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McGillivray's Third State Title Delights His Young Fans
There’s no word yet if the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is full of Fauquier High wrestling fans, or if this was mere coincidence.
“Smile Pinky” won an Oscar for Best Short Documentary on Sunday, only 24 hours after Fauquier’s Daniel “Pinky” McGillivray flashed a broad smile at Oscar Smith High School upon winning a championship at the Group AAA state tournament.
All that’s certain is McGillivray gave the better celebration. Upon beating Stone Bridge’s Daniel Fissmer, 1-0, in the 160-pound final, McGillivray turned to the section of Fauquier High fans in the stands and held up his arms with only pinky fingers extended.
That was a nod, in particular, to McGillivray’s young fans, members of the Fauquier youth wresting program who have taken to calling the senior “Pinky” since he dyed his hair pink near the end of the regular season. Some of those youngsters traveled to Chesapeake to watch McGillivray and the Falcons at state.
“They came here yesterday and they did a little cheer for me and they stuck their pinkie up and said, ‘Pinky, Pinky,’” McGillivray said Saturday, day two of the tournament. “You see a lot of them running around here. They’ll come up to me and give me high-fives and stuff…A lot of them look up to me like that.”
That bond developed because, twice a week this season, McGillivray would stay in the wrestling room after Fauquier High practice to help coach the youth wrestlers.
“He loves it,” Fauquier coach Bryan Hurst said. “He’s incredible with kids.”
McGillivray was less than incredible in the state final, relative to most of his matches this season. The Fauquier senior wrestled in few matches as close as Saturday’s en route to a 55-9 record this season...
See the Wednesday print edition of the Fauquier Times-Democrat for the complete story.
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