Hugoton senior Ayden Harper discovered a love for golf at a young age and his passion for the sport has only grown over time. 

“Golf is everything to me now,” Harper said. “It’s the sport that I love. I don’t know where I’d be without golf.”

Harper has remained dedicated to the sport despite battling major adversity throughout his life after being born with Spina Bifida. 

“Most kids with my condition don’t tend to walk at all,” Harper said. “They told my parents I’d never walk. I’ve had eight surgeries now – hip surgeries, back surgeries, knees, legs, ankles.”

Harper, who was born with an inverted foot, had his last surgery last November. Early in his senior season, he has never felt better about his health and his game. 

“My orthopedic surgeon, we had a plan,” said Harper, this week's CapFed® True Blue® Student of the Week. “This plan was pretty much preventive. It was on my ankle, my achilles tendon. The next 20 years, I should be surgery-free unless something drastic would happen.

“I just got done with (physical therapy), and it feels pretty great not having to worry about injuries because I played all season last year with a bad injury. I played (though pain) last year but now it’s all gone thankfully.”

Harper’s determination has been rewarded with an opportunity to play golf at the next level. He has signed with Tabor College. 

“It was a really big goal,” Harper said. “That was my goal from the beginning, to play in college; I didn’t really care what level. Just wanted to be a part of something bigger when I got older. I feel like it’s taken a lot of stress off my shoulders, especially coming into tournament season.”

“He has shown great perseverance and determination to excel on the golf course and has overcome many challenges that most students do not face,” Hugoton athletic director C.J. Korf said of Harper. “He's really a great kid and has overcome a lot in his life.”

Harper said he keeps a positive outlook despite having gone through all the surgeries. 

“It’s really not too frustrating,” Harper said. "The only thing that frustrates me is the game of golf, but I’d say that’s the same for everybody.”

Harper is permitted by the Kansas State High School Activities Association to use a golf cart in tournaments and practice. 

“Even just walking between holes, it used to really get to me a lot, but now that I’ve gotten older and stronger, it’s not too bad,” Harper said. 

Harper will look to lead Hugoton to a state berth. He’s off to a solid start, placing 12th at the Holcomb Invitational. 

“I feel extremely confident,” Harper said. “I placed 12th at a tournament last week with some of the best players in the state in some extremely hard conditions. I’m feeling really confident heading into some more tournaments.

“I’m really focused on the goal ahead and trying not to get too far ahead of myself for these last couple months.”

Harper said he’s cherished his high school experience at Hugoton. 

“I’ve grown up in a great town, a really supportive town with some really supportive classmates and teammates,” Harper said. “Late night car rides back home are really enjoyable, listening to funny music and things like that.”

Harper has already settled on a future career path. 

“I’m going to study conservation biology,” Harper said. “I want to become a game warden or a conservation officer. 

“I grew up in a very outdoorsy family. I’ve always been around hunting and fishing my entire life. I go out every chance that I get. I love being outside. I want to restore and protect.”