Getting To Know Your December
ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
By Debora Timms
UPTON BAILEY
Sport(s): Football, Basketball, Track and Soccer
School: Petersburg High School
Class Of: 2020
GPA: 3.0
Family: Father- Upton Bailey
Brother- Huckeeve Bailey; Sister- Sasha Bailey
Hometown: Kingston, Jamaica
Current City: Petersburg
Athletic Accomplishments:
- 2nd Team on Conference – Freshman year
- 1st Team on Conference – Sophomore and Junior years
Favorites:
Color – Blue Food – Any kind of Jamaican food
Movie – Remember the Titans School Subject – Math
Football Team – Pittsburgh Steelers Basketball Team – Miami Heat
Personal Motto: “Great treasure is only real when you are true to yourself.”
Do you plan to attend college after high school?
Yes, I’m looking at ECU (East Carolina University).
Why do you want to go to ECU?
I went to a football camp there and one of my friends was showing me around, so I was like “This is the school I want to go to.”
Are you planning to play football or basketball there?
I’m planning to play football.
What do you plan to study there?
Sports medicine
What position do you play?
For football, I play running back. In basketball, I play small forward.
How long have you been playing football? Why did you start playing?
For football, I’ve been playing for like eight or nine years. I played football because of my brother.
Is that how you got into basketball as well?
No. I’ve been playing basketball for six years. I decided to try out for the basketball team because all my friends were there.
Which sport is your favorite?
Football
What do you like about it?
The contact
What has been your proudest moment, your best moment on the field?
Scoring touchdowns
Tell me about the best touchdown you’ve scored.
I caught the ball off of a punt. I think I was on the five-yard line.
What has been the biggest challenge about playing football?
Just keeping focus
What does a typical week in football season look like for you? How often do you train?
In football season, I work out Mondays through Saturdays and on Sundays I get to rest. I work out during school, and then after school I have practice.
You are a member of the Athletic Leadership Council. What does that involve?
It’s basically for doing community service.
What kind of community service have you been involved in?
Work for the city with the Parks and Rec department, doing work with summer camps and after school camps.
What are you grateful for?
I’m grateful for my family.
Who or what inspires you?
My mom [Novelette] inspires me. Growing up, she never gave up on anything.
What is your career goal?
My career goal is to play in the NFL.
What advice would you give to other young people?
Stay true to yourself.
