Athlete of the Week

LebCo Athlete of the Week: Kyle Miller (Week Ending February 23, 2025)

by
Dan Rau
March 22, 2025

Kyle Miller

ELCO’s Kyle Miller capped off his stellar high school wrestling career with a trip to the PIAA State Championships. At the South Central Regional Championships, the senior secured his spot in Hershey with a 3rd place finish in the 215-pound weight class. It also earned him the votes necessary to be named a LebCo Athlete of the Week.

Miller, who went 134-47, during his time at ELCO. He also aided ELCO in winning the last two LL Section 3 Championships and his silver medal at Leagues this year helped the Raiders finished 2nd overall.

While all of the team victories and individual accolades have been important, the goal for Miller has always been to make States. Each of the past two years, he was stopped one match short of qualification.

When asked about how this affected his preparation, Miller said, “The past few years were a challenge because I was close to qualifying. I focused more on mindset training this year.”

All of the hard work paid off, with Miller battling his way to the bronze medal that also served as his ticket to Hershey. In fact, Miller led the way, as three of his teammates also qualified for States, including his younger brother, sophomore Klint Miller, along with Kylee Trostle and Kane Kline.

About the postseason, Miller said, “I was prepared and trusted in my training and coaches. I was very excited to punch a ticket to states!”

He then said, “It was equally exciting to see brother Klint qualify for the PIAA Championships.”

The fact that four Raiders made it to Hershey this season, including three male wrestlers after Trostle was the lone representative in 2024. This simple fact says a lot about the team mentality that played a role in the overwhelming success had by ELCO’s wrestlers this season.

Miller spoke about the role that the team focus played in his success this year, stating, “We became closer as a team this winter, something I felt contributed to our postseason success.”

At States, Miller won a match over Coatesville’s Rami Ayoub. This victory at the PIAA Championships marked an accomplishment that many high school wrestlers never get to experience. His trip to States was years in the making, with the win validating that he belonged among the best wrestlers in Pennsylvania.

Miller knows his journey would not have been possible without the support of many. He recognizes that it started at home with the support of his parents and brother. He is also thankful for his coaches Matt Fittery and Craig Ziegler, along with Dr. Joel Horning for helping him to stay injury free. Additionally, he is thankful to all of those in the ELCO community that have supported him over the years.

For those wondering, wrestling is the only sport in which Miller is involved. However, it is not the only thing he has competed in. Miller is very active in raising livestock, which he shows at the Lebanon County Fair each year. He is not only a client, he is also the president of the ELCO FFA.

When he’s not on the mat or taking care of his animals, Miller enjoys riding four-wheelers and when the weather turns colder, snow mobiles. When the snow melts, he enjoys water skiing. He is also a fan of trucks and tractors. Though for Miller it’s not just all about recreation, as he has obtained his CDL, something not common for those still in high school.

While the chapter has closed on Miller’s high school wrestling years, there is no doubt that he has shown his ability to succeed through hard work and dedication. This is something that will translate as he turns the page to the next phase of life. We congratulate Kyle on a great high school career and wish him all the best in the future!