Baylor's Simon Holden chooses Wake Forest

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo Simon Holden

Patience eventually paid off in a big way for Baylor School senior Simon Holden.

He will sign scholarship papers this evening to continue his track and cross country career at Wake Forest, an Atlantic Coast Conference school in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Holden was a two-time Times Free Press runner of the year. In 2012, he won eight of his nine cross country races and finished fourth in the Tennessee Classic. He won the Division II-AA state championship after placing second as a junior, and he qualified for the Foot Locker Nationals and placed 37th with a time of 16:16 after winning the junior race in 2011.

He ultimately chose the Demon Deacons over Furman, taking a trip in which he visited both of those schools back to back.

"When I got to Wake Forest, I really liked the coach," Holden said. "He's nice, easy to get along with and an awesome guy. Once I got on campus, I realized it was just an awesome school."

He said that even as others made their college choices earlier in the process, he was glad he waited.

"Everybody talks about it being a huge weight off of your shoulders, but I'm glad I was patient," Holden said. "I had been in talks with Wake Forest, but things really ramped up after the [Foot Locker].

"I'm glad I took my time, because you're making a decision for the next four years and I wanted to make sure I enjoyed wherever I was going to go."