When Ben Harvey entered Rochelle Township High School as a freshman in 2017, he had the opportunity to share the wrestling room with his older brother Alex. The two brothers competed side-by-side for the Hub wrestling team, helping the program to a historic season that saw RTHS bring home the fourth-place trophy from the IHSA 2A State Dual Championships.

Ben and Alex will soon be teammates once again, only this time, they’ll be on the football field. This comes after Ben recently committed to continuing his academics and his athletics at Washington University in St. Louis after high school. Harvey will also reunite with former Rochelle teammate Charlie Jandak, who began his freshman year with the Bears this fall.

“I decided on Washington University in St. Louis because of its outstanding track record for graduating top-tier students,” Harvey said. “I have been to many Bear football games and I know the team loves football and they are a close-knit unit. I have also been in contact with the coaching staff for some time now and I love their mentality and passion for the game. Alex and Charlie are two of my closest friends and I look forward to working with them in the classroom and on the football field. I’m excited to be continuing my football career.”

A two-year varsity football player and four-year varsity wrestler, Harvey started at wingback and inside linebacker for the Hubs this past season, earning Academic All-Conference honors along the way. Harvey will be a leading contributor in both the offensive backfield and the middle of the Rochelle defense when the Hubs kick off their 2020-21 season next spring.

“The thing that stands out to me about Ben is his ability to see adversity as an opportunity,” Rochelle head football coach Kyle Kissack said. “He’s had a number of setbacks, but I’ve always admired how he responded to each of those events. It starts with his choice to ground his attitude in humility and then he’s intentional about growing and finding ways to get just a little better every day. His reliable resiliency has been a true hallmark to his career at RTHS.”

Harvey has been a star in the wrestling room, compiling 117 wins over his first three seasons while qualifying for the IHSA 2A Individual State Championships twice. An IWCOA Academic All-State honoree this past year, Harvey became the first wrestler in RTHS documented history to string together two straight 40-plus-win seasons, finishing 85-10 over his sophomore and junior years. His sophomore season resulted in a fifth-place medal at the state meet.

“After everything that has happened this year, what I’m excited about most is having the chance to play the game I love,” Harvey said. “I believe my role will be on defense with the linebackers. I have been playing inside linebacker for most of my football career and I’m grateful and confident that the staff at RTHS have prepared me to play at the collegiate level.”

Harvey’s junior football highlights include an 11-carry, 110-yard rushing performance in Rochelle’s season-opening victory against the Pekin Dragons. Harvey also ran for a team-leading 112 yards and one touchdown in a road win over the Sandwich Indians. Harvey said he’s currently undecided about his academic route, but he said he's optimistic about finding the right career path.