Darrin Miller wins tourney title
Royal freshman Eduardo Rodriguez starts to turn his quarterfinal opponent onto his back for two points en route to pin at 106 pounds.
ROYAL CITY - Royal High School may be a top-5 wrestling team this year, and leading the charge toward state is junior Darrin Miller.
Miller is 18-1 this year with the lone loss to a two-time 3A state champ from North Central of Spokane. Miller has 16 pins to his credit this year.
The most recent four pins came at last week's Royal Christmas Tournament. He swept through opponents from Goldendale, Othello, Chewelah and Ephrata.
Miller was the tourney champ at 170 pounds. Three other Knights with hopes of placing at state took second place. They were Kiki Chabolla at 120, Carlos Hernandez at 126 and Eduardo Rodriguez at 106.
Chabolla and Hernandez placed at state last year. Rodriguez is a freshman who has arrived on the high school mat scene like a storm.
Two other Knights finished fourth. They were Miguel Ayala at 220 and Gerard Weyns at 182. Coach Randy Miller expects them and a couple of others to make it state, but they'll have elevate their games.
"We need some more work at some weights, but I feel we will be a strong force in league matches," coach Miller said.
"I am very proud to coach such a great group of kids this season," coach Miller added. "If we can continue to improve and stay committed to each other in January, this team could be a contender for a team top four finish at state in February.
Darrin Miller's run for a state title, which fell just short last year (fourth place), is fueled by his desire to be the best. He spends countless hours perfecting his wrestling skills, and he breezes through most of his matches.
Losing a close match in an upset in the quarter finals at state last year against Vashon Island is acting as a catalyst toward Miller's mission this season.
Darrin was born to wrestle, you could say. His father was a crack wrestler back in the day and dedicates much of his time to coaching Darrin and other Royal boys.
Darrin has been wrestling since the age of six. He has been attending high-school practices since fifth grade.
"No one in the practice room has been easy on him," coach Miller said. "Everyone wants to beat the coach's kid, no matter what his age and weight is."
Being the coach's son can be an advantage. He gets more coaching than the rest of the team.
"The coach's kid has to go home every day with the coach, so coaching never stops," Randy said. "The road to a state title is never easy for anyone, and Darrin is no exception."
Darrin spends countless hours outside of the season attending camps and wrestling USA tournaments. He practices with whomever he can grab to roll around on a late school night or Sunday afternoon.
Often the opponent is Dad, who is shorter but heavier and quite muscular. If he can handle Dad, then he can handle just about anybody.
"He does what it takes to bridge the gap in points needed to be on top," Randy said.
Darrin is rather quiet, at least in public. He's just one of the boys. He tends to lead by example, on the mats, and that builds a bond with his teammates.
What Randy most likes about the effort Darrin makes is the person it's producing. Wrestling is the most disciplined of prep sports. Penalties are severe (ejection) for unsportsmanlike conduct. Wrestlers are not allowed to taunt, talk smack or throw tantrums.
"Wrestlers who put in all those hours on and off the wrestling mats are building the foundation toward being a productive person in their futures," Randy said. "Darrin's respect makes his dad and mom very proud of him."
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