8 - The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - Monday, February 7, 1994 HARPER Continued from page 1 are also consulting actuaries who consult companies on how to handle the benefits that they offer their employees." To gain experience in the field, Harper became part of a program called "Mentors for Michigan Athletes," where he works closely with a consulting actuary in the Ann Arbor area named Dan Peterson. "He's one of the nicest people I've ever met," said Harper of his mentor. "For a person to sign up for something like that is amazing. He had no idea who I was, and I had no idea who he was. He just signed up for this, willing to help a Michigan athlete." Peterson, likewise, had nothing but praise for Harper. "I've been very impressed with him," he said. "There's a lot of opportunity in the actuary field, but it's something that you really have to work at, but he knows that and is committed to it." As if he didn't have enough to do with wrestling, academics, and the mentorship program, Harper is also involved in the Undergraduate 'M' Club, which works to help student athletes. Bahr's favorite story reflects Brian's attitude toward college. "He said to me, 'You know, Coach, I look at going to college as like walking down a hallway with a lot of doors on each side. A student can walk right down that hallway and never be involved in anything, and get out at the other end with their degree. Then there can be the student who walks down the hallway and opens every door, who samples this, gets involved in that, and meets a lot of people,' and he said, 'Coach that's the person I want to be, and that's what I wanted to do while I was at Michigan."' Harper's work ethic and determination have always been part of his personality. . He grew up in the small town of Burlington, Wash., about 15 minutes from the Pacific Ocean and a hour from Seattle. According to his father, . KIWANIS SALE * KIWANIS SALE * KIWANIS SALE * KIWANIS LU -J z -J U) -J CI? U) z 0 W -J U) U) z Q C) z The A Kiwit 's Here... (P) m Z r-- m 0 z m 0 Jim, when Brian was younger "he worked down in the valley and did twice the work that the older boys did." He is the youngest of three sons, but according to his mother, Barbara, the three always got along. "They joked around, but they never took each other very seriously," she said. "They've always been very supportive of each other." The Harper family also has a very strong athletic background. Jim was a state wrestling champion as well as captain of the state champion football team in high school. Brian's oldest brother Bill was a wide receiver at Washington State, and his other brother Barry played junior college football. Not to be left out, Brian also played football in high school. He was a three-time football letterwinner, playing both middle linebacker and fullback. The football story that says the most about Harper is the one from his senior year. "We were ranked second in the country, and were just tough as could be," he said. "But the first game of the playoffs, we were upset by a team that ended up walking through and winning it all. "We were up 21-0 at halftime and they ended up winning the game by two - after a two-point conversion." It is the last part of the story that speaks volumes about the competitive side of Brian Harper. Five years after the fact he tells the story in a tone of voice that leads one to believe that he is still upset over what happened. While he played on some great football teams in high school, it was wrestling at which he really excelled. He was state champion his sophomore year and compiled a record of 105-11 in four years as a varsity wrestler at Burlington- Edison High School. The fact that he was a standout at two sports left Harper with a decision to make when it came time for college, but he says that it wasn't a very tough decision. "I love football, but I'm a little small," he said. "I was in the position where I could wrestle Division I, but I couldn't play football Division I." During Harper's senior year at Burlington-Edison, Bahr received a videotape from Harper's high school coach Jack McTaggert. The tape was a video of Harper beating another Wolverine recruit, Joey Gilbert, at the Junior National Championships. "We thought, 'Hey, this kid looks pretty tough,' so we invited him in for a visit," Bahr said. Harper's visit to Michigan, however, began on a somber note. The weekend he came to Ann Arbor, Bahr's father-in-law passed away. As a result, Bahr wasn't in town when Harper made his trip. That didn't have an effect on Harper, though. "I had heard a lot of good things about coach Bahr - all positive things," he said. "Plus the combination of (Michigan's) academic reputation, and it's one of the top wrestling programs in the country. I would have been dumb to pass it up." So Harper decided to come to Michigan. He was redshirted his freshman year, but has started, and steadily improved every year since. Last season, he compiled a 31-14 overall record and was 11-5 in dual meets. He finished third at the Big Ten Championships and qualified for the NCAA Championships. This year, his climb to the top has continued. He has a record of 23-4 overall and is 11-1 in dual meets. Harper became only the 12th wrestler in Michigan history to win 100 matches when he defeated Ohio State's Charlie Becks Friday night. It was a major accomplishment, the importance of which wasn't lost0 on Harper. "I didn't really think that much about it coming into the match," he said. "But after I got it, and they announced it - it felt great. It was a much better feeling than I expected." Harper finished last season ranked No. 10 in the country and has climbed higher in the rankings this season. "I hope to live up to those expectations, that's my goal," said Harper about his ranking. "Of course I'd like to do better, but I at least want to prove that I'm the third-best wrestler in the country." Harper's teammates say that it is his strong work ethic that makes him such a great leader. "He's someone to really look up to," redshirt freshman Andy Behm@ said. "He works so hard, and puts so much into it - he's an inspiration to everyone." Bormet, the other captain of this year's squad, agrees. "One of the biggest things about Brian is his work ethic," he said. "He's one of those math majors who does everything by the rules." "He leads by example," redshirt. sophomore Jesse Rawls Jr. said. "When you see Harper working hard, you have to work hard - and he's always working hard." Harper's success has come as a bit of a surprise to the coaching staff. "He has exceeded my expectations," Bahr said. "Primarily because his personality and work ethic have made him that way." Brian Harper can be best 0 described as the All-American kid. He came from a small town, worked hard and made it to the top of his chosen sport. He's a dedicated student, has a promising career ahead of him, and is getting married this summer. "It sounds like a dream come true," said Bahr. "Everyone would like to have their dreams come true>4 but you have to make your dreams come true, and I think that is where Brian excels." With his success this season, and the Olympics coming up in 1996, one has to wonder if Harper will take a shot at a trip to Atlanta. He says no. "I've devoted enough time in my life to the sport," he said. "I'll be ready to get on with a somewhat normal life, and devote as much energy and time as I can toward my career." Seeing how far that hard work has taken him already, there's no doubt it will take him even further in the future. 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