FHC has been home to many prolific athletes, dominating athletics across the board. However, there is one athlete who stands out from the rest: senior Thomas Paplawsky. During his time as a ranger, Thomas has excelled not only on the baseball diamond but also in the wrestling room, leaving his mark as a prolific dual-sport athlete, one who will be missed once he graduates.
Thomas began his illustrious baseball career at the age of four when his dad introduced him to “tagball” in the backyard. His love for the game grew from there. What really sparked this love was seeing his hard work finally pay off after the time he invested, which helped build a strong foundation from a young age.
“Just being able to see my improvements and overtaking people who used to be better than me [helped me build a love for the game],” Thomas said. “I also like the feeling of different things. Like barreling a ball perfectly is just so rewarding.”
Thomas has played with many different teams throughout his baseball career, but each one has taught him valuable skills that will carry him forward. Specifically, his club season last year, before high school baseball started, helped cement the confidence and swagger that have propelled him to take giant leaps in the past year of his career.
“I started at TVBL, but some memorable teams include the Dawgs, which was a little league dream team, with players like B Roze, Tmac, and Schelle,” Thomas said. “Sluggers 18U last year was really where I came into my own and started playing better than almost all my peers. FHC Varsity last year was an amazing experience playing with guys like Telli.”
Out of all the teams Thomas has played on, one specific team and culture have stuck with him the most, and that is here at FHC. FHC baseball has been home to some of Thomas’s favorite moments and teams, but he will miss it most for the connections and bonds he has made over the past four years. This is why graduating at the end of this season will be a very difficult challenge.
“Playing with the same guys every year [is something I love] because each guy on the team comes from their own friend group or niche,” Thomas said. “It’s fun to bond over different things that we might not have ever discussed otherwise.”
One of the hardest things to accept as a senior is playing in your last game. For Thomas, the memories he’s made will never fade but will always be engraved in him as a part of who he is. One thing Thomas will miss most, however, is not related to playing the game.
“Honestly, the fancy equipment is so much fun to research and use to find what fits you,” Thomas said.
Despite the equipment being very interesting, baseball has taught Thomas a lot over the years, which will prove to be valuable down the road. For that, he is more grateful to the sport for giving him more than just the ability to play a game.
“How to not let things bother you. Baseball is a mental game, and I treat playing the game the same way I do life,” Thomas said. “I try to stay focused on the task at hand and not get too tense over the past because that will only lead to future mistakes.”
Not only did Thomas excel on the baseball diamond, but he also just finished an incredible four-year wrestling career. Paplawsky has been wrestling competitively for seven years, but the best of those years were his four wrestling for FHC, where he compiled a strong resume.
“[Some awards include] three-year varsity wrestler, conference champ, district placer, and regional qualifier,” Thomas said. “Also, one award to come at the banquet, hopefully, the Veritas Award.”
During a long, successful career, there are always many highlights. However, there’s always that one moment that sticks with you more than any other, no matter how big or small. These moments help define and shape you as an athlete.
“My favorite moment was during districts this year in the blood round. I was down 5-2 with 12 seconds left on the clock,” Thomas said. “I took a poor shot as the ref blew the whistle and kept moving, driving him forward until I gained enough momentum to pick him up and slam him to his back, getting the back points I needed to qualify for regionals.”
Thomas’s final wrestling season recently came to an end, marking the conclusion of his wrestling career. Although he’s ending his wrestling chapter, he is still grateful for all the opportunities and amazing memories he’s experienced, and the memories he made while playing the sport will stick with him forever.
“What I will miss most is competing in meaningful matches, having the opponent at your whim, and being able to push through and beat them in the third,” Thomas said. “I love breaking the spirit of opponents, letting their self-doubt creep in, and winning the mental and conditioning battle, even if they are more physically adept in the first two periods.”
So, while Thomas has closed the chapter on his wrestling career, he now has all eyes on what might be his last season of baseball if the right opportunity arises. Regardless, it is safe to say that Thomas has excelled and gone above and beyond in both baseball and wrestling during his time at FHC.
