'He leads the right way': Sycamore's Eugene Harney gets better on hunt for second OHSAA title
In the fall, Sycamore senior Eugene Harney rushed for 1,251 yards and 14 touchdowns on offense while accumulating 75 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception as a linebacker on defense with a kickoff return touchdown for good measure.
After Sycamore's football season ended in the postseason, the do-it-all football player returned to the wrestling mats and jumped right into the fire without fully getting back into wrestling shape.
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Harney began his wrestling campaign at the ultra-competitive Walsh Jesuit Ironman on Dec. 8 and 9 and went 3-3 to place eighth overall at 157 pounds. An impressive meet for some, but the defending Ohio High School Athletic Association state champion didn't feel so.
"I was just coming off of football and I did good," Harney said. "Of course I'm never happy with getting eighth. I was upset because my stamina wasn't there yet, but it was a good learning experience because I could see how much training I had to do."
"I don't think he appreciates how well he did actually perform at Ironman given the fact the he wasn't in wrestling shape yet and he didn't have the mat time.," Sycamore head wrestling coach Jeremy Pletz said. "He lost to the champ, he lost to the predicted champ and his third loss came to a guy he'd already beaten in the tournament."
Harney, who slept with his district runner-up medal on before winning a state title last season, doesn't search hard for motivation and the Ironman was more than enough to get him going.
"I don't have to lose to feel like I need to get better," Harney said. "I always need improvement."
The improvement came rapidly. Harney hasn't dropped a match since the Ironman. The three-time state placer repeated as champion at the Southwest Ohio Wrestling Coaches Association Coaches Classic with three pins and a pair of major decisions and followed that up by going 5-0 at the Defiance Border War (four pins), 4-0 at the Fairfield Invitational (a pin, two tech falls and a major decision) and 4-0 at the Sycamore Invitational where he pinned all four opponents in less than a minute.
After the Greater Miami Conference tournament, the OHSAA postseason begins for Harney at the sectionals on Feb. 24. He'll take each match as a chance to sharpen up for a run at another state title, finding something new to perfect in each round.
That's the mentality that has helped Harney end each season with a win while always improving. Harney placed fifth at state as a freshman in 2021, third in 2022 and a champion at 150 pounds last year.
"I set a new goal and I beat that goal and then I set another one," Harney said. "I don't stop at one state championship, I want to get two. After that I want get a national championship in college so I also have a new goal to set."
Coach Pletz has seen Harney's ability to grow quickly allow him to become a leader that helps each teammate get better as well: "His maturity has improved dramatically. He's been a leader, but now he leads the right way. He identifies kids' needs on the team, he keeps things positive."
Harney and the Aviators will hunt for GMC titles on Saturday, Feb. 17 before the sectionals the following week and districts ending on March 2. The OHSAA state tournament will be at the Schottenstein Center from March 8-March 10.
While at the Schottenstein Center, Harney will try for podium No. 4, this time with a premium target on his back.
"For the repeat, of course people are going to be studying film on me and that's all good," Harney said. "I like that."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Sycamore's Eugene Harney smashes goals on hunt for second state title
