News

Miller signs to wrestle for OCU in 2008

By ROBERT CASSIDY
SPORTS EDITOR 5/12/07

Woodward wrestler Joey Miller signs a letter of intent to compete for Oklahoma City University while OCU wrestling coach Archie Randall looks on. (Photo by Robert Cassidy)

Being one the nation's top female wrestlers has its perks. In cases such as . this howcver, it has 100,000 of them.
Woodward High School's Joey Miller, who is regarded as one of the country's best female wrestlers, signed a national
letter of intent to wrestle for coach Archie Randall's upstart women's wrestling team at Oklahoma City University on Friday. .
Miller, a junior. at Woodward, will begin her career at OCU during the 2008 season and. Randall estimates that her scholarship IS worth between $22,000 and $24,000 per year and will pay Miller around. $100,000 in scholarship money through out her tenure at the school. Not a bad pay day for an athlete whose craft was viewed as taboo just a short time ago"
'There are only about seven women's wrestling programs in the country right now, but that 'number should grow to about, 30 over the next three to five , years," 'said Randall of the rapidly grow ing sport.
Miller welcomes the transition into wrestling women exclusively, but cites her history of competing against men as a reason' for her vast accomplishments in the sport.
"Wrestling guys has helped my technique and made me stronger," she said. Miller has experienced great success on the mat with men. She has been nothing short of dominant. against other women. Miller captured the United States Girls Wrestling Association National Championship as an eighth grader, and has repeated the feat every year since. She is an two-time ASlCS All American and will attempt to win her fifth national title next year, but she. views her past accomplishments and future as a collegiate wrestlers as stepping stone to her ultimate goal. . . London.

Miller's focus is on the 2012 Olympic Games in the City on The Thames and her Olympic aspirations weighed heavily on her decision to attend OCU.
"Coach Randall is a great coach," said Miller. "He will make the program really good. and he will be able to help me reach my goal (of making the Olympic team)."
Randall, who built a dynasty during his tenure as wrestling coach at El Reno High School, has history with Miller who attended his camps, and trained under his tutelage during the summer months.
"Unfortunately, ! had to coach against her," said Randall of how he first became familiar with Miller.
Though the two have formed a relationship over the years, Randall thinks Miller's decision to wrestle under him was made in the classroom.
'The decision was based on academics for her. At OCU a degree comes first and athletics come second." Randall said.
Though Miller, an honor student and academic letterman, has no problem focusing inside the classroom, she makes it clear where her passion truly lies.
'We're going to be the top team, and we're going to win it all," she said of her collegiate goals.