Joe Harward has been a three-sport athlete for the Bellingham Bayhawks for the last couple of years. The 6-foot-4-inch junior is a second-team all-conference wide receiver, the starting forward for the basketball team and the starting catcher for the baseball team.
“I have grown up in a sports family and began playing around kindergarten,” Harward said. “It is hard going from swinging a baseball bat to catching a football then shooting a basketball. It helps with my explosiveness and keeps me in shape.”
Before playing for the Bayhawks, Harward and his older brother, Jesse Harward, attended Mount Baker High School. The brothers transferred to Bellingham after Harward’s freshman year.
“My transfer from Mount Baker to here was really rough,” Harward said. “God and my family helped build my confidence up. I am at a bigger school in the toughest conference and it has been fun being here.”
In his junior football season, Harward had 40 receptions for 646 yards and nine touchdowns. In his sophomore baseball season, he had a .308 batting average, 20 stolen bases and seven RBIs. As of Thursday, Dec. 26, Harward is averaging 19.3 points per game and 8.5 rebounds in basketball.
Harward is also trying to support his teammates so they can try and compete for state titles before graduation.
“I have always tried to be the leader,” Harward said. “The guys look up to me and it is one big family. I am just trying to be positive and get the guys fired up.”
When attending Harward’s games, spectators can see his passion while pumping up teammates during timeouts, talking to the opponents and playing hard until the final whistle. Bellingham boys basketball coach Brad McKay said Harward is always willing to take the shot at the end of the game.
Since Harward said he does not have a favorite sport, he is still open to playing anything in college when he graduates in May 2026. Until then, he just wants to continue to grow as a player.
“It’s awesome what I have done but there is more to come,” Harward said. “I am hoping for first-team all-conference.”
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
