Sports
New Path Taking Guidice to Maryland Wrestling Program
After the Hillsborough senior's first choice dropped its program, state medalist will join the Terrapins next year.
If you believe everything happens for a reason, you'll believe that TJ Guidice will be alright.
The Hillsborough High School senior wrestler, who finished fifth in the state at the 140-pound weight class, committed to UNC-Greensboro and was all set to wrestle and go to school in Greensboro, N.C., in the fall.
But then disaster struck for Guidice and the rest of the wrestlers, both committed and competing at UNCG. The athletic department dropped wrestling from its sports lineup for 2011-12.
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"It was awful," Guidice said of when he found out UNCG had dropped the program. "It came out of nowhere, I couldn't believe it."
Guidice de-committed from the school and decided to find a new path. That path took him to the University of Maryland, which had not had much interest in him in the initial search, but revved up the interest when he became available after UNCG dropped wrestling.
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"They started calling and emailing a lot," Guidice said. "It's always been my dream to wrestle Division I."
The Terrapins are certainly no slouch on the mat. Maryland won the ACC Championship in 2011 and has been the ACC champion three of the last four years. Maryland finished 18th as a team at nationals in Philadelphia.
"For wrestling, you can't do much better," Guidice said.
Guidice also has been told that the 141-pound weight class is open for competition, so he may have the opportunity to compete right away.
"It's wide open," Guidice said.
On top of all that, Guidice's life goal is to be the head of the CIA. He figures that there are few with a location better than College Park, Md., which is just 10 miles outside of Washington, D.C.
"I'm just kind of going along for the ride," Guidice said. "I believe everything happens for a reason."
But that is all for next year. In the interim, Guidice is still trying–and succeeding at–finishing his high school career. He's about to make honor roll for the fourth straight marking period, and trying to enjoy the last few weeks of high school.
"I'm having fun," Guidice said. "I'm just doing what seniors do."
