(Editor's Note: Fred Agpar is Director of Physical Education, Athletics and Medical Services at The Wheatley School.)

After six seasons of competing at the varsity level and having

established himself as one of the finest tennis players to represent our school, Scott Fink will be graduating from The Wheatley School this month. Fink, a recruited tennis player, will be playing collegiate tennis next year at the University of Maryland. During his six years of varsity competition, Fink has played first singles, earning the distinction of being the team's best player.

As a junior, Fink went undefeated during the regular season. He qualified to compete in the New York State Tennis Championships and defeated his first four opponents to advance to the Singles Championship in which he lost a hard fought battle to a representative from Westchester County. In recognition of the sportsmanlike manner in which Fink represented Wheatley during the State Championships and, for the humility he displayed during victory and his graciousness in defeat, he received the Sportsmanship Award. This award was presented by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. The sportsmanship program was initiated several years ago to promote the ideals of good sportsmanship. It is awarded to selected teams and individuals that distinguish themselves during NYS championship tournaments.

This year, in his last season as a member of the Wheatley Varsity Tennis Team, Fink lost only one match. In a rematch of an early-season victory over James Won, a highly ranked player from Syosset High School, Fink suffered his only defeat of the season. As the Nassau County Tennis playoffs began, Fink was seeded number one in the singles competition and easily defeated his opponents in the early rounds to advance to the semi-finals. He became the favorite to win the Nassau County singles championship, but fate, in the form of Mother Nature, intervened. Inclement weather forced the postponement of the semi-final and final rounds of competition, and they were re-scheduled to the same day as the Wheatley Senior Prom. Fink, honoring a commitment he made, opted to forgo the playoffs and attend the prom to celebrate his high school years with his friends and classmates.

Fink started to play tennis when he was 4 years old. He trained at several Long Island tennis facilities and his father, Elliot, has served as his primary instructor over the years. Fink competes in tennis tournaments all over the country and is currently ranked third in the 18 year and under category in the east and is among the top 75 players across the country, rankings which are determined by the United States Tennis Association.

In addition to being an outstanding tennis player, Fink is a wonderful young man who possesses maturity and poise. The Sportsmanship Award he won during his junior year is a testament to his ability to keep the purpose of competitive athletics in its proper perspective. The Wheatley Athletic Department congratulates Scott Fink on his outstanding tennis career and for the recognition he so richly deserved.