If Josh Harmon had to list the five most important things regarding athletics, it would probably go something like this:<!—->.

Monday, May 14, 2001

If Josh Harmon had to list the five most important things regarding athletics, it would probably go something like this:

1. Winning.

2. Contributing to the win.

3. Winning.

4. Motivating others to win.

5. Winning.

Do you see a pattern to Harmon’s thinking?

The Ironton Fighting Tigers senior three-sport standout not only wants to do well himself, but he wants his teammates to do well. He figures if enough players do their job, the team will win. And winning is what Harmon is all about.

"If I don’t do well and we win, that’s okay with me. But don’t get me wrong. I want to play well because that means we have a better chance of winning. I want all our guys to play well. I hate losing," Harmon said.

Harmon has had more wins than loses during his career. A two-year starter in football, Ironton posted a 20-6 record that included a state runner-up his junior year and a berth in the Division IV regional championship game as a senior.

He was named first team all-district and special mention All-Ohio.

Harmon was a two-year starter in basketball and helped the Fighting Tigers go 12-10 this past season as he led the team in scoring and was named to the Associated Press and coaches’ all-district teams as an honorable mention selection.

Besides football and basketball, Harmon has been a two-year starter for the baseball team that upset South Webster in resounding fashion last Thursday 17-1. Harmon has been a key factor for Ironton in winning its fourth straight sectional championship.

"Josh is a heck of an athlete," Ironton coach Mark Lewis said. "We moved him to centerfield last year because we needed an outfielder and he became one of the best, if not the best, centerfielder around. He gets a great jump on the ball, has a good glove, and a good arm.

"This year he’s picked it up offensively. His average wasn’t that high last year, but he had 25 runs batted in and 11 stolen bases. He always came up with a big hit to drive in a run when we needed it. This year he’s doing whatever it takes to get on base and get us a run."

Harmon is hitting .349 – third best on the team – and leads Ironton with 22 walks, 32 runs scored, and 16 stolen bases. He’s made just one error, and that came when he was pitching.

"I’m just looking to get on base to get us rolling. That’s what my job is," Harmon said.

Once the high school season is over, Harmon wants to continue his career at the college level playing baseball.

"Shawnee has a spring workout and I’m going down there. Whatever comes around, I’ll go after it. I just like to play and I’m not ready to quit playing yet," Harmon said. "Hopefully, I’ve got about five or six more games in my high school career. That would mean we’re still winning and that we’d be in the state tournament. That’s what this is all about anyway."

Add number six to Harmon’s list. It’s called winning it all.