Harriton’s Nadav Nafshi is Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week (March 20-26)
The sophomore wrestler was PIAA District 1 3A South champion at 133 pounds, as well as Central League champion, posting a 28-8 record, finishing fourth at the PIAA 3A Southeast Regional and qualifying for the PIAA 3A state championships. Harriton wrestling head coach Eric Ochoa said, “After the end of his freshman season, Nadav told me that he was going to do whatever it took to get to Hershey this year. To say he went above and beyond to do that is no exaggeration.” At the beginning of his sophomore wrestling season, Nafshi was diagnosed with a Jones fracture in his right foot, and was sidelined for several weeks. “He was essentially wrestling on a partially broken foot all season,” said Ochoa. “His ability to compete even in the face of adversity this season helped us as coaches lay an important foundation for wrestling at Harriton. His future is bright and basically only getting started.”
Q: What was the key to your success District 1 South Tournament? What is your favorite memory of that tourney?
A: The key to my success in District 1 South Tournament was focusing on myself and not my opponents or their records, and I was confident in my consistent training. A favorite moment was winning the championship final against a returning senior District champion (Plymouth Whitemarsh senior Ashton Wittenberg) in the finals. It was a tight match that required me to wrestle smart and aggressive. I was losing 2-0 until the third period. I chose bottom and I was able to escape, get a takedown and ride him out and win, 3-2.
Q: What did you find to be the biggest challenge to your wrestling posed by your early-season injury, and how did you meet that challenge?
A: I was diagnosed with a Jones fracture and needed to be in a boot for six weeks. I missed the beginning of the season in terms of training and matches. After six weeks the doctors saw the bone separated and recommended a surgery. I had a choice to make, either I miss the season or I wrestle with pain. I chose to wrestle because I love the sport. In the beginning it was rough, I was taking unnecessary losses because I was cautious about my foot. Later on I got used to the injury and adapted my stance. I couldn’t run or squat so I replaced it with focusing on technique and mindset.
Q: What do you think has been the best match of the season, and what was the key to your success in that match?
A: A memorable match from this season was when I beat the first seed in Central League (Upper Darby’s Nathan O’Donnell), 17-6, while I came in seeded fourth. The key to my success in that match was determination and confidence that I can do it. This season is memorable for me because not many people believed I can make it to States but I was convinced I can do it and my eyes were always on this goal.
Q: What do you consider your biggest strength on the mat and what you are working on most currently?
A: My biggest strength on the mat is being on top. I am able to turn opponents and ride them out and (perform) chain wrestling while on top. I also think that I have improved my mentality tremendously this season. Last year I was afraid when I wrestled tough opponents, but this year I was on fire to prove myself that I can do it. Currently I am working on bottom and learning how to get out quickly.
Q: What sparked your initial interest in wrestling — when did you start wrestling competitively?
A: When I was in 4th grade I saw college wrestling on TV and I loved it and knew I had to try this sport. I started at age 9 at Lower Merion Youth Club with coach Jermaine Daley. I remember getting into the car after the first practice and telling my mom, “I found what I’m good at!!” I started wrestling more competitively at 6th grade at the Malvern Wrestling Club and started attending national level tournaments and duals.
Q: Who have been your biggest wrestling mentors, and what were the most important things you’ve learned from each of them?
A: I was fortunate to meet many coaches who cared and influenced me and I would say that the most significant coach has been Sam Walters. Coach Sam has taught me most of the technique I know and kept correcting me until I executed correctly.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-match preparation the day of a wrestling match.
A: If it’s a match after school, I try to get all my homework done so I can focus on wrestling. I live close to school so I like coming home and eating a healthy snack and resting, then I return to school to take the bus with my team. I also focus on positive self-talk and confidence in my training and my ability to execute my technique. I make sure to get a good warm up and stretch when I get there.
Q: What is your favorite academic course at Harriton? What do you think you would like to major in at college? Is there a particular career field that interests you at the present time?
A: My favorite course at Harriton currently is Social Studies. At college I would like to study business and entrepreneurship because I want to own a business.
Fun facts – Nadav Nafshi
Favorite book: Advice From Champions, by Ken DeStefanis.
Favorite athlete: Austin Desanto.
Favorite pre-meet pump-up song: We Will Rock You, by Queen.
Favorite team: University of Iowa wrestling team.
Favorite pre-meet meal: “On weekend tournaments after weigh in I like to eat watermelon and drink electrolytes and then get in some carbs.”
Person I most admire, and why: “My mom, she is an Ironman and helps me get mentally tough.”
Family members: parents Elad and Iris, siblings Ron, Amit and Tommy.
(To be selected as Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by his coach.)
