News
Eugene Harney Selected as LaRosa's MVP of the Week
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EUGENE HARNEY - LAROSA'S MVP FEATURED ATHLETE OF THE WEEK NAME: Eugene Harney Sycamore High School has a two-sport all-star in senior Eugene Harney, who excels in both wrestling and football. In wrestling, Eugene is this year’s GMC Wrestler of the Year after winning the league championship in the 157 lb. weight class. He went 31-3 during the regular season with 17 pins. He then went on to win the sectional, district and Ohio state titles at 157 lbs. His state championship was his second straight state title. He also repeated as champion of the Southwest Ohio Wrestling Coaches Association Classic this season. Eugene is coming off a remarkable junior season, when he went 40-5 with 22 pins and won the GMC wrestling championship and the Ohio state championship in the 150 lb. weight class. In previous years, he finished as district champion and third at state as a sophomore and fifth at state as a freshman. He is the second wrestling state champion in Sycamore history and the school’s first-ever four-time placer in the state tournament. He has more wrestling wins than anyone else in school history. Eugene was named the Enquirer’s Cincinnati Wrestler of the Year as a junior and was a finalist for the area’s Wrestler of the Year by the Cincinnati High School Sports Awards. In football, Eugene played both offense and defense. As a running back, he had more than 1,000 yards rushing his senior year, running for 1,251 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also had two TDs receiving and returned a kick-off for a TD. On defense, he had 75 tackles, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery. He was named first-team all-GMC, first-team all-city (Enquirer), second-team all-Southwest Ohio and third-team all-Ohio. In his spare time, he enjoys shopping for clothes and shoes, listening to music and drawing. An academic all-GMC performer, he is active in community service. Eugene’s favorite athlete is Tank Davis, favorite entertainer is Lamar Jackson, favorite book is David and Goliath, favorite movie is Avengers Endgame and most-like-to-meet is Kanye West. He plans to wrestle at the next level but has not yet committed to a college. Coach's Quote - “Eugene is an exceptional athlete, but he is also a unique individual. He has always been overly competitive and hates to lose. However, he has grown to be a humble teammate who likes to help and support others.” – Jeremy Pletz, Varsity Wrestling Coach
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GMC Mourns the Loss of Sycamore AD Mark Harden
Sycamore Athletic Director Mark Harden was killed in a multiple car accident on Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 75. A tremendous supporter of young people and an ardent advocate for all sports, his presence will be sorely missed by the entire Sycamore school community as well as the Greater Miami Conference. Mark was one of the senior most athletic directors in the GMC and as such, provided an invaluable historical perspective that will be difficult to replace. There was no question that Mark Harden was "all in" for his Sycamore Aviators and came to school with purpose everyday to make his programs better. From the deluge of condolences that poured in from all over Greater Cincinnati Mark Harden's sphere of influence is obvious . From his GMC colleagues, Mark's wit, sense of humor and straightforward candor will always have a place in our hearts.
(Mark Harden right)
Photo compliments of Mallory Bonbright, Sycamore Communications Director)
Funeral Arrangements:
Visitation - Tuesday, March 19 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at West Chester Church of the Nazarene
Funeral Service - Wednesday, March 20 11:00 AM at West Chester Church of the Nazarene
No graveside service
DICK'S Sporting Goods Honors GMC Boys Basketball Standouts
DICK'S Sporting Goods appreciates the accomplishments found with Greater Miami Conference Boys Basketball during this past season. DSG is proud to honor the achievements of Sycamore's Raleigh Burgess as the conference "Player of the Year" and his coach Tim Austing, who was selected as the GMC "Coach of the Year".
Raleigh Burgess was selected as the "Player of the Year" in a vote of the GMC Head Coaches. Raleigh's senior year statistics were undeniable and certainly underscored his value, to the Aviators and made him a presence throughout the league. This is Raleigh Burgess' third time as an All-GMC selection, one time as a second teamer as a sophomore and then 2 times as a first team pick. During the 2023-24 season, Raleigh led his league champion Sycamore Aviators to a 13-4 conference record and a 19-7 overall slate. He was second in the league in scoring with a 15.3 ppg average, first in rebounds with 9.9 rpg, first in blocks with 3.2 pg and first in field goal percentage with 61.2%. Raleigh, a Purdue commit, certain displays all the necessary skills to compete in the BIG 10.
