Virginia has produced many excellent wrestlers from the metro regions of Northern Virginia, Richmond and the Southeast. The Commonwealth can also boast high quality grapplers in our rural areas demonstrating that the country mice are just as tough as the city mice.

Often there is a patriarchal figure guiding these tight-knit communities, a long-serving coach who fosters success that's built to last. One such coach is Brian Harman from Northampton County High School.

Born in Pennsylvania, Harman first came to the Eastern Shore as a student and wrestler at Salisbury State University in Maryland. He helped Salisbury win the NCAA Division III national championship in 1984 and also qualified for an AAU Junior National team that competed against Poland.

Harman then pursued a loftier goal, putting the Eastern Shore on the high school wrestling map.

He succeeded spectacularly as head coach of North Hampton High School, guiding the Yellowjackets to 27 district championships, four regional titles and the Division 1 state championship in 1995. Harman's team won more than 500 dual meets, highlighted by a victory on the 1998 Black and Blue division of the Virginia Duals, where his teams bested top quality competition including Christiansburg and Menchville.

Wrestlers and parents alike speak of his forceful personality, but also share how he created scholarship foundations in memory of two community members. Harman pioneered the establishment of girls wrestling in his program and created and led youth programs to promote Eastern Shore wrestling. One of his managers remembers Harman's enthusiasm for teaching just about anything, including teaching her the difficult skill of whistling through her fingers at a volume that would get attention.

After he left coaching in 2012, his energy found other outlets. Harman now ranks among the finest officials in Virginia as evidenced by his being chosen to work tournaments at the state and national level. Retired from teaching physical education, he continues to teach students through his driver's education business.

When you tell the story of today’s Eastern Shore, you can’t leave out the name of Brian Harman.