Sycamore鈥檚 Eugene Harney becomes Ohio Division I state wrestling champion
MONTGOMERY, Ohio — The path to victory was clear, even if Eugene Harney had trouble seeing it.
For much of the last 15 minutes he was on the mat at the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I state wrestling tournament March 10-March 12 at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Harney competed with a nasty cut over his left eye.
Still, every second was worth it, as his hand was raised as the state champion at 150 pounds. His 40th 鈥� and final 鈥� victory of the season was by a narrow 5-4 margin over Bradley Eaton of Lakewood St Edward.
Harney had previously defeated Jake Taylor of Mount Vernon 10-3, Wynton Denkins of Perrysburg 4-2, and Christian Glitz of Massillon Perry by pinfall in 3:42. In all, Harney lost five matches all season, and was 12-2 in the three-round postseason. He won the Greater Miami Conference championship, placed second in the sectional tournament at Lakota East and second in the district tournament at Kettering Fairmont.
Early in the state tournament, Harney was injured, but battled through it. Sycamore coach Jeremy Pletz said Harney鈥檚 eye was 鈥渟plit open鈥� due to what he said was an illegal move by his opponent. As a result, that match was stopped several times, and added to the challenge.
鈥淚 was concerned that I would be too exhausted by the fourth match,鈥� Harney said.
He was – but not too much so.
鈥淚 was obviously thrilled and very energized, yet physically exhausted!鈥� he said, describing the moment of victory.
The 18-year-old Symmes Township resident prepared for state by watching film with his coaches and working out with high-level competition at other schools. His pre-match routine includes 鈥渮oning in my own space with my headphones and mentally preparing for my opponent.鈥�
Sycamore coach Jeremy Pletz describes Harney as a 鈥渧ery smart鈥� wrestler.
鈥淓ugene has the one natural gift of many great wrestlers, good hips,鈥� Pletz said. 鈥淗e understands positioning and has thought through so many scenarios over the years. Eugene gets out of situations and also creates opportunities to score in ways that most others aren鈥檛 capable of doing.鈥�
Harney is the first state champion Pletz has coached in his 20 years at Sycamore 鈥� the last 15 as head coach. He wrestled at both Reading High School and Miami University. It took a while for Harney鈥檚 accomplishment to sink in.
鈥淭he moment he won, I was happy, but I鈥檝e done this for so long that it was simply one of our wrestlers winning a tough match,鈥� Pletz said. 鈥淎s my assistant coach, John Vuotto, said at that moment, 鈥榃e did it.鈥�
鈥淗owever, once we got off of the arena floor and saw the other wrestlers, parents, fans, the rest of the coaching staff, and our Athletic Director Mark Harden all cheering and celebrating, the moment was overwhelming.鈥�
Harney, who has been wrestling since he was 5-years-old, said he enjoys the one-on-one nature of the sport, but he also participates in football and track at Sycamore. 鈥淭his prevents me from competing in the off-season, but it also keeps my body fresh for the grind of the regular season,鈥� he said.
The trip to Columbus was the third for Harney, who placed third at 144 pounds in 2022, winning five of six matches, and fifth at 138 pounds in 2021, winning four of five matches. He was also GMC champion both seasons. he said his brother, Izumi, also a wrestler, has been one of his biggest influences.
We both were competing, so we always helped each other,鈥� Harney said.
With one high school season remaining, Harney still has time to make a decision on post-graduate plans. He said he hopes to wrestle in college, but adds that academics are important, so the school would have to be the right fit.
Pletz, who said he got into coaching because he enjoys helping others and working with youth, has coached a number of successful wrestlers, including Gary Traub, who placed fourth and second at state and was an NCAA Tournament qualifier at Oklahoma State University, where he is now an assistant; Daniel Mason Strauss, a state placer and national champion for Sycamore in 2003; and Victor Crenshaw, who won a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championship at Notre Dame College.
Sycamore鈥檚 only other state champion was Omar Scruggs, in 1999.
Junior Adam Gelman also qualified to state after winning the Lakota East sectional and Fairmont district championships at 106 pounds. Gelman went 1-2 in Columbus and finished the season 28-3. He was GMC champion in 2023 and placed second in 2022.
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.