Taking Charge

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By Brittany Brownrigg, November 19, 2009

Harper began her basketball career in second grade. Her 15 years of playing have taken her through a lot. She has faced wins, losses and injuries and despite it all, she still loves the game. 

 

Harper has two reasons for sticking with the game. The first was her dad is the motivation that he has provided her throughout the years. The second has to do with her sister.

“I wanted to outdo my sister,” Harper said jokingly.

 

The Harper family was very involved in athletics while Heather was growing up. When she decided to start playing basketball her father, Tom Harper, coached and helped her get started. 

 

Harper’s only sibling, an older sister, also played basketball. The two sisters, Heather and Sarah, experienced some phenomenal times throughout high school together. Heather especially remembers her sophomore year at Mooresville High School in 2004, which was also her sister’s senior year. Both sisters played the same position, and got to play on the same team that year. 

 

“We went to the final four in high school together [in 2004],” Heather Harper said.

In Harper’s junior and senior years of high school her basketball skills began to shine. MVP, Metro-West starting five, All-Conference, Twin Lakes All-Tourney Team, Mooresville/Decatur Times Basketball Player of the Year, as well as multiple athlete of the week awards were some of the titles that Harper earned during those two seasons. 

Harper did not stop there. She also competed in volleyball during her freshman year of high school and then moved on to track and field in shot put and discus from her sophomore year on.

 

When the time came to pick a college, Harper did not want to go to Franklin College. She had been talking to basketball coaches at other schools and did not feel that Franklin was the right choice for her. Her visit changed that.

 

“My parents made me come on the visit and I loved it,” Harper said.

 

Harper said that she loves the size of Franklin College, and that the small campus was one of the main things that attracted her to Franklin.

 

The change in the level of play from high school sports to collegiate sports was noticeable to Harper.

 

“It’s a different pace of game, quicker and more physical,” she said.

 

In spite of this difference, Harper ended her freshman year as second leading scorer on the team without even being a starter. Since that season, she has been a starter every year, was team MVP her sophomore year, was a two-time all conference player, and has been chosen as HCAC athlete of the week multiple times.

 

“I try to work hard . . . [and] I try to be a role model,” Harper said.

 

Harper was also chosen to be one of the team captains for both her junior and senior years at Franklin. She knows that building the team up is key to their success in the future. The Grizzlies have been working on communication within the team, as well as giving their best effort in every practice. 

 

“I think this is our year to win with the depth we have on our team,” Harper said.

Harper believes that this year the three seniors on the team will play a large role in the success of the program.

 

“We [seniors] always step up and show we want to be on the floor . . . I guess that’s what you do to make your team successful . . . you show the underclassmen you want to be there,” Harper said.

 

Harper also says that when she plays she is not afraid of going to the floor for the ball.

“I am really aggressive,” Harper said.

 

This aggressiveness has caused Harper to fight some injuries throughout her college basketball career. She has had five concussions and has had to recover from a hyperextended knee. Harper is not the only one on the team who has faced injuries, especially this year.

 

“We haven’t had a practice this year with everyone there,” Harper said.

 

The team has been faced with sickness and injuries throughout the beginning of this year, but they still have high hopes of winning conference.

 

Harper does not only work hard on the court but off of it as well. She is working to complete her degree in sociology. After graduation, Harper hopes to find a job in any field and someday go to air traffic control school. She knows that the job will be stressful, but she likes the possible hours and pay and hopes that she will someday be directing planes.

 

Until then, Harper will be directing her teammates throughout her last season as a Franklin Grizzly.