Northwood football star Adam Harper also made an impact on the baseball field

Adam Harper played for the PCL in the Ryan Lemmon Showcase at Ryan Lemmon Stadium. (Photo: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Northwood High School senior Adam Harper had to make room for some more trophies after the baseball season ended, capping a stellar career for the two-sport star.

Harper, a catcher for the Timberwolves. added another honor to a memorable senior season when he was named the offensive MVP of the Pacific Coast League baseball team. He was also selected for the Orange County all-star game on Tuesday, June 6 at Glover Stadium. On Wednesday, it was announced that Harper was selected first team All-CIF Division 4.

“We put a lot of effort into it and we came together as a team so I’m proud of our guys for the way they played,” said Harper, who was an outfielder the previous season.

Harper batted .472 with five doubles, two triples, a home run, nine stolen bases and 24 runs scored, helping Northwood finish 16-12 overall and in second place in the PCL with a 13-8 record. The Timberwolves had a nine-game winning streak and at one point and advanced into the second round of the CIF playoffs, losing to eventual CIF Division 4 champion Canyon 3-0.

“Adam is one of the best all around athletes I’ve ever seen in all my years coaching,” said Northwood Coach Doug Euper. “As a team we struggled offensively but Adam was our constant that we knew we could count on.”

One of Harper’s teammates on both the baseball and football teams was his brother Joseph.

“It’s great to be around Joseph, because he’s a lot more emotional than me,” Adam Harper said. “You will hear him yelling. He gets into it and he’s a great guy to have around, he has great energy and I love playing with my brother.”

In football, Harper was known as a punishing running back and hard-hitting free safety and linebacker. He was on the varsity for four years.

In the fall, Harper helped Northwood football’s team win its second consecutive CIF championship and he was named the MVP of the league after helping the Timberwolves capture their second straight league title and rushing for more than 2,000 yards. The 5-11, 200-pound Harper was also named CIF Division 8 offensive player of the year.

Northwood had never won a CIF football title until it captured the crown in 2021.

“Coming off the win from junior year, a lot of us had expectations of not meeting that (a CIF title),” Harper said. “Being able to do that over again and even go a little farther (in the state playoffs) than we did last time was really a treat to be with all my friends and all the trips we made and the memories we made,” said Harper, who was with the varsity for four years.

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Harper, after playing youth football, entered his high school career determined to keep winning on the field. There were some challenges and other athletes. In his sophomore season, the high school season was delayed until the spring due to the pandemic and Northwood’s season came to an end early because there weren’t enough players on the team.

But Harper and his group of friends continued to work hard and were determined to leave their mark in the final two years of their high school careers.

Winning, Harper admits, has been important to him.

“In the flag football days and the Matt Leinart (league) and I played for many years and we did not do a lot of losing so I came into high school (thinking) I’m not going to be doing much losing either,” he said.

Harper took great satisfaction playing offense and defense.

“Everyone loves scoring touchdowns, both are great, there is nothing better than coming downhill and just destroying a running back,” he said. “But it feels great running down the sideline with no one in front of you, it’s a great feeling to be able to score a touchdown.”

Harper leaves as one of the best football players in Northwood’s history. He competed in the annual North-South all-star football game in February and threw a touchdown pass.

“I had some great athletes when I was coaching in the Moore League but I’ve never, ever seen one person do so much for a team than he has,” said Northwood football coach JC Clarke.

Harper is now focusing on his future.

“Right now, I’m preparing to go on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” he said. “I’ll be going to Australia where I will be preaching the gospel to the people over there, I’ll be there for the next two years.

“So I’ll put football and school on hold for a little bit. The hope is to be able to go to BYU eventually. That may be in the cards for me, so we will see, that’s the dream.

“If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen but that’s something I really want to do and something I will try to make happen.”

Harper said his experiences at Northwood will always stand out.

“Afterwards looking back, I wish I was still in football, but it’s something we will never forget, it was a great time,” he said.

Northwood fans will undoubtedly remember Harper’s many accomplishments.

“I was a hard worker over there, I led by example, I wasn’t really the loudest guy out there, I just hope they can use me to help them motivate the younger guys,” he said. “It takes a lot of hard work, but we did it, and they can do it too.”

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com