For the third time and final time of his wrestling career Quinn Bailey has walked out of the CHI Health Center in Omaha with a gold medal around his neck. Winning the Class C 157 pound title by tech fall, a 23-4 score to become the most decorated wrestler from Chadron and the first wrestler wearing a Cardinals singlet to win three state wrestling championships. Capping off a 44-2 season as part of a career that included 192 wins and just 11 losses.
Bailey made his first appearance in the state tournament as a freshman in 2022. He made it to the semifinals with back to back wins of 9-0. He fell in the championship semifinals and in the consolation semifinals. He has not lost at CHI Health Center since. He wound up in fifth place that year.
On Saturday mornings in the fall one could find Bailey wandering the sidelines at a middle school football game, handing out water and supporting the future stars of Chadron High School. Just 12 hours after rushing for 245 yards, his season average, he would give back in ways that was shown to him by those playing on Friday nights when Bailey himself was a 7th/8th grade Cardinal running the hallways of Chadron Middle School. Just one of many examples examples of the humbleness, the kindness of Quinn Bailey
2023 as a sophomore Bailey entered the state tournament with a 45-2 record. Went to overtime in the first round but survived and advanced which seemed to be the theme to his first state title run. The second round saw his biggest victory in the run, an 8-3 margin to guarantee his second state medal.
The semifinal round, where he fell the year before, Bailey matched up against 47-3 Caden Eggleston from Beatrice. He survived and advanced with a 3-2 win to put the sophomore Bailey in the state title match against junior Garrett Rhine of Waverly, the youngest wrestler he had seen in the tournament. It was all survival in that match and it ended up in overtime. But instead of advancing, this time Bailey stood on top of the six man podium becoming the 22nd state champion from Chadron.
2024 his junior year he was unbeatable, literally. He went 51-0, was untouchable in the state tournament. A tech fall in the first round (15+ point margin), two straight major decisions (10+ point win) and a pin to cap up the perfect season in the state final to become the fourth two time state champion donning a Chadron singlet.
His senior season began at the toughest wrestling tournament in the country for preps. He went 1-2, the earliest out of his career. That one win happened to be against fellow Nebraskan Nikolas Rotella from Omaha Skutt Catholic. Rotella finished second in the Class B 157 pound state tournament. Bailey would not lose again after that tournament.
He rolled to the state tournament with a 40-2 record. When he got to Omaha he was staring down history. The opportunity to become the first student athlete from Chadron High School to win three state wrestling championships.
Bailey made quick work of the first round, winning 18-3 by tech fall. The first of four tech fall wins by Bailey in the tournament. The second round was a 20-3 win which guaranteed that he was a four time state medalist.
Friday night at the CHI Health Center is traditionally the largest crowd of any NSAA sanctioned event of the year and this time around it was no different. Over 16,000 fans packed the area for the championship semifinals and heartbreak round. The Quinn Bailey show however was quick, lasting less than five minutes, he won by tech fall 20-3 to return to the state title match for the third time in his career.
The same kid who showed up on Saturday mornings after rushing for 245 yards, his season average in football, handing middle school football players water and showing the same support he was shown as a middle schooler had a chance to become one of one.
The 157 pound finals had the first and second ranked wrestlers in all four classes. The showcase of the day and the Nebraska School Activities Association recognized it by having the weight class go first.. Bailey matched up against 44-1 James Kansteiner from Conestoga with a chance at becoming the first three time state champion in Chadron High history. Bailey made quick work and for the fourth and final time of the tournament won by tech fall 23-4, becoming the first three time state champion representing the Chadron Cardinals.
Bailey finishes his wrestling career with a 192-11 record, four medals, three state championships and the first person to win three state wrestling championships representing Chadron High School.
You just never know when the highschooler walking the sidelines handing out water during middle school football games might be the greatest athlete to walk through the halls of your school.
Quinn Bailey just let everyone know.