Howard Harris (wrestler)
Encyclopedia
| Oregon State Beavers | |
| DOB | February 9, 1958 |
| Hometown | Salem, Oregon Salem, Oregon Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood... |
| Weight Class | 190 ('77-'79) & Heavyweight ('80) |
| Education | |
| High School | McNary High School McNary High School McNary High School is a public high school located in Keizer, Oregon, United States. It is named for Charles L. McNary, a U.S. Senator who was from the Keizer area.-Academics:... |
| College | Oregon State University Oregon State University Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the... |
| Awards and Highlights | |
| 1980 National Champion, Heavyweight 1980 NCAA Tournament Outstanding Wrestler 1980 Manuel Gorrarian Award 4 x NCAA All-American 3 x PAC-10 Champion 1976 OSAA AAA Wrestling Champion, 191 lbs. 1997 Oregon State Hall of Fame Inductee |
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Howard Harris (born February 9, 1958) is a former All-American wrestler at Oregon State University
Oregon State Beavers wrestling
The Oregon State Beavers wrestling program was established in 1909, competing in collegiate wrestling across 92 seasons since then. Traditionally a national powerhouse, the Beavers won the Amateur Athletic Union national championship in 1926 and have won their conference championship 47 times...
who won the 1980 NCAA wrestling heavyweight championship and was named the outstanding wrestler of the tournament.
High School
Harris attended McNary High SchoolMcNary High School
McNary High School is a public high school located in Keizer, Oregon, United States. It is named for Charles L. McNary, a U.S. Senator who was from the Keizer area.-Academics:...
in Keizer, OR, winning the state team championship as a junior in 1975. In 1976, his senior year, McNary placed second in state but Harris won an individual state championship at 191 lbs. He completed his high school wrestling career with a mark of 80-5. In addition to his wrestling talents he was an Oregon All-State football player, racking up a total of 1448 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns.
College
Harris is one of the greatest wrestlers in the history of Oregon State University. He was a four-time All-American at 190 lbs and heavyweight, and holds the school record for career wins (169) and single season pins (40, 1980). He won the NCAA Heavyweight championship in 1980 with a perfect record of 46-0 and is one of only five wrestlers to pin every opponent in the NCAA tournament. His dominance at the NCAA tournament garnered him the Outstanding Wrestler Award, the first African-American to win the award.Many major college wrestling programs wanted to sign Harris after his dominant senior year of high school. The day before letters of intent could be signed he announced he would wrestle for Oklahoma. His high school coach, National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee Jerry Lane, contacted Oregon State wrestling coach Dale Thomas
Dale O. Thomas
Dale O. Thomas was the head coach of the Oregon State wrestling team at Oregon State University from 1957–1990, and is a National Wrestling Hall of Fame member....
, a two-time national coach of the year and National Wrestling Hall of Fame member himself. Thomas met with Harris that day and convinced Harris that staying in the state would give him an opportunity at a national championship and set him up for success once his college days were over.
Olympics
Harris was a member of the 1980 United States Olympic Team. However, the United States boycott of the 1980 Olympics1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
in Moscow meant Harris couldn't compete. He did compete in the 1981 World Cup of Wrestling where he faced Olympic Champion Sanasar Ognesyan. Ognesyan got the best of Harris, winning by decision.
Personal
Harris is married with three sons and one daughter. One son, Major, is a Defensive EndDefensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
on the Portland State Vikings
Portland State Vikings
Portland State Vikings is the nickname of the NCAA-affiliated, intercollegiate athletic teams representing Portland State University of Portland, Oregon...
football team.
Further reading
- Jeff Welsch and George P. Edmonston Jr., "Tales from Oregon State Sports", 2003, ISBN 1-58261-706-6