NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. (EYT/D9) — In Mylee Harmon’s world, everything is relative.
A fourth-place finish at the PIAA Track and Field Championships would satisfy a great many track and field athletes.
But not Harmon.
She expected more.
(Pictured above, Mylee Harmon drives to the hoop against Bishop McCort in the PIAA Class 2A playoffs/photo by Madison McFarland)
Harmon, a Redbank Valley sophomore in May, was the defending state champion in the 400-meter dash. All eyes were on her to repeat.
“I had everyone in the town and my family counting on me,” Harmon said, “and I felt like I let them down.”
Harmon was in tears after the race and struggled to gather her whirling thoughts.
Time has tempered those emotions — somewhat.
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The sting still remains for Harmon, now a junior at Redbank and a three-sport standout.
“I’m using it as fuel,” Harmon said. “I’m still not OK with it, and I don’t think I ever will be. I was expecting more and only getting fourth was upsetting. There was so much pressure. Fourth is still great, but I was first already. I wanted first. Now maybe it’s a little less pressure because I won’t be a two-time returning state champion.”
Harmon has already proven she doesn’t shy away from a challenge.
She’ll take on a big one this fall for the Redbank Valley volleyball team.
Harmon is making a radical position change, shifting from setter to outside hitter.
She doesn’t have a lot of experience at the net, but has worked on it this summer, fitting in time on the volleyball court around her hectic basketball schedule.
“I’ve never hit before, so I’ve put in a lot of work on that,” Harmon said. “It’s fun. I like it. I mean, I like being involved with every play as a setter, but I feel like that is my place. I do feel comfortable there.”
But where Harmon feels the most comfortable is on the basketball court, handling the ball as a point guard, stepping into passing lanes to get steals and slashing to the hoop to pile up points.
She turned in a prodigious sophomore season for Redbank Valley, averaging 21 points, 5.6 steals and 4.5 assists per game.
Harmon was named the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference MVP.
Harmon has helped the Bulldogs to back-to-back KSAC and District 9 championships in her time in uniform and is already closing in on 1,000 career points.
With a slew of senior graduation losses, but with a bevy of young talent around her, Harmon will move into more of a leadership role this winter.
She’s ready to embrace that.
“Last year, there were a bunch of seniors and now it’s one senior (Izzy Bond) and only two juniors, myself and Kira (Bonanno), so I’ll definitely have to be more of a leader,” Harmon said. “That also comes with being a point guard. I led some last year, but it was mostly the seniors. This year, I’ll definitely have to step up.”
THE HARMON FILE
NAME: Mylee Harmon
SCHOOL: Redbank Valley
YEAR: Junior
SPORTS: Volleyball, basketball, track and field
Q: How would you describe yourself as an athlete?
A: Very determined and hardworking. That whole states thing really set me back and that’s where I’m getting my determination from. It showed me I need to work harder.
Q: That was probably a hard lesson to learn, right?
A: It was, knowing that I’m not always gonna be on top and I’m gonna lose. It taught me that I can’t take anything for granted and I need to work hard.
Q: What do you do to get ready before volleyball match, basketball game or race?
A: I like listening to music. That’s mainly what I try to do. And I have to chew gum,
Q: What’s your favorite gum?
A: Polar ice flavor.
Q: What music do you listen to?
A: I listen to rap. My favorite rapper is Rod Wave.
Q: What do you do to handle a loss?
A: If it’s basketball, I go back and watch film to see what I did wrong and what I can improve upon.
Q: Is there another athlete who has mentored you?
A: Well, my freshman year, I would say it was all the seniors and juniors. They just all really brought me in and taught me what I need to know for the team and made it a great atmosphere.
Q: Favorite TV show?
A: I like a lot of cop shows. FBI, Chicago PD, stuff like that. And I like to watch Grey’s Anatomy.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: We Bought a Zoo.
Q: If you could be any player for a week, who would you be and why?
A: (Iowa women’s basketball player) Caitlin Clark. Then I’d just go out and shoot because then I could shoot from anywhere. Just to be able to do that would be amazing. She plays with such energy. I try to have that.
Q: What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
A: Probably that I don’t have many friends. I’m not a people pleaser. I don’t go out a lot and try to meet new people. I just kind of stay to myself.
Q: What hobbies do you have outside of sports?
A: I like staying home and spending time with my family. Family is important to me. I like watching movies with my mom (Megan). That makes me more happy than going out.
Q: How much do you look up to your mom?
A: She’s my biggest inspiration.
Redbank Valley, Keystone, and Union/A-C Valley sports coverage on Explore and D9Sports.com is brought to you by Heeter Lumber.
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