Owen Harshbarger '22 Recruiting Profile

I was able to start wrestling when I was in 6th-grade for the Federation team, "Vienna Firebirds." I spent two seasons wrestling in the federation when I was introduced to CAWL wrestling. After my second federation season, I wrestled at the Virginia States and won all of my matches until my arm was dislocated.  During my recovery, I met the Bandits, coached by David Manville. There, I started to learn how to wrestle Freestyle and Greco-Roman. The first season of Freestyle and Greco was the hardest season I've ever been through, even to this day.  I looked for as many exhibition matches as I could to improve and in spite of it all, I lost my first 200 matches. I love wrestling, win or lose.  It turned out, this challenging time was the turning point for my wrestling career. I started winning.

Coach Manville motivated and coached me while he introduced me to many new techniques, chain wrestling, and how to think like a wrestler. The Bandits practiced at Robinson Secondary School and I met the High School head coach.  He invited me to practice with the Varsity wrestlers. I was Practicing with the Bandits and the Robinson Varsity team. I wrestled anyone at any time.  I looked for the kids that destroyed me last year to gauge my progress.  I gave them a good do and some of them I even beat.

My family met some tough times and so we moved to the Westfield High School school district.  I wrestled Varsity for Westfield at 138# and when my team needed me, I then finished up the season at 145#.  It was tough to wrestle up but I did well at 145# and took 3rd place at Districts and 6th place Regionals.  I then competed in the Virginia All-State and took 3rd place for Freshman and 3rd for the 18 and under.  Today, I finished my Freshman year of High School with a GPA of 3.5.  I am still practicing almost every day and competing almost every weekend.  I won 2nd place in the Virginia Greco-Roman and 2nd place in Freestyle.  I am getting better and better. Maybe, I will win a State place for my high school. I think it's possible.