Mike Miller returns for tournament despite shoulder injury
Junior Mike Miller’s goal to begin the season was attaining a national championship.
Twice dislocating his left shoulder has not changed that plan.
The first dislocation took place Jan. 9 against Kaleb Young of Minnesota.
“My first thoughts were that I have to get healed up and back to it,” he said. “You can either back down and quit or you can man up and get to it.”
While Miller thought he would be out three weeks, a second dislocation during practice caused him to have to take off more time from competing.
The two-time All American had to change his style to suit his shoulder and get used to the protective equipment.
“I had to learn how to set up differently,” he said. “Learn how to protect myself, and that is about it.”
After popping the shoulder out again, Miller said he knew he was going to have to be careful about when he would come back to the mat.
“You have to be patient,” he said. “You can’t try to come back too early. Just having the patience to know what you can work on and getting stronger on the areas where you can get stronger.”
Championship focus
Miller said he is not worried about his shoulder despite competing for the first time in more than two months this weekend in the Mid-American Conference championships at Rose Arena.
“I am going to win a MAC Championship, and it is as simple is that,” he said. “I have it calculated, and I got used to my injury and the equipment that helps prevent the injury from happening again.”
While Central’s focus is on winning the national championship, Coach Tom Borrelli said he is confident in Miller’s ability and knows that as long as he stays healthy, Miller should be set for nationals.
“It’s important to make sure he doesn’t get in any awkward situations where he has a chance for his shoulder to slip out,” Borrelli said. “That is the most important thing. As long as his shoulder stays in, he should be fine.”
While Miller has one of two weight classes in the Mid-American Conference with three wrestlers ranked in the top 20, including reigning 184-pound MAC champion and No. 5 ranked Dustin Kilgore (Kent State), Millers said he is worried about one person only — himself.
“If I go out there and dominate, then it doesn’t matter what they do,” he said.
