Luke Fink
The senior 145-pounder has posted a 21-1 record with 17 pins (as of Jan. 11), and finished first at the Jim Thorpe Christmas Tournament, going 5-0 for the day. He was 20-8 as a sophomore, and last year went 18-9 with a second-place finish at Sectionals. Off the mat, he maintains a 4.4 grade-point average and is a teaching assistant at the Main Line Reform Temple in Wynnewood.
Q: Can you share with us your most vivid memory of the Jim Thorpe tourney?
A: My most vivid memory of the tournament was the finals match against Wolfgang Pearson. He was extremely strong and very effective defensively, which made it challenging for me to use my usual play style to gather my points. The turning point in the match was when I finally got the second takedown to put me up by three points. I believe it was my best match of the season to date.
Q: Tell us about your start in wrestling – what sparked your initial interest? Your father, Gary, was a top wrestler for Lower Merion from 1979-1982, and your brother Victor, wrestled for Harriton and was a Main Line Athlete of the Week in 2015. Have they been your most important wrestling mentors, and what was the most important thing about wrestling that you learned from each of them?
A: While I began wrestling in 3rd grade for the Lower Merion Wrestling Club, my interest in wrestling really sparked after I did not make the freshman basketball team. I turned my focus back to wrestling and found I really liked the team and the competitive nature of the sport. I have always looked up to my father and brother, and as kids Victor and I would always wrestle despite the great size and age difference we had. Now, if we wrestled today I think the outcome would be much different.
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 my attacking mentality and overall speed. My neutral ability has always been my strength as I am fast and have developed a great shot to win takedowns and control the match. Yet, I am working on diversifying my neutral strategy to be even more effective against high performing experienced opponents.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-match preparation the day of a wrestling match.
A: The day before a wrestling match I prepare myself mentally and physically. I focus on what I eat and drink and the day of the match I focus intently on each opponent, my specific attack strategy, and how to get myself up and ready to execute so that I can control the match and my opponent.
Q: What is your favorite course at Harriton? What do you want to major in at college?
A: My favorite course is Math – I enjoy solving analytical problems. I am broadly interested in engineering and am targeting Mechanical as my engineering major.
Q: What do you find to be the most rewarding aspect of your job as a teaching assistant at the Main Line Reform Temple?
A: I really enjoy working with the kids and helping them learn. At the same time I feel like i am learning continuously and enjoy the work experience.
Q: You are marketing your own creation, “Stink Away Athletic Gear Spray” as a Senior Project and are selling it on www.StinkAwaySpray.com as a healthy, non-toxic, naturally deodorizing and antibacterial alternative to spray athletic gear, helmets, head gear, shoes etc. for athletes. What has been the most important thing you have learned in creating and marketing this product?
A: The most important things I’ve learned have been the trial-and-error process required, and the confidence to fail and repeat until you get to the right working solution.
Fun facts – Luke Fink
Favorite book: Game of Thrones
Favorite author: George R. R. Martin
Favorite TV show: The Office
Favorite movie: Finding Nemo
Favorite athlete: Allen Iverson
Favorite pre-meet pump-up song: Good Kid, M.A.A.d City
Favorite team: Philadelphia Eagles
Favorite place to visit: France
Favorite pre-meet meal: Wawa Hoagie and Reese’s Candy Bar
Person I most admire, and why: “Coach [Jeff] Rhodes inspires and has taught me everything I truly know about wrestling and is always able to help me stretch to learn and grow.”
(To be selected as Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by his coach.)
To view a gallery of the Main Line Boys Athletes of the Week from 2013 to present click here
