Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1491111
28 CAVALIER CORNER A s a Western Pennsylvania native, Jim Harshaw (COL '98, ED '99) was im- mersed in the state's wrestling culture. After participating in several sports, wrestling be- came his focus in middle school. Harshaw's most notable high school achievement was being part of the Pennsylvania National Wrestling Team. Harshaw chose UVA over the University of Pennsylvania and became the first in his family to graduate from college. He said he's very grateful for the work ethic his par- ents instilled in him. Initially a non-scholarship athlete at UVA, he started receiving scholarship support fol- lowing his third year. "The whole experience at UVA was trans- formative," Harshaw reflected. "I didn't even know if I would go to college, but five years later I ended up with both undergraduate and graduate degrees from the top-rated public institution in the country. "I was a three-time ACC champion and an All-American. I received a great educa- tion in the classroom at UVA, but the most impactful part of my education happened in the wrestling room. UVA changed my life." Harshaw's bond with his teammates, who became his lifelong friends, are part of his best college memories. One special memory includes becoming an All-American the same day as his first-year roommate Matt Roth. Roth wrestled first against his UNC nem- esis, but Harshaw couldn't watch because he had to focus on warming himself up for the biggest match of his life. When Roth entered the warm-up room following his match, Har- shaw looked over at him trying to ascertain whether he had won or lost. Then Roth gave a big fist pump and a smile. Harshaw was so excited for his friend and his accomplishment but then had to focus on his own match. He still gets chills thinking about that moment. One month prior to that event, they were competing at a tournament and, as the last few in the locker room, they found two pen- nies. They said, "These are our good luck pen- nies, and these will get us on the podium at nationals." They both still have those pennies that brought them luck all those years ago. After graduation, Harshaw took a year off to travel and backpack through Central Amer- ica and Europe. Then he was asked to return to UVA as an assistant wrestling coach, and he stayed for three seasons from 2000-02 before transitioning to become Slippery Rock University's head wrestling coach from 2002-04. During this time, he was the young- est head coach in Division I wrestling. In 2004, Harshaw returned to Charlottes- ville to support the UVA wrestling program as executive director of the non-profit Cava- lier Wrestling Club, a donor-funded posi- tion. This experience led him to work as an assistant director for the Virginia Athletics Foundation, where he genuinely enjoyed his time working for VAF. Currently, Harshaw is the president of The Harshaw Group, an executive coaching and leadership development firm he runs with CONTINUED SUCCESS: WRESTLER JIM HARSHAW Harshaw, a three-time ACC wrestling champion (1997-99), earned All-America and Academic All-America honors as a fourth-year at UVA. (Photos courtesy UVA) " The whole experience at UVA was transformative. I didn't even know if I would go to college, but five years later I ended up with both undergraduate and graduate degrees from the top-rated public institution in the country." HARSHAW