Sycamore's Eugene Harney wins state title, Springboro and La Salle finish top 10

Alex Harrison, Cincinnati Enquirer
·3 min read

Editor's note: This story was updated to include the correct spelling of Eugene Harney's name in two instances.

In the OHSAA boys state wrestling tournament, two Division I teams finished in the top 10 while Sycamore's Eugene Harney battled through injury to win his bracket.

More:OHSAA state wrestling: Cincinnati's 2023 wrestling state champions

More:Harrison wins inaugural OHSAA girls wrestling state championship

Harney is 1st Aves champion since 1999

Eugene Harney admitted that for him to win a state championship, he needed to lose first.

Harney finished as both sectional and district runner-up to Springboro's Conner Kleinberg, who finished in fourth place in the 150-pound bracket.

Eugene Harney exudes a joyous celebration after winning the Division I title at 150 pounds during the OHSAA 86th annual boys wrestling state tournament March 10-12, 2023.
Eugene Harney exudes a joyous celebration after winning the Division I title at 150 pounds during the OHSAA 86th annual boys wrestling state tournament March 10-12, 2023.

"A great wrestler, Conner Kleinberg. I love that kid," Harney said. "He showed me I needed to do just a little more work to win this title.

"That second-place medal, I would carry it around," Harney said. "Yesterday I slept with it on me to remind me. You should keep these medals if you're in second, third or fourth. Keep them. Use them as motivation. Look at it and think about yourself and how much work you need to put in to get that gold."

Harney sustained an injury in his quarterfinal against Perrysburg's Wynton Denkins, the bracket's top seed, that would re-open and force him to take blood time during the semifinals and finals. For Harney, it was no problem: "It's just a battle scar. I love that so much."

Eugene Harney of Sycamore raises his hand in victory as he takes home first place in Division I at 150 pounds at the OHSAA 86th annual boys wrestling state tournament March 10-12, 2023.
Eugene Harney of Sycamore raises his hand in victory as he takes home first place in Division I at 150 pounds at the OHSAA 86th annual boys wrestling state tournament March 10-12, 2023.

Springboro, La Salle go top 10

The usual suspects won the team titles in the boys brackets and only a pair of local squads finished in the top 10 of any of the three divisions.

Springboro scored 58 points to finish No. 8 in Division I while the La Salle Lancers were just behind in the ninth spot with 56 total team points.

La Salle's Carson Thomas took home second place in Division I while grappling in the 165-pound title bout at the OHSAA 86th annual boys wrestling state tournament March 10-12, 2023.
La Salle's Carson Thomas took home second place in Division I while grappling in the 165-pound title bout at the OHSAA 86th annual boys wrestling state tournament March 10-12, 2023.

Of seven qualifying wrestlers, four Lancers placed, including runner-up at 165 pounds Carson Thomas. Thomas fell to undefeated Joey Blaze from Perrysburg 9-3 after a pair of pinfall wins and a major decision victory.

Springboro also qualified seven wrestlers with four placing. Myles Johnson fell to eventual 190-pound champion Camden McDanel in the semifinals before placing in third with a 5-2 decision in his final match.

Myles Johnson of Springboro raises his hands as the third-place victor at 190 pounds in Division I action at the OHSAA 86th annual boys wrestling state tournament March 10-12, 2023.
Myles Johnson of Springboro raises his hands as the third-place victor at 190 pounds in Division I action at the OHSAA 86th annual boys wrestling state tournament March 10-12, 2023.

Local placers

Division I

106 – Alijah Mohanna (La Salle), 7th; 113 – Konner Lambers (Elder), 8th; 120 – Aiden Allen (La Salle), 3rd; 132 – Holden Huhn (La Salle), 7th; 138 – Wyatt Brock (Harrison), 7th; Micah Cottrell (Princeton), 8th; 150 – Eugene Harney (Sycamore), 1st; Conner Kleinberg (Springboro), 4th; Flint Guerra (Lebanon) 7th; 165 – Carson Thomas (La Salle), 2nd; Jack Hoffman (Springboro), 8th; 175 – Matt Kowalski (Springboro), 6th; 190 – Wyatt Ferguson (Oak Hills), 2nd; Myles Johnson (Springboro) 3rd; 215 – Brentan Simmerman (Little Miami), 4th; Will Adkins (Moeller), 6th; Aidan Weimer (Springboro), 8th; 285– Lucas Stuerenberg (Moeller), 4th.

Division II

120 – Jimmy Lalezas (Taylor), 6th; 138 – Thane McCoy (Wilmington), 6th; 144 – Nathan Kulbe (Batavia), 4th; 150 – P.J. Murphy (Reading), 3rd; 175 – Dickie Engel (Reading), 5th; 285 – Billy Foster (New Richmond), 7th.

Division III

113– Logan Dean (Bethel-Tate), 3rd; 132– Wyatt Hinton (Norwood), 6th.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Sycamore's Harney wins title, Springboro and La Salle finish top 10