Dom Lewandowski’s career wasn’t going exactly as he wanted.
Lewandowski is a senior centerback on the Archbishop Ryan High School soccer team, and after coming in as a freshman and contributing on the Raiders junior varsity squad, he expected a seamless transition from the JV squad to the varsity team.
It didn’t exactly go that way.
“Sophomore year was very frustrating year for me because I didn’t think I was doing as well as I could have,” said Lewandowski, a Bridesburg native. “I really thought I could have played better, and luckily last year I got another opportunity and I had a chance to show my potential. Last year I definitely contributed more than I did sophomore year.
“My sophomore year, we had two of the best centerbacks, Frankie (Monaco) and Owen (Stock). They definitely helped me get better and get used to playing high school soccer. I went out and trained hard, but I had a lot of help. They helped me a lot and so did all of my coaches. The coaches really helped me get better and helped my confidence. That was a big thing, it really helped me play better.”
This year, Lewandowski doesn’t have to work his way into the team’s good graces. Everyone from head coach Ryan Haney to every teammate who was there last year saw what Lewandowski can do when he’s playing up to his potential. And this year he should be one of the top players not only on Ryan, but in the Catholic League.
Last year Lewandowski and his teammates finished in fourth place in the Catholic League, ending the season 8-3-1.
The Raiders then knocked off St. Joe’s Prep in the first round and got the best of a very good Father Judge team in the semifinals.
Ryan then fell to La Salle in the Catholic League championship game, but recovered to knock off Franklin Towne Charter in the District 12 championship game. The Raiders then competed in the state tournament and defeated Cocalico in the first round before being eliminated by Radnor in the second round.
It was a big year for Lewandowski and it raised the bar for what he expects not only from himself, but the team.
“I knew I had a lot to do to get better, and now I’m a lot more comfortable,” Lewandowski said. “I now have more experience, and I also have a lot more weight on my shoulders. I’m more prepared than I’ve ever been. I’m ready to conquer the season.”
Lewandowski will be responsible for making sure the Raiders defense is doing the right thing at all times. But he’s also focused on being a strong leader.
In fact, this offseason it became official that Lewandowski would be one of the leaders on the team.
“During the offseason, Coach Haney brought me in and were discussing how the season could go,” Lewandowski said. “He floated the idea that I could be a captain and it was a huge honor. I accepted and haven’t looked back since.
“Captain means a lot on this team. We’ve had some great captains and every year I’ve looked up to them. It’s a big responsibility, but I’m up to the task. I want to be a role model on and off the field for these guys. It is something I take very seriously, but it’s also a great reward for working hard.”
He plans on not only leading with his voice, he plans on leading by example.
And he’s not going to be afraid to share his story, including the low points, to help others learn from what he went through.
“I think my story can help people because I wasn’t doing what I wanted to do sophomore year,” Lewandowski said. “Junior year I turned the switch. If you work hard enough, you can make it anywhere in life. Senior year, I’m a captain. Freshman year me, I never would have thought I would have been a captain. But hard work will get you there.”
Hard work that doesn’t end on the field.
Lewandowski not only excels in soccer, he’s one of the top students in the classroom, maintaining a 4.9 grade point average.
“I feel like school isn’t easy, but I work and do OK,” Lewandowski said. “Even when I was younger, I memorized multiplication tables, I would learn how to write better. My mom and my dad always helped me with school work. Memory wise, I can do pretty well. I listen well. I can absorb information well. It helps me in life, school and soccer.”
Family is a big part of Lewandowski’s life, and he hopes his final year at Ryan will provide great memories.
“My brother Ben is a sophomore, he’s a striker for us,” said Lewandowski, who hopes to continue his soccer career in college, possibly while majoring in business or finance. “He’s got a lot of potential. It would be really cool to play with him one more time. He has potential, I think he could help us.”
The help Lewandowski wants is help winning a Catholic League championship.
“I think we could have a really good year, we had a good year last year and I think we could be even better,” Lewandowski said. “We have a great schedule. We’re going to Pittsburgh and we have some of the best teams on our nonleague schedule.
“We want to start off strong and have a great season. The Catholic League is big, we want to win that, that’s always our goal, but I want to win a district championship and a state championship. We can be really good.”
