Does anyone have any idea where Harrison Courtney is planning on going to college or what schools may be interested in him?

i do believe i heard he is really considering campbellsville

i do believe i heard he is really considering campbellsville

I think that'd be a shame, he could do better than NAIA

It's not about where he could go. It's about where he WANTS to go. Everyone has expectations for these kids, but you have to let them make up their own mind for their own reasons. While i think Harrison has the ability to wrestle at a higher level, it doesn't matter. If he wants to go NAIA that's his business.

NAIA doesn't always mean a lower level of wrestling. Sometimes the better wrestlers are at D2, D3, NAIA schools for other reasons. Sometimes amazing wrestlers can't academicaly make it in college and have to wrestle JUCO. Lindenwood is a NAIA school who wrestles a D1 scheduel and is very competitive with them. D1 guys get beaten by wrestlers from other divisions all the time, even highly ranked D1 studs. I saw Mark Perry from Iowa get majored by an NAIA wrestler.

NAIA doesn't always mean a lower level of wrestling. Sometimes the better wrestlers are at D2, D3, NAIA schools for other reasons. Sometimes amazing wrestlers can't academicaly make it in college and have to wrestle JUCO. Lindenwood is a NAIA school who wrestles a D1 scheduel and is very competitive with them. D1 guys get beaten by wrestlers from other divisions all the time, even highly ranked D1 studs. I saw Mark Perry from Iowa get majored by an NAIA wrestler.

that match is on youtube somewhere..

I think it's kind of ironic how many people in this state talk down about NAIA schools, but either (1) never wrestled in college, or (2) wrestled at a division above their ability and never accomplished anything.

Just saying.

Good points...and personally, I'd love to see him wrestling close to home.  I'm just thankful for the chances our home state heroes are getting to wrestle beyond h.s.  We're blessed these days to have colleges with wrestling programs in this state.  Whoever gets a chance to wrestle at Cumberland or Campbellsville should be proud of that accomplishment.

I think it's kind of ironic how many people in this state talk down about NAIA schools, but either (1) never wrestled in college, or (2) wrestled at a division above their ability and never accomplished anything.

Just saying.

Can't agree with you more... there are tons of STUDS at NAIA schools and many of them do beat highly ranked D1 wrestlers.  Maybe some people should turn on their inside voices before making idiotic claims or atleast think before they type. 

Just my opinion

And Id say he wants to go there to be close to home, has alot of kentucky wrestlers(his friends) and he can be very competitive his freshman year. As well to have some free time to be a college student and to focus on school. He realizes hes not gonna be a wrestler all his life.

Regardless of how good NAIA is. Div. 1 has the highest caliber of competition hands down. Theres no argument. All I'm saying is I'd like to see Courtney go D1.

I'd say Harrison feels like he's burnt out of wrestling.  He's been competing at a very high level for a few years now and he probably just wants to take a break.  Everyone has told him that in order to be the best, wrestling has to be your life and he doesn't want that.  He wants to enjoy the college experience and I think that's perfectly fine.  Am I disappointed that a talent of this caliber is not being used?  Honestly yes but I'm not disappointed in Harrison at all.  He's a great person and someone all young wrestlers and non-wrestlers for that matter should look up to and model their lives after.  Courtney has been a model citizen and I can only hope that he is as proud of himself as his coaches and parents are of him.

As far as Mark Perry being majored by an NAIA wrestler I don't think that happened but I could be wrong, I was once before lol jk jk.  If you're referring to the beginning of last season then it was Chris Brown from Old Dominion University, which is DI.  Brown is an exceptional athlete and was highly touted coming out of one of the best high schools in the country, Great Bridge in Virginia.  His coach is now his former high school coach, Steve Martin.  Not many highly ranked (top 10) DI wrestlers get beat by DII, DIII and NAIA wrestlers.  They make wrestling their lives to ensure that this doesn't happen.

I'd say Harrison feels like he's burnt out of wrestling.  He's been competing at a very high level for a few years now and he probably just wants to take a break.

Id say youre wrong, very wrong, and dont know what you speak of.

I'd say Harrison feels like he's burnt out of wrestling.  He's been competing at a very high level for a few years now and he probably just wants to take a break.

Id say youre wrong, very wrong, and dont know what you speak of.

Umm... ok.  It's just my opinion and sorry but I feel like I'm entitled to it.  Feel free to disagree.

Id say yall are all wrong and he just WANTS to go there. Hes not burnt out or he wouldnt wrestle. Id say Franky James has offered him a pretty good deal and he'll still be wrestling and he can always transfer if he doesnt  like it. Hed be kinda close to home and have a bunch of friends there as well.

Does anyone know if there is any D1 schools interested in him?

I know he got a letter from Illinois and some other colleges but Illinois is the only one I can specifically remember.  But getting a letter from Illinois shows the level of interest the major DI colleges have in him.  I would imagine he got one from Indiana, WVU, Mich St (especially since Mason Reid is there), Ohio St, and some others on that level.

As well to have some free time to be a college student and to focus on school. 

This is slightly off topic but still germane; if you are a collegiate athlete at any level it is a job. I've worked at a D1 and D2 school and while most athletes understand that they are they to get an education, they are paying for that education with their bodies. The athletes that know that and adjust are able to enjoy the experience, the one's that don't get it, don't make it. Anytime I work with an athlete that is recruited, I try to give them little insights about what to expect no matter what sport they play.

I know he got a letter from Illinois and some other colleges but Illinois is the only one I can specifically remember.  But getting a letter from Illinois shows the level of interest the major DI colleges have in him.  I would imagine he got one from Indiana, WVU, Mich St (especially since Mason Reid is there), Ohio St, and some others on that level.

I'd say Harrison feels like he's burnt out of wrestling.

How are you connected to Harrison Courtney? I mean how would you know that he got a letter from Illinois, and the other schools. You seem to know about him very well... mind sharing with us your connections to him? Just so that we know your information is legit.

This will probably not be received well, however part of the problem Kentucky wrestlers face coming out of high school is that they wrestle in a state in the South.  GRADUALLY the perception that southern states do not have superior wrestling talent is changing.  With schools like Bradenton, Florida and individuals like Kyle Ruschel from Kentucky and Jordan Leen (Cornell) and Nick Marable (Missouri) from Tennessee having success at the national level, major colleges are looking more at southern states.  However, make no mistake about it, the perception still exists that a 3rd place wrestler in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey New York or Illinois would be a better D1 potential than a 3X Alabama or Kentucky state champion.

Until our wrestlers have more success at the highest level, that perception will persist.  Wish Ruschell would have had a better NCAA tournament last year. Trust me, D1 coaches noticed Jordan Leen and Nick Marable last year, and will glance an eye down at Tennessee because of that.  Success at the next level will open more doors.

I'd say Harrison feels like he's burnt out of wrestling.  He's been competing at a very high level for a few years now and he probably just wants to take a break.  Everyone has told him that in order to be the best, wrestling has to be your life and he doesn't want that.  He wants to enjoy the college experience and I think that's perfectly fine.  Am I disappointed that a talent of this caliber is not being used?  Honestly yes but I'm not disappointed in Harrison at all.  He's a great person and someone all young wrestlers and non-wrestlers for that matter should look up to and model their lives after.  Courtney has been a model citizen and I can only hope that he is as proud of himself as his coaches and parents are of him.

As far as Mark Perry being majored by an NAIA wrestler I don't think that happened but I could be wrong, I was once before lol jk jk.  If you're referring to the beginning of last season then it was Chris Brown from Old Dominion University, which is DI.  Brown is an exceptional athlete and was highly touted coming out of one of the best high schools in the country, Great Bridge in Virginia.  His coach is now his former high school coach, Steve Martin.  Not many highly ranked (top 10) DI wrestlers get beat by DII, DIII and NAIA wrestlers.  They make wrestling their lives to ensure that this doesn't happen.

Mark Perry was beaten (and I'm fairly sure he was majored) by Jacob Dieffenbach, 2X NAIA national champion 1X runner up.

This will probably not be received well, however part of the problem Kentucky wrestlers face coming out of high school is that they wrestle in a state in the South.  GRADUALLY the perception that southern states do not have superior wrestling talent is changing.  With schools like Bradenton, Florida and individuals like Kyle Ruschel from Kentucky and Jordan Leen (Cornell) and Nick Marable (Missouri) from Tennessee having success at the national level, major colleges are looking more at southern states.  However, make no mistake about it, the perception still exists that a 3rd place wrestler in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey New York or Illinois would be a better D1 potential than a 3X Alabama or Kentucky state champion.

Until our wrestlers have more success at the highest level, that perception will persist.  Wish Ruschell would have had a better NCAA tournament last year. Trust me, D1 coaches noticed Jordan Leen and Nick Marable last year, and will glance an eye down at Tennessee because of that.  Success at the next level will open more doors.

Wrestling Dad you hit the nail on the head. The south is considered to be a football and basketball talent rich area, but as you said, when the few D1 recruits begin to show they can compete and win on the D1 level then you will see more and more big time schools coming below the mason-dixon line to sign quality athletes.

Mark Perry was beaten (and I'm fairly sure he was majored) by Jacob Dieffenbach, 2X NAIA national champion 1X runner up.

Was Perry beaten by Dieffenbach when he was at Lindenwood or when he transferred to Oklahoma State for his senior year?  I don't bring this up to detract from your argument; I agree that the NAIA is a tough division.  Dieffenbach was a different story though - he transferred from Missouri to Lindenwood after redshirting, had a great career in the NAIA, then transferred to Oklahoma State his senior year.  He was ranked pretty highly most of the season, earning that ranking after beating some tough opponents (one of which, I presume, was Perry), but was unfortunately hurt prior to the national tournament.  He did wrestle nationals, but I think he ended up a match out of placing.

I watched Bobby Lashley, Turk Lords, and Emmett Wilson all beat down D-1 competition. These guys were all extraordinary athletes that represented the NAIA. They all could of went D-1, but chose not to because of a reason or another. Just because a kid wants to wrestle close to home or a school that they may like is okay. If he doesn't want to burn out and just enjoy his schooling we should be just happy that he is representing our state. He will still get tough competition no matter where he chooses to wrestle.

I watched Bobby Lashley, Turk Lords, and Emmett Wilson all beat down D-1 competition. These guys were all extraordinary athletes that represented the NAIA. They all could of went D-1, but chose not to because of a reason or another. Just because a kid wants to wrestle close to home or a school that they may like is okay. If he doesn't want to burn out and just enjoy his schooling we should be just happy that he is representing our state. He will still get tough competition no matter where he chooses to wrestle.

Regardless, D1 had the highest level of competition. There's no argument. NAIA/D2/D3 may have good competition and there may be a few individuals that can hang with D1 opponents, but D1 is way ahead of the pack in terms of competition/quality of wrestling.

Regardless, D1 had the highest level of competition. There's no argument. NAIA/D2/D3 may have good competition and there may be a few individuals that can hang with D1 opponents, but D1 is way ahead of the pack in terms of competition/quality of wrestling.

I agree with you that D1 is the highest level of competition.  But I believe you are exaggerating the gap between the different divisions.  Some kids fly under the radar and are never really looked at seriously for D1 unless they go to nationals and do well.  Take Kyle Ruschell for example.  I heard he was headed to NAIA or D3 until he placed in Senior Nationals and other big tournaments.  After that he was signed D1.  At that level he has excelled and been ranked nationally for 2 years now.  If he hadn't had the opportunity or the means to go to senior nationals he would have been missed and went NAIA.  He was a great wrestler either way.  That's how I look at Courtney.  Whatever his reasons for not choosing D1 if he chooses this path are his reasons.  I believe he is good enough to go either division and do well.

Are or were any D-1 schools looking at him?

Yes there are several Oklahoma,Illinois,Va Tech, Penn,Penn St., West Point, Naval Academy,Rutgers,Princeton,Harvard,Maryland,Stanford,Binghamton,Ryder,Cornell,Pitt,several others just remember these off the top of my head and many D2 and D3 schools

Yes there are several Oklahoma,Illinois,Va Tech, Penn,Penn St., West Point, Naval Academy,Rutgers,Princeton,Harvard,Maryland,Stanford,Binghamton,Ryder,Cornell,Pitt,several others just remember these off the top of my head and many D2 and D3 schools

HOW DO YOU PEOPLE KNOW THESE THINGS?!?!?!?!

I know him pretty good

I know him pretty good

So are you Harrison Courtney? Or just a teammate? Or maybe a coach? Are you Joe Carr Junior?

So are you Harrison Courtney? Or just a teammate? Or maybe a coach? Are you Joe Carr Junior?

I know Harrison's nickname is possum, so if you can put 2 and 2 together, you can figure out who possumdaddy is.  Plust look at possumdaddy's history of posts.  I'd consider him a subject matter expert on Harrison Courtney. 

Harrison Courtney will fit in great here at Campbellsville University. I know from personal experience that Coach James and his staff are great coaches. Harrison is considering wrestling here simply because that's what he wants to do, not what everyone else wants him to do. Where to go to college is a huge decision that will affect the rest of his life. It's important that he goes where he wants to go and also somewhere where he can excel in wrestling and get a great education. I beleive he can accomplish great things on any level of wrestling, Campbellsville is a great place and maybe he feels he wants to wrestle and go to school close to home and have a balance between wrestling and academics.

So are you Harrison Courtney? Or just a teammate? Or maybe a coach? Are you Joe Carr Junior?

No ............ he is Spartacus

I know him pretty good

Maybe too well! How many of his diapers have you changed? :-D :-D :-D Good luck Coutney where ever you GO. 8-)

I think that'd be a shame, he could do better than NAIA

Let me ask you a question eagle. Have you ever attended an NAIA match? Apparently you haven't, because if you had you would have seen that most of those guys can hang with D2, D3, or even D1 wrestlers.

Let me ask you a question eagle. Have you ever attended an NAIA match? Apparently you haven't, because if you had you would have seen that most of those guys can hang with D2, D3, or even D1 wrestlers.

Sure they can. And, D1 can hang with Olympians.

Did I just poke the Bear?

I graduated from Woodford and have wrestled with and worked with Harrison for a few years now.  I know him better than most of the state but I would say possumdaddy knows him a little better than I do.

One thing I can say about his personality is Harrison is the most humble and gracious people I have ever met considering what he has achieved.  Never once have I heard him boast about his accomplishments or talk down to another wrestler.  I wish him the best of luck in literally whatever he decides to do with his life, wrestling or not.

Let me ask you a question eagle. Have you ever attended an NAIA match? Apparently you haven't, because if you had you would have seen that most of those guys can hang with D2, D3, or even D1 wrestlers.

I have never attended a NAIA match but did wrestle for a pretty good DII program and I can say that DI is another level, the top schools two levels, above us.  We competed in the WVU Open, the Midwest Classic (a tough DII/DIII tournament similar to Midlands) and against some decent DI teams like Cleveland St for example.  We had a national champ get pinned by someone from Kent St who didn't even qualify for DI nationals as a four-year starter.  The former Kent St wrestler is now a coach at Henry Clay.  I would also say that NAIA is a level below DII and DIII, just my opinion considering I beat and many of my teammates beat NAIA All-Americans.  I was started all four years but never qualified for nationals, a similar career to the Kent St wrestler but on the DII level.

This all being said the difference between DI and the rest is the depth, similar to KY high school vs PA/OH/IA/CA.  Most of the champs could probably compete at the higher level but after that the level drops off considerably.  Most DI All-Americans would win the DII national tournament pretty easily.  The DII champs could compete and possibly even win a title in DI but the guy who got 5th or a similar place would be lucky to even qualify for nationals.

Yes there are several Oklahoma,Illinois,Va Tech, Penn,Penn St., West Point, Naval Academy,Rutgers,Princeton,Harvard,Maryland,Stanford,Binghamton,Ryder,Cornell,Pitt,several others just remember these off the top of my head and many D2 and D3 schools

This is a pretty good list.  Like he said there are others but one can't keep a list like that together just in his head.  I told my old DII school to not even bother because he was above our level.

HOW DO YOU PEOPLE KNOW THESE THINGS?!?!?!?!

WHY ARE YOU YELLING?

I have never attended a NAIA match but did wrestle for a pretty good DII program and I can say that DI is another level, the top schools two levels, above us.  We competed in the WVU Open, the Midwest Classic (a tough DII/DIII tournament similar to Midlands) and against some decent DI teams like Cleveland St for example.  We had a national champ get pinned by someone from Kent St who didn't even qualify for DI nationals as a four-year starter.  The former Kent St wrestler is now a coach at Henry Clay.  I would also say that NAIA is a level below DII and DIII, just my opinion considering I beat and many of my teammates beat NAIA All-Americans.  I was started all four years but never qualified for nationals, a similar career to the Kent St wrestler but on the DII level.

This all being said the difference between DI and the rest is the depth, similar to KY high school vs PA/OH/IA/CA.  Most of the champs could probably compete at the higher level but after that the level drops off considerably.  Most DI All-Americans would win the DII national tournament pretty easily.  The DII champs could compete and possibly even win a title in DI but the guy who got 5th or a similar place would be lucky to even qualify for nationals.

That is a great analogy.  I never wrestled college or even came close, but that's what I would have guessed the difference to be similar to.

In the end, Harrison...get the most out of your college experience.  You've earned it.  Pick a college that you will get a great education and be successful in life after wrestling.  Set your goals and achieve them on the mat...but bust your @$$ in the classroom.

I can actually relate a little bit to Harrison's situation on this one.  Although not for wrestling, but I had opportunities to play football at the DI level.  I had scholarship offers from Ball St., Ohio and EKU, but in the end chose a to take a full academic ride to a DIII instead because I wanted to stay closer to home and I felt the academics were better where I attended, which in turn would set me up for what matters most and it wasn't football.  I still wanted to play football and I was a fairly good player, but was starting to face reality and the fact was I was never going to the NFL.  I had a great college experience and wouldn't trade it for anything.  I received my degree in 4 years, met my wife there and the education I received set me up with the experience and confidence necessary to obtain the job I now hold, which by the way is a great one.  Now, was the level of football still the same as it would have been had I played DI?  No way, but it was still very competitive and there were some players who could play DI and would give DI guys a run for their money.  Some still wound up in the NFL despite playing DIII ball.  I'm sure the same can be said for wrestling.  As a whole, I'm sure that NAIA is not on the same level as DI (no offense), but that doesn't mean there aren't any wrestlers on that level who can compete with the big boys.  In the end, I always wondered if I could have seriously competed in DI, but the decision I made was the right one without a doubt.  Go where you want to Harrison and for the reasons you want.  Don't let others persuade you because you're the one who has to live with what decision you make, not them.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with Campbellsville.  They have fine academics, a good wrestling team, a good coaching staff, which are all things you're probably looking for.  I do have just one piece of advice:  Make sure to check out the female student population.  That's always an important deciding factor.   Good luck.

This will probably not be received well, however part of the problem Kentucky wrestlers face coming out of high school is that they wrestle in a state in the South.  GRADUALLY the perception that southern states do not have superior wrestling talent is changing.  With schools like Bradenton, Florida and individuals like Kyle Ruschel from Kentucky and Jordan Leen (Cornell) and Nick Marable (Missouri) from Tennessee having success at the national level, major colleges are looking more at southern states.  However, make no mistake about it, the perception still exists that a 3rd place wrestler in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey New York or Illinois would be a better D1 potential than a 3X Alabama or Kentucky state champion.

Until our wrestlers have more success at the highest level, that perception will persist.  Wish Ruschell would have had a better NCAA tournament last year. Trust me, D1 coaches noticed Jordan Leen and Nick Marable last year, and will glance an eye down at Tennessee because of that.  Success at the next level will open more doors.

Makes sense, if you look at the seeding criteria for the Beast of the East.  States like KY,AL, WV etc. only receive 70 pts for being a State Champ,  Tier 2 gets 80 pts, and Tier 1 gets 90 pts, OH, PA, NJ, CA.  Seeding is over 80% correct. Major colleges are looking at the south a bit more but only if they are producing results at the national level.  Diamond in the rough, find a super tough kid that is not being recruited by dozens of other schools.

I know him pretty good

Watch this ol' boy, he's very sly... :-D

Just curious does anyone know what national tournaments Courtney has actually placed in besides sophomore nationals.  Has he ever wrestled in the Beast, Ironman, Fargo, etc.?

How cool would it be if he went to West Point with Starks?  Just sayin...

That would be cool, Starks has been trying to get Harrison to come there.  I'm not his dad but I don't know if Harrison would like the military regime of West Point.  It's pretty common to have wrestlers from the same high school go to the same college, we had several like that.

That would be cool, Starks has been trying to get Harrison to come there.  I'm not his dad but I don't know if Harrison would like the military regime of West Point.  It's pretty common to have wrestlers from the same high school go to the same college, we had several like that.

Yes, but this is not a college.  A military academy like West Point requires a congressional appointment. 

Yes, but this is not a college.  A military academy like West Point requires a congressional appointment. 

Really?  I knew West Point was prestigious but it really is quite an accomplishment to get in there.  Is it the same at the Naval and Air Force Academies?

Really?  I knew West Point was prestigious but it really is quite an accomplishment to get in there.  Is it the same at the Naval and Air Force Academies?

AF academy yes, so I would assume the same is true for the Naval academy.

Well my father was able to run Cross Country for Navy for a year. So we really shouldn't have to bring up the whole fact West Point is milatary academy IMO

Yes, but this is not a college.  A military academy like West Point requires a congressional appointment. 

I'm pretty sure, that if they are recruiting you then the academy will help you with the appointment.

Isnt there another one coming throught the ranks now? Is it his younger brother, cousin,or am i wrong all together?

Younger brother.

Younger brother.

how is he? what grade is he in?

I believe the younger brother is in eighth grade. My son lost to him a few weeks ago and the Harrison kid looked pretty good.

I believe the younger brother is in eighth grade. My son lost to him a few weeks ago and the Harrison kid looked pretty good.

Actually I think he's in the 7th grade but I could be wrong.  You're right he is pretty good.

Wyatt is in 7th

Wyatt is in 7th

wyatt courtney? how long has he been wrestling? what weight is he at? is he wrestling for woodford high school or for middle school?