Sag: What about wrestling first really caught your interest?

Finkle: It’s kind of an individual sport, but you’re still wrestling for a team. You want your team to do well, but you don’t have to rely on others, it’s all on you, and you don’t need that much equipment; it’s just you and the other guy on the mat, trying to win.

Sag: Can you describe a time when you felt proud?

Finkle: My first ever match I was actually down 12 to 7 with about 10 seconds left, and I pinned the guy and won, and in that moment I was so happy. I thought to myself, “I’m going to be the best wrestler ever,” and then I completely sucked the rest of the season.

Sag: How has wrestling affected your life both positively and negatively?

Finkle: Negatively, when it comes to losing weight that can be a problem because I really like food, and it’s just hard eating less for me. Positively, this is going to sound cliche, but hard work builds confidence. It just teaches you to never give up and work hard for what you want and reach your goals.

Sag: Before a match what do you feel?

Finkle: Usually I feel pretty nervous, but I try not to let my opponent get in my head, whether if they’re a freshman and I think, “Oh, I’m going to win,” or if they’re like a ranked wrestler, top in the state, I try not to let them get in my head. It’s just another match, I try to go in there and do my best.

Sag: How do you envision this sport impacting your future?

Finkle: I think that because of wrestling I have a better work ethic. It’s easily one of the hardest things, if not the hardest thing, I have ever done. It teaches you to work hard, to fight for what you want and to not give up. It makes you more confident in everything you do in life. A great wrestler, Dan Gable, once said, “Once you’ve wrestled everything else in life is easy.”