menu Home
Local NewsSports

Garaway’s Kyle Miller returns to state wrestling tournament

| March 8, 2022
Kyle Miller

SUGARCREEK (WJER) (March 7, 2022) – Garaway senior Kyle Miller on Saturday completed his long journey back to the state wrestling tournament after last qualifying his freshman year.

Miller finished second at 113 pounds in the Division III district tournament at Heath High School to punch his ticket to this coming weekend’s state meet in Columbus.

Pirates Coach Greg Miller says Kyle kept a positive attitude and was there for his teammates even as injuries kept him sidelined.

“He’s just such a good kid,” Coach Miller said. “All the kids in the program, from kindergarten on up to the middle school kids, look up to him. He’s a good role model for them. He’s special off the mat and he’s also special on the mat. For me, as a coach, thinking about that, I’m thankful that I got to coach him.”

Coach Miller described Kyle as an intelligent strategist, although his strategy in his state-qualifying district semifinal win kept the coach on the edge of his seat. With the score tied 3-3, Kyle bided his time until the final 10 seconds to score the match-winning, one-point escape.

“I’m trying to encourage him to, ‘Get out, get out, get out!’” Coach Miller said. “He was kind of one step ahead of me. It was hard to sit in my chair watching him getting ridden out there a little bit. He knew he could get out he was just waiting for the right time to get that escape right at the end. Smart move on his part, I guess, in my opinion.”

The state tournament starts Friday at the Schottenstein Center. Kyle Miller is one of eight Tuscarawas County wrestlers competing but the only one in Division III. In Division II, Dover has four wrestlers. New Philadelphia, Claymont and Indian Valley each have one.

Written by