The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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TRACKING THE PACK NC State junior gymnast Rachel Fin- GETTING TO KNOW ■ Rachel Fincham, Gymnastics cham finished 20th in the bars at the NCAA Championships in April, having earlier won the regional meet in that same event. Fincham scored a 9.9 at the NCAA Raleigh Regional, and then followed it up with a 9.825 at the NCAA Championships April 20. She earned first-team All-EAGL in the bars and second-team all-league on the beam. She also was named to the EAGL All-Academic team for the third straight year. The Gambrills, Md., product, who is majoring in nutrition, recently took some time to talk with The Wolfpacker and an- swer some questions. What was it like to compete at the NCAA Championships on the bars? "It was a great experience. It was definitely a moti- vating force for next year. As great as it was to be there, it was probably less than half as great as if being there with the whole team. I'm sure everyone felt the same way with everyone wanting to be there with me. We are a very connected team." What was your reaction to finishing 20th on the bars? "To be honest, my original reaction is that I didn't Quick Questions Favorite place to eat in Gambrills, Md.? Atlanta Bread Company or Chipotle. Who would you like to see in concert? Luke Bryan. Favorite actor or actress? Actor is Will Smith, and actress is Jennifer Aniston. Where would you have gone to college if it wasn't NC State? Either Maryland or Florida. Favorite athlete to watch while at NC Fincham earned first-team All-EAGL honors on the bars and then capped her season by finish- ing 20th in the event at the NCAA Championships. know what place I finished in. I knew there was some things in my routine that weren't as good as regionals per se, so it wasn't my best one. I knew there was stuff I could improve. A few weeks after, I had people tell me I finished 20th. That excites me because I could have done better on my routine and I still finished 20th in the nation." hitting all the hand stands and the form, so the people that are watching that don't know about gymnastics don't really see, but the judges look for. Just the little fine-tuning things." What would you have done differently? "The skills were fine, it was just the little things like PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS up there with winning regionals. The hardest part of be- ing a student-athlete is balancing being a student with being an athlete. We practice so many hours, and it's hard to just go home and go to sleep. You have to do your homework to the best of your ability. Our coach is always pushing us to get good grades." biggest achievements for you? "Definitely it is. That was a shock when they called Was winning at the NCAA regional one of the State? I don't know if there is one particular athlete, but I enjoy watching football and soccer. I know some of those players. It's nice to see them do well. What is something not all your team- mates would know about you? That's pretty hard, but probably a little thing like one of my biggest pet peeves is when people chew with their mouths open. Favorite class at NC State? Anatomy and physiology. Toughest part about your sport? The men- tal games. It's physical in the form of injuries, but constantly a mental component. You are either afraid of it or you forget how to do it. It's always mental. What is the best part of the summer for recent movie, but I saw "Step Brothers" and that movie is always funny. you? The freedom and the sun with no classes. Last good movie you watched? It's not a 14 ■ THE WOLFPACKER my name. You work really hard to do things like that, and you work hard to get the team far. In each event, you work hard to perfect your routine to make the team better. When it is recognized by winning at re- gionals with the top teams in the country, it's some- thing to take pride in. It was just so exciting." two seniors next year. We really want to be good lead- ers. We want to be tough on the incoming freshmen in the form of motivation. We know what it's like to lose and to win, and how it is to come into new situations and work to get into the lineup. "For me personally, I just want to keep moving in the What are your goals next year in gymnastics? "My roommate, Morgan Johnson, and I are the only but I wasn't sure which one. I settled on nutrition because to be honest it was one less calculus and biol- ogy. I want to go into a medical field like occupational therapy or physical therapy. As long as I have a science undergrad, it fills out all the requirements to go to graduate school." and work with kids that have learning disabilities, au- tism or Down syndrome. I want to help them learn how to use their social disadvantages to become ad- vantages." What are your long-term career goals? "I want to eventually be an occupational therapist direction we are moving and not let losing our seniors stop us. For the bars and beam, I want to keep improv- ing, even though it's my senior year." What pride do you have about being a three- time EAGL All-Academic honoree? "It's definitely a big thing for me to take pride in, and of my friends have dogs, and I love going to Lake John- son and running around with my dog. I got him from the pound and he's a mix between German shepherd, boxer and a retriever. I love reading and hanging out with my friends. I'm also a strong Christian and want to go to church every Sunday and try to stay grounded in my faith." What do you like to do for fun? "I have a dog, Max, and he's pretty much my life. All I know. She has taught me how to have passion for things and be determined." Who inspires you? "My mom, Linda Fincham. She's the strongest woman — Jacey Zembal How did you settle on majoring in nutrition? "I came in wanting to major in some kind of science,