wrestling: fastest pin award.

Organizations: Spanish Club, Key Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, 4H, St. Ambrose Youth Group

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