Wrestling: Harriton’s Victor Fink is Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week

The senior 145-pounder and team co-captain posted a 10-1 record with seven falls the week following Christmas. He finished second at the Jim Thorpe Christmas Tournament, then posted a 5-0 record at the Ram Duals hosted by Harriton, winning all of his matches by fall. Last winter, he posted a fine 20-13 record. He was named to the Central League Pennsylvania All-Academic Wrestling Team, and won the Diamond in the Rough Award for wrestling in 2012. Fink has some impressive accomplishments off the wrestling mat as well — he’s a National Honor Society Member; a three-year member of the Harriton Stock Club, winning the 2012 mock portfolio contest for that club; a member of the Harriton Physics Olympics Team 2013 and 2014, winning a medal for his designs this past year; and won the 2013 American Mathematics Competition with the highest math score in the competition for all of Harriton High School.

Main Line Media News: What do you think has been the biggest reason for your recent success?

Victor Fink: Honestly I think it is a mix of my development as a wrestler, and finally falling into the correct weight class. In all 11 matches, even the one I lost, I was able to secure the first takedown of the match. That gives me momentum and a big advantage at the beginning of the match. In wrestling, a lot of close matches will end 3-2, and the deciding factor is the first takedown. I have been a dominant neutral wrestler, something I’ve always strived to be, as I have won the Takedown King award all three seasons with the team. To go along with that, I have been able to pin a lot of opponents, something I’m not really used to. Only a third of the way through the season, I already have more pins than I did last year. This is because I am finally in the correct weight class. Last year I wrestled 145 as well, when I probably should have been at 138. This year I’m at 145 again, but I’m a stronger, tougher wrestler than last year. It takes a lot of strength along with technique to pin someone, and in years past I’ve always been the weaker wrestler in the match.

Main Line Media News: What (to you) has been your best match so far this season? What to you was the key moment of that match — can you describe it for us?

Victor Fink: The best match of the season for me was my second match at the Jim Thorpe Invitational, against a wrestler from North Schuylkill high School. I was going against a stronger wrestler, yet I was able to secure two takedowns during the match, never allowing him to score from neutral. The key moment was the first takedown with short time in the first period, giving me a lead I never let go of. I had great shot defense, and the only time I was on bottom, I was able to score quickly in the period. At the end of the match I successfully fended off his final attacks, giving me a close win 7-5.

Main Line Media News: Can you tell us a little about the Diamond in the Rough Award — what did it mean to you to win that?

Victor Fink: The Diamond in the Rough Award is a scholarship award that recognizes a wrestler that the coaches believe has the potential to develop into a very strong wrestler. My freshman year, I went 12-22, with four forfeits, meaning I really only won eight matches. I was regularly matched up against bigger more experienced wrestlers, and i was unable to escape from anyone on bottom. Even through a lot of failure, I was named takedown king, meaning I had the most takedowns of everyone on the team. I showed that I had good neutral technique, and the quickness to get in deep on my shots. The Diamond in the Rough Award meant that I could build off my neutral positioned base, and turn into the strong wrestler I am today.

Main Line Media News: What was the most important thing you learned last year in the postseason, at the Central League Tournament?

Victor Fink: Sectionals, or for us [Central League wrestlers] the Central League Tournament, has taught me a lot, not only last year, but the year before as well. The biggest lesson that Sectionals taught me is to expect the unexpected. Both my sophomore and junior years, I went into a match with one loss on the day, where if I won I went to Districts, but if I lost I would be going home. In both scenarios I faced an unexpected opponent. Neither had I seen during the regular season. Last year’s opponent from Penncrest had been injured during most of the season, and in my sophomore year, my opponent from Springfield had been suspended. Neither had wrestled many matches that year, and both were seeded lower than I was. My sophomore year, the wrestler turned out to be a senior with only one loss on the season. He not only upset me, but beat two more wrestlers to place third in the tournament, as the ninth seed. Last year, the wrestler turned out to be their captain, and after a close match he eked out the win. This year I will enter the tournament expecting the worst, and hopefully I will emerge successful.

Main Line Media News: What do you think is the strongest aspect of your wrestling? What aspect of your wrestling are you working on the most currently?

Victor Fink: The strongest aspect of my wrestling is at the neutral position. I have been takedown king all three years on the team, and I have won the neutral battle in all 11 matches this year. I work on my shot, and try to dominate on my feet. I have worked to be able to attack both legs, with a series of different takedowns. I also strive on shot defense, scoring a lot of points after defending an opponent’s initial shot.

Main Line Media News: What is your favorite class in school? What do you think you might like to major in at college? Will you be attending MIT, or are you considering other colleges as well? Is there a career path that particularly interests you at the present time?

Victor Fink: My favorite class in school is physics. I have taken both AP Physics Mechanics and Electromagnetism. I have always enjoyed math, but I lose interest in some of the abstract parts. Physics allowed me to take math and apply it to real world situations. What makes it enjoyable as well is that it came very easily to me, and I excel in the class. Other than MIT, the only other school I am looking at is the University of Pennsylvania. I don’t know if I will be accepted there yet, but I’m not going to make a decision until I visit MIT for a weekend later this winter. I’m going to major in engineering, but I don’t really have a specific major or career path I am committed to yet.

Victor Fink’s favorites

Book: Series titled “A Song of Ice and Fire,’ written by George R.R. Martin.

TV show: Game of Thrones.

Movie: “I don’t really have a favorite movie, but I’ve always been a big fan of both Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings. I also loved the Dark Night Batman movies.’

Pre-match pump-up song: “I don’t have a favorite pre-match pump up song. In fact I change my warm up music every match depending on how I’m feeling.’

Person I most admire: “My dad and my grandfather. I have tried to model my life after them, and I hope to turn out like them when I’m older.’

Team: Philadelphia Eagles.

Place to visit: “Florence, Italy — mostly because I love pasta.’

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