If you passed Matt Harkins on the street or at the mall, you wouldn’t give him a second look as his 125-pound frame would not give any cause to think he is anything but your average teenager.
In the squared ring of a wrestling mat, he is anything but average.
Harkins, who has amassed a career record of 139-21 in his four years at Hatboro-Horsham High School, is currently ranked No. 1 in District One and is poised to pursue his dream of being the State Champion.
Find out what's happening in Hatboro-Horshamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“I don’t want anything less than first,” said Harkins. “Last year I finished fourth at states and this year my goal is to win the gold medal on the final day. I want to be in Hershey to win it all.”
Early on in the season, Harkins broke the school’s all-time career win record by eclipsing Robert Gribschaw’s previous record of 118 wins. Every time he takes to the mat he see it as chance to lessen the likelihood of his mark ever being reached.
Find out what's happening in Hatboro-Horshamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Since a young age, Harkins has shown the ability and work ethic that set all champions apart, spending tireless hours in the weight room and on the mat, where he says the most important work is done.
“I have wrestled since I was 5,” said Harkins. “I’ve played a bunch of sports and games but this is what I have always been best at. When I got a little older and started getting good, I focused on just wrestling.”
The Hatboro-Horsham senior attributes a lot of his success to others that have been helpful in refining his craft, along with the coaching staff.
“I have been lucky enough to be able to wrestle against college guys,” added Harkins.
“Live wrestling is the best way to train, I have had a lot of help from Jason Gribschaw this year, as well as others last season. The only way to improve is to be on the mat.”
If there is a flaw to his game it may be Harkins' own intensity. His inward desire to pin everyone he steps on the mat with has at times cost him points and led to some of the scarce losses that he's suffered in his career.
“I am a mean wrestler,” added Harkins. “If I don’t live up to my own expectations of how my match should go, or I don’t get my calls, I get very angry. I expect to win and I try to do everything I can to get the pin.”
Harkins' technique is one of the many weapons he has in his arsenal when he takes to the mats. But the fact that he generally is in better physical condition than most people he wrestles also weighs heavily in his favor.
“It’s simple,” said long-time Hatter head coach Glenn Kaiser. “He has phenomenal hips, he gets in flurries and is always looking to put you on your back. He gives up a lot of takedowns because he is so aggressive, you can’t tell a kid not to attack. He is always in better shape than whoever he faces, so if you make it into the third period, which doesn't happen often, he has the advantage.”
Harkins’ assault on a PIAA State championship starts in a matter of days.
“If we can ever get him to slow it down and try to win matches 2-1 or 3-1 he would be unbeatable,” added Kaiser. “I have watched Matt come up through the program at middle school. He has always been the hardest worker of anybody I have ever coached and he will be successful in anything he does long after his wrestling days are behind him.”
“Matt is that special” added Athletic Director Lou James, when asked if Harkins could be the first Hatters state champion in three decades. “He is a phenomenal athlete and will be a great success in everything he does in life because of his desire to be the best."
Harkins' record:
2007/08 37–8
2008/09 36-4
2009/10 38-7
2010/11 28-2
overall 139–21 with 64 falls for a .869 winning percentage
Matt Harkins wrestling career highlights
- Won first place at the 10th annual Wetzel classic
- Won first place at the Solanco Mule classic this season
