High School: Projected to wrestle at heavyweight for the Cowboys, Tanner Harms progressed in leaps and bounds at the high school level and in the U.S. wrestling system during his prep career. Harms compiled a 120-12 overall record in three years under coach Mike Luhring at Class 5A Cherry Creek High School.
Wrestling in the state's largest division, Harms went 38-4 with 17 pins as a senior at 215 pounds to finish sixth at the state tournament. He earned first-team All-Centennial League honors, while placing well at several prestigious tournaments throughout the season, including second at the Rocky Mountain Nationals. He was named the team's Most Outstanding Wrestler and earned the Most Takedowns Award with 81 during the season.
As a junior, Harms finished third at the state tournament at 189 pounds courtesy of a 40-5 mark with 20 pins. He won the regional tournament and earned first-team all-conference honors, while also placing fourth at the Rocky Mountain Nationals. As a sophomore, Harms went 42-3 at 171 pounds at the junior varsity level.
Harms has also wrestled well in the U.S. wrestling system at several levels and styles. This summer he placed third at 215 pounds at the Folkstyle Junior National Championships to earn All-America honors and a spot on the U.S. Junior National team. During the summer of 2010, he was the Colorado state champion at 189 pounds in the Junior Greco-Roman division and placed second in Junior Freestyle. At the Cadet level in the summer of 2009, he won the Greco-Roman division and finished runner-up in Freestyle.
A two-time team captain for his high school, Harms earned academic all-state honors twice in the classroom. He has a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average and scored 31 on the ACT.
Personal: Harms was born to Adley and Jenifer Harms in Aurora, Colo. He has one sibling, Mason. Both his parents played collegiate sports at Taylor University. He also was recruited by Cornell College and Liberty.
