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Celebration For Dave Fink Set For Wednesday Evening
Who doesn’t know, like and admire “Trapper” Dave Fink? No one, that’s who.
Fink, just a shade shy of 49 years old, has been a fixture in and near Powell for decades, but beyond that, his influence has spread far and wide to other coaches, officials, fans and countless others — all of whom hold Trapper Dave in high regard and great affection.
When the Sheridan Generals come to call on the Trapper basketball teams on Wednesday, Cabre Gym will host a celebration of everything Dave at halftime of the men’s game, which starts at 7:30 p.m.
A scholarship in Fink’s name has been established, for which funds are being raised now. The hope is to eventually gain enough financial support to offer two scholarships to freshmen student-athletes, one man and one woman, to be used during their sophomore years.
For the time being, though, it’s one scholarship that will be awarded later this year.
What’s happening in the immediate future is Wednesday’s Trapper Dave pep rally at halftime.
Fink was an athletic manager years before he completed high school in 1990, working in those days as a student assistant to former Powell High School basketball coach Ron Laird primarily, but others, too.
“Dave has a great personality and such a positive outlook on life,” said Laird, who now leads the Wyoming High School Activities Association. “He always greeted me every night” from mid-court at basketball practice.
Chuckling, Laird recalled one evening when Fink looked up at the banners in the PHS gym and, right out of the blue said, “You know, coach, I think we need a Dave Fink banner.”
“Our players were so good to him all the time … and he was so good to them,” Laird said. The players “always made sure Dave was taken care of,” he said. “I think our kids learned a lot from him as well. There’s not a tournament I’m in charge of [at the WHSAA] that somebody doesn’t walk up and tell me, ‘Dave said to say hello to Coach Laird.’”
“He’s been the Powell community and obviously the community has taken good care of him as well,” Laird said.
Fink transitioned from high school to Northwest College, where he has been employed the past three decades. His athletic manager expertise naturally carried over to the Trappers, where he remains a valued and beloved member of the sports staff to this day.
Fink said he started his NWC career helping “Coach Rock” — legendary NWC men’s basketball coach Ken Rochlitz — with basketballs and water during games. Fink has been steadfast in his support of both the men and women of Trapper basketball from day one.
It couldn’t be more apparent that Fink and Rochlitz held each other in highest regard during their many years together courtside and since the coach’s retirement.
“Obviously,” said Rochlitz, “Dave is one of a kind for sure.”
“The thing I admired most about Dave,” the coach added, “is he never had a bad day. He always had the big smile on his face. Always raised everybody up.”
Even hard cases find it impossible to maintain a surly attitude in the face of Fink’s unwavering optimism.
“The kids who came in [new to campus] who didn’t know him kind of treaded lightly” at first, but inevitably Fink “took everybody in. Nobody ever said a bad word about Dave,” Rochlitz said. “He was probably the most popular person on campus.”
“We could all learn a lot from Dave; how he handles life and his friendships. I think we’ve all been honored to know him,” said Rochlitz. “The community helped raise him, but he was also the glue in the community. Just a class act.”
Speaking last Saturday in a quiet corner of Cabre Gym while the Trapper men and women battled tooth and nail against the Thunderbirds of Casper College, Gerry Fink described what is not an untypical day for her and her son.
“We’ve been watching basketball games since 11:30 this morning,” she said with a smile.
Gerry said her son works from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in food service at the college “and he’s never late.” Only on the most miserable days will he bum a ride; otherwise he walks or rides his bike.
Asked what Northwest College has meant in her son’s life these past 30 years, she answered without a moment’s hesitation, “It is his life.”
It isn’t just the Trappers who receive Fink’s undying loyalty, either. It’s every team in every sport at every level: Little League ball, middle school hoops, JV and varsity. Fink is deeply interested and invested in them all — and don’t even get him started on the Denver Broncos or you’ll be there all day.
Fink is also a huge fan of Chris Boucher, a current player for the NBA Toronto Raptors who Dave “coached” as a Trapper. Boucher was named National Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Year when he was at Northwest.
Scott Mangold, the voice of the Panthers and public address announcer for Trapper basketball since the 1980s, has a deep appreciation for his friend.
At the beginning of their relationship, Mangold said, “he got everybody’s name wrong but me,” most likely because of Mangold’s radio presence.
Names are no longer a problem for Trapper Dave, who calls everyone by their name — with the volume cranked up.
Fink would show up to work as Mangold’s assistant when the pair coached local youth teams. Back those many decades ago, Mangold got into the habit of saying “hello” to Fink during his broadcasts of away games. He still gives a “Hello, Dave” during each and every Panther road game.
“Now,” Mangold noted, “coaches are doing it,” saying hello to Dave during their post-game radio interviews. All the football coaches are on the bandwagon, as is Chase Kistler, coach of Panther boys’ hoops.
“Officials and coaches have to stop and talk to Dave” routinely, Mangold said. “Students really like him, and Dave looks up” to them in return.
Asked if he’s ever known his friend to have a bad day, Mangold grinned and answered, “Nothing that can’t be fixed with a hot dog.”
As for what keeps him resolutely marching on, year after year, Fink says that “people are nice at work and I like the kids.”
“Kids have fun with Dave around here,” he added, punctuating the statement with his signature wide-eyed, unguarded, illuminating smile.
They do indeed — just like everybody else who has been privileged to know this remarkable man.
Of Wednesday’s event to honor her son, “I think they’ll get a crowd,” Gerry said, with a twinkle in her eye.