Looking 'to impact some kids,' Nathan Tomasello's return to CVCA wrestling injects confidence
Nathan Tomasello has wrestled in Canada, Mexico, Poland, Cuba, Romania, Belarus and all parts in between in the United States.
But there’s just something about Cuyahoga Falls that keeps drawing him back.
A regular visitor to the Walsh Ironman, the 28-year-old four-time state champion from CVCA will be there again on Friday, but this time as an assistant coach for his alma mater.
OHSAA wrestling powerhouses:20 years, 100 champs: Aurora, Brecksville, CVCA, Perry, STVM, Wadsworth, Walsh own wrestling
Akron-area preseason wrestling rankings:Wadsworth's Jaxon Joy tops the list of Greater Akron's top 20 wrestlers; here's who's next
“It was important for me to get back to my roots and be around these people,” Tomasello said. “I wanted to be a part of a program that has impacted me all these years. It felt right. We started talking around New Year's. I was training a little bit and helping coach Oklahoma when they were in season.
“I remember coming back for the holidays. I started dating a girl in this area and [CVCA coach David Bergen] started asking me what my thoughts were about coming back to this area.”
The four-time Big Ten champion, four-time All-American and national champion from Ohio State didn’t waste any time and was back by July.
Fast forward, and you can find the three-time freestyle national champ on Wyoga Lake Road in the Royals’ facility helping out future state champions.
“He thought, ‘OK, let’s walk it back to CVCA,’” Bergen said. “'It’s where I was raised and had a lot of success. Why don’t I give it back?' It’s phenomenal. It’s better than phenomenal. We’ve got a guy who sets an example through his success, but equally through his work ethic, through his moral posture and his discipline in life.
“When he speaks, he speaks through his experience, but it’s recent experience. This is tangible. He was competing just a little time ago. When Nate shares, it carries extra weight because he just did it. Having him in the room is empowering our wrestlers to step up because he’s stepped up more than anyone that has ever come through here. He’s at a PHD level teaching guys who are learning cursive at the lowest level.”
Nathan Tomasello still looks like he can wrestle with the best
Tomasello still looks like he could dominate at 61 kilograms as he roams the mat from wrestler to wrestler.
He’s quick to step right into a situation and help, and that isn’t lost on anyone in the room.
“He graduated from here and now he’s passing on all he’s experienced in his career unto us,” CVCA state-placer Braden Hahlen said. “He’s making sure our technique is perfect and we’re doing everything right. He’ll even hop in and work with us.
“Sometimes I’m like, ‘Man, this is Nathan Tomasello teaching us every day.’ I try to focus on him as our coach now and listen to everything he has to say because I know how much I can learn from him. The buzz is a lot bigger with him pushing us. He’s always talking about making us as state champions. It’s really elevated the work ethic and increased the intensity.”
Do as I say and as I do attitude is spreading
That buzz is almost palpable the second you walk in the room.
Then again, that’s what you get when you’re learning from a World Team runner-up.
Tomasello, who has had college coaching stints at Duke and with the Oklahoma RTC, demands respect.
With his name all over the CVCA, Ohio State and national record books that respect is given.
What makes things better is he can come down to each wrestler’s level before elevating them to his.
“There are positions or scrambles I get in where I never thought I’d be able to finish from and he’s showing me the smallest little details that make all the difference,” senior Owen Nelson said. “They’re positions I’d never thought I’d win. There are a couple times where I’m like this insane what they’re teaching me.
“There are times I know, ‘OK. This is Nathan Tomasello teaching me,’ because it’s such a high-end move. It’s insane what I’m learning. It’s hard to get past it sometimes, but I have to think he’s teaching me I need to wrestle everyone just as hard as anyone else. The thing I like the most is he meets me at my level. There’s a middle ground. He doesn’t jump around. He’ll take me there step by step, so I can understand what’s happening.”
Nathan Tomasello happy giving back to CVCA wrestling
Bergen, who has never lost contact with Tomasello, sees that and is ecstatic about taking his young team to the next level.
“It’s great when any one of us are showing them and he’ll say, ‘This is how we did it in college,’” he said. “You see it really take hold. I think bringing him in the room is empowering our guys to push harder than they ever have. It’s an amazing dynamic having him in the room. He’s a quiet, reserved guy, but when he’s walking around the room thinking, there’s an energy that is just elevated.”
What the next step is for the all-time great is yet to be determined.
For now, Tomasello is happy to be back in his old digs and pumped to elevate the wrestling room with the coaches he loves most.
“This is my comfort zone,” Tomasello said. “Paul Charvat has been in my corner since I was a student-athlete here. Stevie Mitcheff was one of those guys that was in the club with Erik Burnett [in Elyria]. Tim Hinman has been in my corner since day one along with Dave. It’s good to be back and enjoy the coaching part of it. I have such good memories of the school. I just want to be able to impact some kids.”
Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival.