CRESCO — Local youth wrestling fixture Duane Harney was recently honored by the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame with their Robert Roehler Awared, recognizing his decades of dedication to the sport.
Harney wrestled at Woodward-Granger from 1969-72. He began officiating wrestling in the early 1980’s. Harney has served as a junior high coach for W-G and was the head varsity coach from 1991-2000.
He retired after 37 years at Barr Nunn Transportation in Granger, having most recently served as Vice President of Maintenance. Along the way his wrestling ties generated a friendship and working relationship with Iowa State head coach Bobby Douglas. Harney was on the ISU Wrestling Club board for five years, serving as board president for two years.
In 1985 Harney started the Beaver Creek Wrestling Club, in which he remains active to this day, encouraging youth to be active on the mat and to be leaders among their peers.
Harney was noted as crediting his former high school coach — and Hall of Famer Dennis Field — for his devotion to the sport. He also expressed his gratitude to former W-G principal Larry Blaker, who brought him aboard as a coach.
