Lady Knights junior captures state women’s championship
Kernersville – Nobody stood a chance.
Aynsley Fink mowed down three competitors Saturday at the N.C. High School Athletic Association Women’s Invitational, capturing the 106-pound state title with three decisive pinfall victories. It was vindication for Fink, who fell in the finals of the tournament last year.
“After realizing that this sport could be something that I could truly excel at, I dedicated more time to the technical side of the sport,” Fink said. “I learned the different moves in wrestling and I also spent a ton of time in the offseason – and during the season – in the room wrestling with my drilling partner, Luke Wilson.
“I also want to give a huge shout out to coach Wren Millsaps, who convinced me that I needed to get stronger. I’ve spent the last two months working out at 6 a.m. with him. I’ve tried to improve every facet of my wrestling ability.”
Fink (33-4, 22-2 this season) was the top seed in her bracket, receiving a first-round bye as a result. She then toppled Clayton’s Ty Curry (15-9) with 10 seconds remaining in the first period of the quarterfinals, South Brunswick’s Lilly Prendergast (15-4) with 46 seconds left in the second period and reached the mountaintop by downing Jack Britt’s Diandra Tejada (15-4) with 20 seconds on the clock in the second period.
But even though Fink swiftly conquered the women’s competition, she’s not through yet.
Men’s invitational
Aynsley will step up her game – literally – by competing in the 113-pound bracket Saturday at the 1A men’s invitational, which will also be held at Glenn High School. Joining her from Robbinsville will be Wilson (106), Jayden Nowell (126), Kage Williams (182), Kyle Fink (195), Ben Wachacha (220) and Carlos Wesley (285).
Kyle, who will be defending the 195-pound title he won last year, could join Aynsley as the only set of twins to ever win both a women’s and men’s state championship in the same season.
The duo already has the distinction of being the first to win separate, individual state championships as siblings.
“I’m excited to wrestle on the men’s side of the bracket,” Aynsley said. “I think anytime that I can get on the mat with someone that is not from my school is an opportunity for me to get better.
“I have some lofty goals that I am trying to pursue. I’m going to use this opportunity to try and achieve those. I know that it is a tough road in front of me, but all I want to do is go out there and compete to the best of my ability, and try to represent ‘The ‘Ville’ the best I can.”