Harnett has 3-0 start in Hephner tourney

The Brookfield High senior won his second bout on a pin in just 45 seconds.
By ERIC HAMILTON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
AUSTINTOWN -- For Brookfield High's Brad Harnett, wrestling isn't about out-muscling his opponent or physically beating him up. It's all about playing mind games -- with himself.
The 135-pound senior performer proved in 2005 as a sophomore that he had the physical tools to be a force in Division III wrestling. He finished seventh in the state at 130 pounds.
But last year, things didn't turn out so well. He missed a return trip to state, finishing fifth in his weight class and settled for being an alternate.
The difference between the two years was all in his head.
"I just beat myself mentally last year," said Harnett, after going 3-0 in his matches on the first day of the Josh Hephner Memorial Tournament at Fitch High on Friday. "My work ethic never changed, but I just get down on myself sometimes when I give up a point. I'm trying to change that in practice.
"I tell the coaches that no matter how I'm doing to keep punishing me so I'll work harder. They think I'll get myself out it and when I do, no one can beat me. I just can't beat myself. I just have to forget everything and stay calm during a match and if I get scored on, find a way to come back."
Wins by pin in first bout
Harnett barely had time to think while on the mat Friday. In his second-round bout against Mogadore's Bretton Poole, Harnett won by pin in just 45 seconds. He received a bye in the third round.
He said getting off to a good start is key for him.
"It's very important because if I can take him down, it gets into his head. Then I know I can give up an escape point and still be ahead. It sets the tone for the match."
Harnett's mental toughness and the experience of several other seniors served Brookfield well at the Hephner. The Warriors sit in 11th place after the first day of competition. That's the second-highest spot among Division III teams participating.
Success in the making
Brookfield's success hasn't been limited to this season. It's been years in the making. In addition to Harnett's state finish in 2005, Tristan Thompson and Ross Tice have provided strong results in the postseason.
Thompson finished second in the state in 2006 at 119 pounds and Tice was seventh at 152 pounds. Several of their teammates challenged for state berths as well.
The success of Brookfield's wrestling program can be traced back to the start of a youth program in 1993, started by head coach Scott Thompson. The group of seniors on this year's team was the first class of wrestlers in that program.
"It's really helped us along," said Thompson. "The kids work hard and we get kids involved early. We're too small of a school not to get everyone involved. A first-grader is just as important to us as a senior. We treat everyone the same. I think our youth program is one of the most dominant in the area."
Rugged schedule
Brookfield competes in Division III at the state level, but wrestles a schedule stacked with Division I and II schools. In addition to this weekend's Hephner tournament, the Warriors competed in the Medina Invitational and the Alliance Top Gun tournament.
"It makes no difference that we're a small school," said Thompson. "We think we can compete with anyone. We're not going to beat [Lakewood] St. Ed's in a dual match, but we'll put up a fight against any school of any size.
"We've been trying to get into this tournament [Hephner] for years and finally we got in this year. Usually, we have to travel to Cincinnati this weekend to wrestle. There aren't 40 teams here, but I think the competition is pretty good compared to the others."
Has high expectations
Thompson has high expectations for this year's squad and says he could have as many as four or five wrestlers to make the trip to the state tournament.
Tristan echoes his coaches' sentiment.
"We've been the underdog the past few years," he said. "No one expected us to win the EOWL, but we did. We have a talented team this year and we have some good young wrestlers. I think we can get four or five guys down there and place three. Hopefully, we'll be in the top 10 as a team."