When most people read my name at the top of the paper and the title most will assume it’s about some guy that’s an amazing wrestler that they have never heard of, or about Vinnie or Teddie because their talent at the sport is so remarkable. Well this story is about the other Harvey wrestler that seems to not get the same kind of recognition for his efforts because his face isn’t on the front of the paper everyday after a meet. It’s about Eddie Harvey, the wrestler who inspired me every time I felt like quitting.

Years ago Eddie was involved in a four wheeler accident that left him without control over his right arm, leaving the wrist and arm permanently bent and a slight limp for which he wears an ankle brace. Despite this, he has never let those events that happened years ago effect his wrestling career . On top of dealing with only having one arm to wrestle with, not to mention the difficulty of wrestling in itself, Eddie also had to cut more weight than anyone I know of. It was never clear on how much he had originally cut but when he came in four pounds over the day before our first meet, it was evident to me that he was having trouble getting down. Because of this he also would run more than most of the team when he was done. Win, lose or draw, Eddie would almost always find a hallway after his match and run sprints. That’s just who he is though. Excuses aren’t acceptable in his eyes, no matter the difficulty of the task at hand.

I had always thought of Eddie Harvey as an inspiration, but prior to this year, I had never seen it first hand or realized how amazing he was. Everyday he was up in that wrestling room, fully dressed in sweats because of the weight he had to lose, ready to wrestle. He never made an excuse, no matter what the circumstance. We did pull - ups, he found somebody to hold his feet and he did pull - ups. We did push - ups, he did push - ups. With the exception of jump roping, in which he biked, Eddie never let his disability get in his way. Watching these events, was one of the most inspiring things I think I’ll ever witness in my time here on earth. Every single time I got down on myself and thought I should just give in, I’d look up and see Ed giving it his all and I’d ask myself: “You’re tired by your use of the word, but are you tired by his?” And each time I asked myself this question I knew the answer was no, I knew it always would be. How in any realm of possibility could I think I had as good of an excuse to give up as he does.

Last night, in the meet against Applington - Parkersburg, I knew if we didn’t win that Eddie’s high school career would be over. I knew I had to give everything I had to win for Ed’s sake. I walked out on the mat, over zealous and hyped up on inspiration, and got thrown directly to my back. All I could think as the ref counted back points in my ear was “This is how you want the last meet of Ed’s wrestling career to go down? The image of you flailing hopelessly as the ref blows the whistle and slaps the mat for a pin forever sketched in his mind?” With this thought I found the courage to roll through to my stomach and escape. I knew I might not win, especially with the 5-1 hole I just threw myself into, but I wasn’t going down without a fight. I wouldn’t let this A-P crowd think I was just another guy that their precious 10th ranked wrestler pinned in his march to state. I was going to give this kid a run for his money, no matter what happened. And quite honestly I can say I did. The scoreboard may have read 11 - 4 when it was over but you and both know numbers don’t tell the whole story. Many of my teammates would tell he stalled the last two periods out. Some would tell you the ref blew the whistle for out of bounds every time I was about to score. But I prefer to follow in Ed’s footsteps and not make an excuse or feel sorry for myself. I lost. It’s a fact I have to face. But I kept my head held high and wouldn’t people get the satisfaction of seeing my tears until I was completely alone. And even though I feel I failed Eddie that day, I picked myself up after having many reasons just to lie there and take the beating, and I think Eddie would’ve done the same. In fact, in his last match of his high school career, Ed pulled his kid by the neck to the mat, flipped him over and stuck him. He got up, had his hand raised and walked off the mat like a man.

It was the most inspirational thing I have ever seen in my entire life. He never threw in the towel despite having one arm and a limp. He never threw in the towel when he got behind. And though many would say he wasn’t successful because he never made it to the top of the podium, he will always be a champ in my heart. Watching him walk off that mat victoriously will stick with me forever. And where ever I end up in life, whether it be wrestling or anything else, I know that when I get down and feel like throwing in the towel, the image of Eddie Harvey will race through my mind. And I will persevere through my obstacles, just like he did.