Three-time Delaware state champ Harp completes unexpected journey to Iowa Central
FORT DODGE, Iowa (BVM) — In life, some of the most unexpected moments end up being the most impactful. Just ask Hugo Harp, a recent graduate of Smyrna High School in Smyrna, Del. He had never expected to join the wrestling team as a freshman at Smyrna, not wanting to grapple with other boys in a singlet, but he was convinced by head wrestling coach Aaron Harris when he told him that Harp would be allowed to slam opponents in the sport.
鈥淎aron Harris found me on the football field,鈥� Harp said. 鈥淚 was basically running everybody over and he came up to me and was like, 鈥榊ou trying to wrestle?鈥� I was like 鈥楴ah.鈥� 鈥� But then he told me 鈥榊ou get to slam people and stuff.鈥� I was like 鈥榓lright bet鈥� so I was in there the next week slamming everybody so I just fell in love with it, I guess.鈥�
It was a moment that may not have seemed all too significant then, but it is one that has shaped who Harp is today. In all honesty, Harp was fortunate enough to even be able to be at Smyrna for the moment at all.
Harp faced adversity from a young age. Growing up in the foster system, where he would live in over 20 homes based on his own recollection, Harp鈥檚 life was a struggle in instability. This instability would also find a way to creep into his actions as before he was even old enough to reach high school. Harp had already been arrested a number of times, and spent three years in a juvenile detention center.
鈥淚 was raised in Wilmington,鈥� Harp said. 鈥淢y mom was affiliated with a lot of things going on in Wilmington and every weekend I would go back with her and I would get into so much trouble.鈥�
It wasn鈥檛 until after Coach Harris had heard about a freshman football player causing havoc on the field that Harp was given a form of stability and that came through Harris, who had gone through a difficult life himself according to Harp.
鈥淗e was basically like my dad,鈥� Harp said. 鈥淐oach Harris taught me to never quit in life. I always had quitted or turned back around to those influences that had me in those situations I was already in. Coach Harris always told me to never quit in life, but he never told me. He would show me. … He had taken me where he was from, showed me stuff and I understood what he was showing me just never quit.鈥�
Harp was given an outlet and a direction that his life sorely needed. Practices and workouts replaced time in the house or on the street. Athletic participation forced a focus on maintaining a qualifying GPA. Acquaintances of Harp鈥檚 past were replaced with teammates on the Smyrna wrestling team.
鈥淸Wrestling] kept me out of a lot of trouble,鈥� Harp said. 鈥淲hen I started wrestling we had practice on the weekends and on the weekdays so that would keep me from even thinking about going to Wilmington. I wanted to impress in wrestling so much. 鈥� The main thing that gave me the burst to come to practice was the team. I loved them. The team is what pushed me to come to practice.鈥�
Smyrna鈥檚 wrestling team also benefited from adding Harp. Though extremely raw when he first came in, Harp developed into a dominant force in the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association wrestling circuit. As a heavyweight, listed in the 220-pound weight class, Harp dwarfed many of his teammates and even sometimes his opponents on the mat.聽
In four years, Harp would be nothing short of incredible for the Eagles. After failing to win state his first year, Harp would win three consecutive DIAA state titles en route to helping the Eagles claim back-to-back Division I state titles his junior and senior seasons. Though he earned the awards, Harp doesn鈥檛 take credit for them. He gives all the credit to Harris.
鈥淚t felt amazing, but it felt so much more amazing because I was with Harris,鈥� Harp said. 鈥淗e was the first person ever in my life to give me my first positive influence. My first positive opportunity. By doing that with him it felt even more perfect.鈥�
His performance on the mat also helped Harp achieve something he couldn鈥檛 imagine prior to finding wrestling. With difficulties both in and around the house, Harp knew getting a college education was a longshot, but wrestling made the dream a reality.聽
鈥淭hat was never really in my mindset,鈥� Harp said. 鈥淏eing around Coach Harris he helped with that. 鈥� I鈥檓 definitely glad Coach Harris changed my mindset.鈥�
Harp received and accepted a scholarship to wrestle at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, Iowa in April. His hopes would be to grow as a wrestler at the collegiate level to be able to move onto a Division I college in the future, not bad for someone who was fresh out of a juvenile detention center entering high school.
鈥淚鈥檓 glad I鈥檓 even here,鈥� Harp said. 鈥淚 knew I could get the help I needed at Iowa Central. 鈥� It was perfect. 鈥� I鈥檓 coming back next year too. This is definitely the place to be. 鈥� After my two years here I鈥檓 definitely thinking about going DI. I鈥檝e been looking at a lot.鈥�
Though he hasn鈥檛 been there too long yet, Harp has already made an impact on his Iowa Central squad. With his fun and vibrant personality, Harp has been able to quickly become a popular wrestler in the locker room.
鈥淚鈥檝e probably spent more individual talks and time with him than anyone on the team,鈥� Iowa Central head wrestling coach Luke Moffitt said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 good with the team. He鈥檚 fun to be around. 鈥� I want to see his name on the Dean鈥檚 List. It鈥檚 about conquering the little goals. 鈥� I feel strongly he鈥檚 going to leave here winning the national title and he鈥檚 going to have offers on the table.鈥�
Moffitt also feels confident that Harp鈥檚 story won鈥檛 be a hindrance to his growth as a wrestler, it鈥檒l actually work in just the opposite way.
鈥淚t is tough,鈥� Moffitt said. 鈥淎 lot of people haven鈥檛 gone through what he鈥檚 gone through, but you never use it as a crutch. It鈥檚 a look at what I鈥檝e already bypassed, look what I鈥檝e gotten through. There鈥檚 nothing I can鈥檛 do if I put my mind to it.鈥�
Although reaching the Division I level is a high mountain for anyone to climb, it seems less formidable when it is Harp who is facing it. He has cleared many hurdles in his life up to this point, what could prevent him from clearing another one? With his wrestling season at Iowa Central scheduled to begin in the near future, Harp is out to show it鈥檚 not a person鈥檚 past that defines them, but rather what they bring now. Though he may not have been too fond of the idea of wrestling when it was first brought up to him, Harp is happy to have found it.
