Joey Miller (left), a Woodward High School 103-pound weight class wrestler, escapes a wrestling hold during warm-upsy. (Staff Photo by ANDY CARPENEAN)
News Page
Female wrestler proving her worth on the mats
2/11/2005
By By Bruce Campbell
Staff Writer
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Joey Miller (left), a Woodward High School 103-pound weight class wrestler, escapes a wrestling hold during warm-upsy. (Staff Photo by ANDY CARPENEAN) |
Joey Miller might just change what may be a young male athlete’s biggest humiliation — losing to a girl.
The Woodward freshman’s 30-6 record and No. 5 ranking in Class 4A at 103 pounds is testament she’s a trailblazer among girl wrestlers in the state.
Just don’t call her a “girl” wrestler.
“I’m a wrestler who just happens to be a girl,’’ said Miller before receiving a forfeit in a dual with Enid Thursday at Mark Price Arena. “I don’t want to be treated any different. I’ve gotten where I am by working hard.’’
Woodward coach Greg Johnson hasn’t cut her any slack since she started in the sport at age 5 after her brother gave her a pair of wrestling shoes for Christmas.
“He figured I would quit, but I didn’t,’’ said Miller with a smile.
“She’s just another wrestler,’’ Johnson said. “I don’t care what you look like if you want to work, she steps up there to win ... if you step out on the mat you better be ready to wrestle or you’re going to lose.’’
Enid coach Shane Kerr said the Plainsmen didn’t duck Miller Tuesday. Enid didn’t have any available 103-pounders to go against her.
Five times this season a male wrestler has refused to wrestle Miller in a match.
“If they don’t want to wrestle (me), they should play basketball,’’ Miller said. “I get mad, really mad when that happens.’’
The boys that do wrestle her will go harder because they don’t want to lose to a girl, Miller said.
She said she has to work harder to get respect, but has not been taunted much by her competitors — most of whom have grown up wrestling against her. She said she has been treated well by teammates.
“The boys know she’s a wrestler,’’ Johnson said. “Most of those kids have wrestled tough matches against her or got beat by her growing up.’’
Some of the time, Johnson said, a team avoids her because they figure they’re going to lose to her.
“That’s just smart coaching,’’ Johnson said. “She doesn’t want to hear that. Most of the time she will be able to find them later at a tournament ... then she gets a chance to pay them back.’’
She has earned respect by going to El Reno on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the summer to work out with Team Oklahoma. She hopes to compete in the girls division this year.
Her parents — Jerry and Novell — have supported her from the beginning. She has competed in 19 different states. She is ranked No. 1 at 100 pounds nationally among female wrestlers her age.
“They have a lot to do with where I am now,’’ she said.
Johnson said her strength is her mental toughness.
“She refuses to lose to anybody,’’ Johnson said.
“I’m not afraid of anyone,’’ Miller said. “If they’re better than me, I’ll work harder so I can beat them. I would rather wrestle the top people.’’
Wrestling, she said, has gotten tougher as she gets older because of the strength factor. To combat this, she and her dad work on weight training almost every night.
She always saw wrestling the boys the same as she does the girls. She hasn’t lost to a girl since age 8.
“A win is a win,’’ she said when asked if beating a boy gave her a little more satisfaction. “I’ve always wrestled them, so it’s just the same.’’
Miller’s wrestling is a source of pride among girls in the school.
“We love it,’’ a friend said.
She has been at tournaments where the crowd — except for the school of her opponent — has gotten behind her. There have been times when fans around the mat where she’s competing have been asked to step back so everybody can see.
“That is exciting,’’ Miller said.
Her name — Joey — does throw some opponents off thinking they’re going to wrestle a boy.
Her dream is to compete in the 2008 Olympic Games. She has trained with members of the 2004 U.S. women’s wrestling team that competed in the Olympics for the first time.
Her hobby is operating a Web site that is a virtual encyclopedia of women’s wrestling. Miller is close friends with Cheyenne Stokes, a female wrestler at Tulsa East Central. The pair go to a number of national-level tournaments together.
“We’re (female wrestlers) all pretty close,’’ Miller said. “There’s a lot more of us than they’re used to be. There’s a little pressure being ranked No. 1. There’s a lot of people chasing you.’’
Her future plans are to attend Cumberland College in Kentucky, one of the few colleges that have a women’s team. However, if Oklahoma State ever started one, “I’m going to OSU.’’
She went to OSU coach John Smith’s camps as a youngster and “was treated just like anybody else.’’ OSU assistant coach Mark Branch was one of her favorite coaches growing up.
Johnson sees Miller as the No. 3 or No. 4 seed in next week’s regional at Chickasha. If she can qualify (top four), then she has to be considered among the top five, at least, in the state.
“It would be special if I can qualify,’’ Miller said. “If I work real hard, I’ll have a chance.’’
Miller faced some barriers Thursday, besides receiving a forfeit. Johnson usually calls ahead to places the Boomers travel so there will be accommodations for Miller. There were none Thursday, so she changed in the women’s restroom at Mark Price Arena.
Miller once played football, but “I’m too little for it now.’’
A wrestler is a wrestler after all.
“A sport is a sport,’’ she said.
She has strong words for those who don’t think she should compete against boys.
“It’s their opinion,’’ Miller said. “My opinion is girls can do whatever they want. I really want it. I liked winning ... I don’t like to lose ... I just love all of it.’’
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Winter intramural sports hit full stride at Valley
By TONY TRACY
VALLEY SPOTLIGHT REPORTER February 10, 2005
The 2005 intramural sports season started with girls' wrestling and basketball, and many Valley High School students are taking notice.
Intramural is a competition between or among members of the same school or college. And that is what is great about intramural sports; you and a couple of buddies can make a team and you actually get to play without all the training and regardless of how good you are. Intramurals take place on weeknights throughout most of the school year.
Gabe Carlson has been the staff wellness/student sports activities coordinator for the West Des Moines school district for three years and part of his job includes being in charge of intramurals at Valley. He has been a major part of making intramurals as successful as they are, making them almost as popular as they are at the college level.
Girls' wrestling became an intramural sport in Carlson's first year and has been going strong since.
"Student-led initiatives usually lead to the addition of a new sport to the intramurals program," Carlson said.
This was the case in girls' wrestling. Girls are allowed to wrestle with the varsity wrestlers, but the intramural program gives them the opportunity to wrestle without the grueling schedule of varsity sports. The girls can participate in three Iowa meets, one state meet and a national meet. Practice started in December but wrestling continues into February. If you think you could be a great girls' wrestler, practices are Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. and new faces are welcome.
Carlson tries to introduce new activities each year to increase student participation. Lacrosse has shown a large increase in players. Disc golf was also a new choice this year, and a new dodgeball league may be in the works for the spring.
The most popular choice for students, however, is basketball. Basketball is open to both boys and girls and started at the end of January. Basketball is a lot of fun for students with jobs or other conflicting activities in their schedule.
Participation is a great way to tell just how popular intramural sports have become. Sixteen teams of at least eight players were signed up last year and just as many are expected this year.
Basketball games will be at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 15 and 17 and March 1. Playoffs and championship games likely will take place on March 1.
With so many different activities, it's almost impossible not to find one that interests you.