Raleigh Burgess - Sycamore Aviators GMC "Player of the Year"
(Photo compliments of Sycamore Athletic Department)
In a vote of his GMC peers, Sycamore Head Coach Tim Austing, was selected as the conference "Coach of the Year". Coming at the end of a hard-fought GMC campaign with a 13-4 league record, the Aviators bested second place West, who ended 1 game out at 11-5, closely followed by Middletown, Hamilton and Princeton, all who finished 10-6. With four schools within 2 games of the champion, the GMC crown came right down to the last night of the season. Under Coach Austing's leadership, the Aviators withstood the challenge and brought home their second title in the past three years (shared one with Fairfield in 2022). This is Coach Tim Austing's second GMC "Coach of the Year" honor since coming to the Aviators. The consummate program builder and teacher of the game, from 2009 thru 2014 Coach Austing also built the Fairfield program into GMC contenders earning the Indians 2 GMC titles, as well as 2 "COY" recognitions during that stint.
Sycamore Head Coach Tim Austing GMC "Coach of the Year"
(Photos compliments of McDaniel Photography)
After 33 Years, Andy Fishman Retires as West Head Girls Basketball Coach
Lakota West Press Release:
ANDY FISHMAN, HEAD GIRLS’ BASKETBALL TEACHER AND COACH
TO RETIRE AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR
WEST CHESTER, OH –Lakota West Girls Basketball Head Coach Andy Fishman informed his team this afternoon that he has decided to retire from coaching and teaching after a storied and historic 33-year coaching career and 37-year Teaching Career.
Fishman retires as Lakota West only Varsity Head Basketball Coach since Lakota split into East and West in 1997. Over those 27 years as Head Coach, he amassed a 497-170 (74.5%) total win/loss record, 312-102 in the Greater Miami Conference (75.3%) and an OHSAA Tournament Record of 75-26 (74.3%). His career as Head Coach successes includes the 2015 Division I State Championship, 2008 State Runner-Up, the 2008, 2009 and 2015 Regional Championship, 3 Trips to the State Final 4, 7 trips to the Regional Elite 8, 9-Time District Champion/Regional Qualifier, and 15-Time District Qualifier. In addition, Coach Fishman’s teams have won the Greater Miami Conference Championship 10 times, including 6 of the last 10 years. He has received Coach of the Year honors multiple times in his tenure as Head Coach.
Over the course of his career, he has coached so many outstanding athletes that have gone on to play at the collegiate level and the professional level and hundreds of athletes who played for the love of the game. He has been the driving force for, and a strong advocate for, all girls’ sports in Ohio. His passion led the Lakota West Girls Basketball Program to be regarded as one of the top Programs in Ohio with multiple nationally ranked teams.
Coach Fishman stated “I have great love for, and pride in, the Lakota West Girls Basketball program, Lakota West HS, and the Lakota Community. It’s been an honor and a privilege to coach and teach here. While we have had amazing success in basketball, and championships are forever, the best reward for my family and I have been all the ongoing relationships with players, coaches, families, colleagues, custodians, and administrators. Sharing special moments and making memories with my personal and basketball families, on and off the court, was the best part of being Lakota West’s Head Coach.”
Fishman, a native of Queens, New York, began his teaching and coaching career in New York in 1988. In 1991, he moved his family to West Chester where he started his teaching as a Special Educator and Coach for Lakota. When Lakota split into Lakota East and Lakota West in 1997, Coach Fishman was named the Varsity Head Coach and continued his work as a Special Educator and remained in both positions until announcing his retirement earlier today. Andy is married to Felice and has 3 wonderful children Rylee, Blake, and Tate, all graduates of Lakota West. Both his daughters are expecting their first children this spring, and Tate is graduating from college. “I want to thank all the Lakota West Girls Basketball players coaches, and parents for making this program great. This is the perfect time to win more time with my growing family and travel more.”
Scott Kaufman, Lakota West Athletic Director, shared “Andy has been one of the most committed and passionate coaches I have ever had the pleasure to work with in my time at Lakota West. His leadership on the court, in the classroom, and among our entire coaching staff will be dearly missed. Whenever help was needed, Andy was always there to step up and lead. His work ethic to ensure that all of his students and athletes received his full attention to help them thrive is one several reason for the long-term success of his teams.”
Mike Dyer of WCPO.COM with Andy Fishman reflections and insights:
Sycamore's Eugene Harney Wins Second State Wrestling Title
With a 5-0 victory over Tyler Deericks from Olentangy Liberty in the finals, Eugene Harney made it back-to-back OHSAA State Championships. After winning the 2023 OHSAA State Title at the 150 pound weight class, Harney achieved an extremely difficult task by moving up a weight class to 157 to give a capacity Schottenstein Arena crowd a repeat performance. Harney won his four matches in the state tournament by scores of 10-2, 5-2, 7-5 and 5-0.