WELLS — If you look up “winner” in the dictionary, it probably has a photo of Tyler Bridge next to it.

Bridge, now a 6 foot 3, 205-pound senior running back and cornerback for Wells High School, is accustomed to being a part of the winning side when the final seconds of a game tick away. He’s been a part of 16 straight wins in a row for Wells dating back to 2016 when the Warriors captured the Class C state title and then again in 2017 when Wells flattened opponents en route to securing the Class D Maine championship.

But despite all of his success on the gridiron to this point, Bridge says his competitive spirit longs for even more winning this season.

“I just like the running with the ball,” Bridge said. “There’s really nothing like a breakaway and knowing that you’re about to hit the end zone and score a touchdown.”

Bridge’s leadership on and off the field will be crucial for Wells coach Tim Roche as he enters his 20th season at the helm of the Warriors.

“We were just at camp and I saw a group of kids that want to win and want to find a way to win and Tyler’s a big part of that,” Roche said. “He’s part of our strength at running back and he’ll be needed as we only return four players on both sides this year.”

Roche said one thing that the public may not know about Bridge and the rest of the Warriors team is their work ethic.

“People don’t realize how hard these kids work every day,” he said. “They’ve bought into it and give us everything they’ve got whether it be working in the weight room in the summer or in practice. Winning is the result of hours and hours of effort.”

While running the football comes easy for Bridge, he says going into a new season he’s been working on becoming a better blocker.

“For me the hardest play to master is blocking,” he said. “It is tough work and a critical aspect on all plays to make sure the block will be there when it’s needed.”

As far as his personal goals go, Bridge is undecided about where he will attend college or what profession he may eventually go into.

“I’m not sure yet,” Bridge said. “I am good with numbers and I could end up doing something with statistics or sports analysis.”

But when it comes to his goal for the 2018 season, Bridge knows what he wants to achieve.

“I just want to do whatever it takes to help this team win,” he said. They say football is one of the only sports where one person can’t carry the team, but I am going to do all I can to help us win the state championship. Winning the state title three years in a row is my real goal and that would be something truly special.”

He said the best thing about being a member of the Wells High football team is witnessing the outpouring of support from the Wells community at every game, home and away.

“It’s great to see the whole town turn out for our games,” Bridge said. “The support shown to us by this community fuels our desire to win for them.”

Bridge says classmates are always talking about how serious he is, but that’s really a notion he dismisses.

“Those who know me best will tell you that that I’m really weird and goofy,” he said.

But on the playing field, Bridge is strictly all business.

“I don’t keep track of how many touchdowns I’ve scored,” Bridge said. “It doesn’t matter if we don’t win. That’s really all I want and my sights are set on winning another state championship with this team.”

— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 ext. 326 or by email at editor@journaltribune.com