'Something special about lacrosse': Upper Arlington's Tommy Janowicz adds to family legacy

Even with a father who remains Upper Arlington lacrosse ’s all-time leader in goals and points, an uncle who also played in the program and two Division I college careers between them, a lengthy and fruitful run in the sport was anything but preordained for Tommy Janowicz .

The Golden Bears’ 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior attacker admitted he was briefly tempted two years ago to entertain the college football route instead, gaining attention from Iowa, Iowa State and Ohio University among others for his play at linebacker.

That might sound more natural to those who correctly connect Tommy’s surname to Ohio State ’s 1950 Heisman Trophy winner, Vic Janowicz .

But Tommy, one of Vic’s great-nephews, did grow up in UA after all, where the boys program has won 17 state championships and is in the hunt for another.

“Football is a great sport; there’s nothing like it,” Janowicz said. “There are thousands of people in the stadium for every single game. There are so many memories and great bonding. But growing up in Upper Arlington, there’s just something special about lacrosse.”

A four-year letterwinner, three-year starter and Ohio State signee, Janowicz again is a centerpiece for UA (12-2), which is top-ranked statewide by LaxNumbers. Scoring prowess aside – Janowicz had 104 goals the previous two seasons – his versatility amid an injury-wracked season arguably has been more important to the Bears.

With as many as nine midfielders injured at some point this spring , Janowicz has pitched in there and even filled defensive-oriented roles for the first time.

“He’s had to do a little bit of everything,” UA coach Kyle Olson said.

Janowicz said the experience should serve him well at Ohio State, where he expects to play midfielder.

“I’ve really been learning, going to defensive huddles and learning how to play defense the right way,” he said. “I might be playing midfield in college. Knowing as much as I can about lacrosse will be beneficial.”

Janowicz was one of two freshmen, along with eventual Yale signee Quinn Crotty, to make varsity in 2021. His 52 goals and 17 assists as a sophomore helped carry UA to its most recent championship, and he added to that with 52 goals and 40 assists a season ago during a run to the state semifinals .

Those numbers put Janowicz within reach of catching his father’s records. Mike Janowicz, a 1996 graduate of UA, played collegiately at Massachusetts.

Tommy’s uncle Will Morgan, whose older sister is Janowicz’s mother, Megan, played for Butler and Delaware.

Both were All-Americans.

Like Tommy did three years ago, younger brother James made varsity this spring as a freshman.

Even with that lacrosse heritage, Tommy briefly stepped away in seventh grade to try baseball. Within a year, he returned.

“I got bored pretty quickly,” he said. “I learned to appreciate lacrosse that much more.”

Not even a strong football career that saw Janowicz shine at linebacker, safety and quarterback the past few seasons could derail his ultimate goal in lacrosse.

“More than anything, it’s his physicality,” Olson said. “He could handle the beating college football can put on you, and he plays like that in lacrosse, too. It’s about harnessing that and mixing in the finesse part to be a Division I player.”

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 'Something special about lacrosse': Upper Arlington's Tommy Janowicz adds to family legacy