Michigan football's Mike Sainristil hoped for 1st round NFL draft pick. Then he waited.
On Friday, for the second night in a row, 23-year-old Mike Sainristil, sat in the middle of a long sofa that faced a pair of giant television screens and waited. Dozens of family members and friends — his parents, his siblings, his girlfriend, cousins, neighbors from back home in Everett, Massachusetts, a guy from his old Pop Warner league ― surrounded him, waiting, too, wanting to be part of his big moment.
The clock ticked, teams chose their players and Sainristil, his face partly shielded by sunglasses, looked straight ahead at the TV.
That Sainristil, a defensive back for the national championship Michigan football team and two-time team captain would be drafted into the NFL along with more than 200 other hopefuls was a certainty. The question was when he might be selected. Even though most analysts predicted he'd be chosen in the second round of the draft on Friday, he'd thought he could go during Thursday's first round. "As a competitor, it's the mindset, of 'I'm better than everyone that got chosen before me," he said later, though he added, "at the end of the day, those guys earned the right to be where they are just like myself."
He'd arrived at that night's watch party at a downtown Ann Arbor loft dressed in a light blue custom tuxedo, its lining printed with his personal logo ― the initials M.S. with a snowflake because his nickname is Frozone, after the ice-generating super hero from "The Incredibles."
He did right by his nickname, he stayed calm and cool and said all the right things. He said he was excited and eager to start working with a new team, wherever it might be. (His mom was hoping for a team in a warm climate, though she admitted "God has control of everything.") He said he was well-prepared. He said he was intent on being a good father — he and his girlfriend, Seliana Carvalho, are expecting a baby this summer. (They held a gender reveal on the 50 yard line at the Big House. It's a girl!)
As Thursday evening wore on, Sainristil sat on the big couch so he'd be ready if one of the teams called.
He waited, he held his girlfriend's hand. His mother put her arm around him. The call never came.
Afterward, he readied a birthday cake, a surprise for his father, Carlot Sainristil, who recently turned 60.
Something special
Sainristil has waited for football before.
His parents said no the first time he asked their permission to play the game. "We didn't have that sport in Haiti," his mother, Raymonde Sainristil said. The family fled their native Haiti in 2000 when Mike (pronounced Mikey), the middle of their three children, was 7 months old; the country's government changed and Sainristil's father, who hosted a political affairs radio program was receiving death threats. "We didn't even understand the game. To me, it was a tough game for Mike to play.. ... He was just 6, going to 7. ... He was tiny at the time."
Sainristil asked again a year later, getting a cousin to explain that football players wear pads so they don't get hurt.
His parents agreed to let him play.
They had no expectations, why would they? But then, early in his Pop Warner career, Sainristil ran 90 yards for a touchdown. Suddenly, it was clear that when it came to football, their son had someting special.
Hard work and discipline only made Sainristil more special on the football field. He earned All-American honors at the University of Michigan. And in the national championship game against the University of Washington, his 81-yard interception return set the Wolverines up for a 34-13 win.
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"We’ve been dreaming, dreaming, dreaming for like 16 years and now, we just want to see the dream come true," Sainristil's father said. "Mike been playing football for 16 years and the goal for us is to see him one day make it to the professional level.”
His sister, 21-year-old Aisha Sainristil: "This is a moment that's a long time coming. ... I"m happy, I'm fighting back tears to be honest.'
His brother, 28-year-old Raymond Sainristil: "This is a moment we've all been praying for."
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His mother, Raymonde Sainristil: “I was listeing to him on phone earlier. Somebody asked him how you feel. He said, 'I did everything I need to do. … I don’t have to panic. There is nothing that can bother me.' "
Those who know Sainristil say he is confident, a natural leader and a good friend. "He's always going to try to put people before him," said Jason Maitre, his best friend from Everett and a defensive back at the University of Wisconsin who is expected to be chosen in a late round of the draft. When Maitr mentioned how expensive flights for a quick trip to Ann Arbor to see the watch party were, Sainristil gave him frequent flier miles to pay for the airfare. When Sainristil organized a summer football camp for kids in his hometown, he felt strongly about it being free of charge. His siblings said he remembered times when their family didn't have money for extras and he didn't want others to miss out.
On Friday, Sainristil arrived back at the Ann Arbor loft for the second day of his watch party. Instead of a bespoke tuxedo, he wore linen trousers and a white T-shirt, a short, tweedy jacket, and sneakers. And the sunglasses. The outfit was fashionable, although not as special ― not as custom ― as the one from the night before.
He stared at the TV screen, stoically, as teams made their second round choices, chosing defensive backs from Iowa, Alabama, Georgia and Rutgers.
Then, finally, a little after 8:20 p.m., a call from Adam Peters, general manager of the Washington Commanders.
"I'm going to Washington," Sainristil told the crowd and everyone cheered.
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A family friend rushed him, nearly pulling him off of the couch in an embrace. Sainristil kissed his girlfriend. He hugged his mother. He hugged his father. He hugged his brother. His mother hugged his agent. "Bless the Lord, bless the Lord!" the family friend shouted over and over.
Somewhere during the excitement, Sainristil had taken off his glasses.
The crowd quieted to hear his name announced on the television. Mike Sainristil, the 50th choice in the 2024 NFL draft, the 18th choice of the second round.
Then the celebration started over.
There would be no more waiting.
Contact Georgea Kovanis: gkovanis@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Mike Sainristil had to wait for 2nd round NFL draft pick by Washington
