BLOOMINGTON — Jasper Harper has had a sophomore year full of seconds at Providence.
He was on the football team that finished as the Class 5A state runner-up in the fall. Harper took second in Class 2A at 165 pounds at the individual state meet in wrestling and found himself in the same spot all over again Saturday night when the Celtics fell just short of a team championship.
Still, three finals appearances in a little over three months? That’s a lot of excitement.
“There are so many people who want to be there on the football field for that championship game or at state wrestling,” Harper said. “They ask for one more week of their season and they wish they could go back in time and get it again.
“I’m just proud to be here with my team — just like I was in football.”
Harper won by an 11-3 major decision over IC Catholic’s Jacob Alvarez in the Class 2A dual team state championship match, but it wasn’t enough as the Knights won their second straight title by topping the Celtics 39-22 at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Harper, Ameer Khalil (215), Max Mandac (126), Tommy Banas (138) and Justus Heeg (157) won against IC Catholic and all went 3-0 over the weekend at team state to lead Providence (13-8).
The Celtics won the program’s first team trophy since the 2015-16 season and wrestled for the state title for the first time since 2007-08, when they also finished second.
Providence won six straight championships between 1997-98 and 2001-02, and while the Celtics fell just short of earning their first title since that stretch, Harper is excited he could be a part of putting the program back into the state spotlight.
“I’m excited for the team,” Harper said. “We’ve still got a young team. We’re only losing two people. We can keep it going. We’ll be back next year.”
And Harper hopes for a different ending in 2027. Because while he’s certainly proud of his accomplishments this school year, he’s still tired of finishing second.
“It’s been tough,” he said. “I was runner-up in football, runner-up at state for individuals and runner-up now. It doesn’t feel the best. But next year, we’re still marching.
“We’re getting back on track, and we know we can beat the big guys.”
Harper’s future appears just as bright as the team for Providence.
He finished 37-12 this season and as the runner-up behind only downstate Washington’s Wyatt Medlin (43-0), a three-time state champion considered by many to be among the top wrestlers in the country.
Providence coach Donny Reynolds was definitely impressed by Harper’s season.
“I had some college coaches talking about him when we were in Champaign,” said Reynolds, a Providence graduate who wrestled in college at Illinois. “He’s trending in the right direction.”
Khalil, a freshman who typically wrestles at 175, often trains with Harper.
“Jasper, he’s funky,” Khalil said. “He’s an amazing wrestler. He can move. Me and him wrestled in the state finals in junior high. I did beat him. But now I came to Providence and he’s one of my best friends, a great practice partner and an amazing person.”
Khalil bumped up in weight to 215 and pinned IC Catholic’s Anthony Keating to pull the Celtics within 11-10 early in the final dual.
“I knew what I had to do for my team,” Khalil said. “I had to go out there and get six points and that’s what I did. It was huge to get our team all hyped up.”
In the end, it wasn’t enough. But the Celtics are already looking forward to next season. And Harper is determined to make sure he’s ready to finish on top next time.
“This year, there were days where I slacked,” Harper said. “I didn’t want to be there. It was hot. I didn’t want to wrestle. Next year, I know I can compete with the big guys now.
“I’m going to get out there and work as hard as I can every single day.”
