Gary Wayne Harding

Weight:
133
Class:
Redshirt Senior
Hometown:
Collinsville, Okla.
High School:
Collinsville

Talented veteran came to UNC as a graduate transfer after four seasons at Oklahoma State.

2017-18: Finished 14-7 as a redshirt junior • Had seven bonus-point wins, including three pins • Took second at the Southern Scuffle • All Big 12 Academic honoree.

2016-17: Went 4-0 and competed in one open tournament during his redshirt season • Claimed the 133-pound title at the Norseman Open, picking up three technical falls on the way to the finals, where he defeated NEO’s Sean DeShazer, 7-6.

2015-16: Compiled a 14-13 overall record and 6-7 mark in dual matches • Went 0-2 at the NCAA tournament • Finished fourth at the Big 12 Championships to earn an automatic bid to NCAAs • Defeated two top-20 opponents in consecutive duals, knocking off No. 16 Dom Forys of Pittsburgh in a 13-11 overtime thriller and defeating No. 10 Zach Synon, 5-2, as the Cowboys ended Missouri’s 37-dual winning streak • Won three-straight dual matches on two separate occasions this season • Faced four-straight ranked opponents from Jan. 17 to Feb. 5, going 2-2 during those matches • Recorded eight bonus point wins this season.

2014-15: Compiled a 29-13 overall record and a 7-4 record in dual action • Qualified for his first NCAA Championships • Went 2-2 at the tournament • Faced eight ranked opponents, including four wrestlers ranked in the top five • Finished third at the Big 12 Championships • Tallied six falls and three major decisions • Was pulled from his redshirt for the dual against Iowa • Won the OCU, Oklahoma, and Joe Parisi Opens • Started the season 14-0.

Prep/Personal: Attended Collinsville High in Collinsville, Okla. • Strung together a 166-14 record under coach West Harding • Four-time 5A Oklahoma high school champion • Named the Tulsa World All-Metro Wrestler of the Year for 2014 • Finished third at the 2013 USA Wrestling Junior Freestyle championship • Member of the 2014 Junior Dual team for Oklahoma • Won four junior freestyle tournaments • Birthday is July 20 • Son of Weston and Kim Harding • Has two siblings: Sophia and JK.