Wrestling with Dad

Trailing 9-2 in his first varsity match, Andy Harmoney heard what is music to the ears of any wrestler in such a predicament—his opponent breathing heavy. The Arlington High School wrestler doesn't recall that opponent's name or even what school he went to; all he remembers is the look of complete pride and relief that crossed his father's face when he rolled the guy onto his back and pinned him. Andy, a heavyweight at Arlington High School, is coached by his father Henry Harmoney, who said coaching his son is something that gives him great pleasure, yet can also be a bit nerve-wracking. "It absolutely kills me when he loses," Henry said. "But I remain positive with him. That's when I go back to the supportive dad role." Henry, a two-time national college qualifier and All-American wrestler, is a member of the Texas Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Wrestling Hall of Fame in Nebraska, his home state. Henry has coached the likes of 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist, Brandon Slay, but said he has never put extra pressure on his son to follow in his footsteps. "I wasn't going to be one of these dads that just forced him to do it," Henry said. "It's a fine line that I run between being dad and coach...and coaching Andy is the hardest job that I've ever done." Andy plays football, is a member of the National Honor Society and a member of the Key Club at Arlington High School. He said his love affair with wrestling was definitely inspired by his father. "I've always wrestled for my dad," Andy said. "He's my number one fan, and I know it's hard for him to coach me sometimes because I'm his son, but he's coached me from the time I first started." Andy started wrestling at the age of four and said one interesting dynamic that has presented itself over the years has been how to address his father on the mat. "I asked him that my first year," Andy said. "I didn't want to sort of step on anything, and I just call him 'dad.' Sometimes that doesn't get answered, so I go with 'Coach Harmoney.' But, mostly, it's 'dad.'" Getting to where he is today has not been an easy road for Andy, as he had a major obstacle he would have to overcome before he could even step foot on the mat. "When I was little, I couldn't wrestle as much because I was too heavy," Andy said. "One thing that really scared me when I was little was that I would not be able to wrestle when I got into high school...so when I dropped the weight, I remember it was so cool last year to win a medal with my Greco and actually have it be a fight. When I was younger, I would win a medal, but it would be because I was bigger and nobody else could wrestle me." As an eighth grader, Andy weighed over 300 pounds. But, with a diet and exercise regimen, he dropped nearly 75 pounds and now competes at between 255 and 260 pounds. Andy said he has never felt like Henry has put any added pressure on him to succeed and said, having his father sit at the corner of the mat while the other fathers are in the stands is something with which he has grown quite comfortable. "I don't feel as much pressure from my dad as I do myself," Andy said. "Dad loves me either way if I win or lose, so I put a lot more pressure on myself to win. As far as him being out there with me, I got used to that a long time ago." -