A heartfelt decision
T.F. North star wants ‘to be an Olympian,’ feels North Carolina offers best chance
T.F. North senior Sincere Bailey knew exactly what he was looking for in a college wrestling program.
He wanted to go somewhere with a coaching staff and teammates who will push him to become a national champion.
Bailey, who committed earlier this month, decided the University of North Carolinawas that place.
“I still haven’t been able to visit because of the pandemic, but I’ve been talking to the coaches a lot,” Bailey said.“We’re all on the same page as far as getting me to become a national champion.
“That’s beenmy goal ever since I started wrestling. They have a great coaching staff that can help me get there. Itwas the right place athletically and academically forme. It’s a great school.”
Bailey, who won the Class 2A state championship last season at 145 pounds, is not shy about setting big goals for himself.
“With my skills, I feel like I’m destined — or at least I have the opportunity— to be an Olympian,” he said. “I know I can go to the NCAA nationals and do big things, too.”
T.F. North coach Tim Springs believes Bailey made a smart decision with his choice.
“I felt likeNorth Carolinawas home for him,” Springs said. “Of all the schools that calledandrecruited him, I just felt like that was the best fit for him and it’s a place where he can accomplish his goals.”
Last season, Bailey showed a determination and unwillingness to back down that Springs feels will be helpful in maintaining success at the next level.
Bailey faced off five times last season against Lemont’s Kyle Schickel, a fourtime state runner-up. Bailey lost three before coming back to win the final two, including a 4-3 decision in the state final.
“He showed a lot with his attitude against Kyle Schickel,” Springs said of
Bailey. “He lost to him three times. He could have easily ran down a weight and tried to win it, but Sincere alreadyknewhe was going to win a state title.”
Sincerewas part of history asBailey and his brothers, Bilal and Nasir, became the first trio of siblings to win state titles in the same season.
“Winning on my own was a big accomplishment,” Bailey said. “I had to push through a lot to get there. But doing it with my brothers was the most special thing.
“Being able to talk to my brothers and my dad and go through things with them helped me so much. It was bigger for me last season than any year before.”
Sincere will have one of his brothers nearby when he heads off to college.
Bilal is now a freshman wrestler at Campbell, about an hour from North Carolina. Bilal originally signed with Old Dominion before that school dropped its
wrestling program in April.
In the meantime, Springs is focused on helping Sincere get the most out of his final high school season.
“I just want him to take it to the next level,” Springs said. “Last year, he had some close matches. Now, I don’t think anyone in high school should be able to hang with him. He can go out there and dominate.”
Bailey wants to diversify his offensive attack.
“I want to keep working on my wrestling,” he said. “In high school, I can do one of my signature moves and know it’s going towork.
“In college, if they stopthat, I’m going to need more moves and more options. I want to keep working on that so I’ll be ready.”