Morgan State redshirt freshman Eugene Harney etched his name in program history Saturday.
He became the Bears’ first-ever Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) champion during the second day of the 122nd annual championship hosted by American University at Bender Arena.
Competing at 149 pounds, Harney battled through the field to claim his first career EIWA title, marking a milestone moment for both the HBCU and its recently revived wrestling program. His victory also secured a bid to the upcoming NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.
The Cincinnati, Ohio, native outlasted No. 2 seed Riley Bower of Bucknell, 6–5, in a thrilling final. Bower, one of the few wrestlers to defeat Harney earlier this season, jumped out to a 3–0 lead after a first-period near fall. Harney closed the gap in the second period and surged ahead 5–4 entering the final minute.
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Harney win gets trip to the NCAA Tournament
With 23 seconds remaining, Bucknell challenged a reversal call that had been waved off, but officials upheld the ruling. Harney’s riding-time point sealed the 6–5 decision, his 28th win of the season and the most symbolic of his young career.
As a team, Morgan State totaled 64 points to place eighth in the standings. Lehigh captured the team title with 163.5 points, followed by Navy with 135.5.
Harney’s win marks Morgan State’s first conference championship since the program’s reinstatement, a resounding statement for the only HBCU currently competing at the Division I wrestling level.
