Blazing new trails, breaking the mold, shattering stereotypes. Check, check, and check. Angel Miller, a junior at Paw Paw High School, is not afraid to challenge the status quo. When she sees an opportunity, she develops a strategy, puts a plan in place and works hard to achieve her goals.
For these reasons and more, Angel Miller will be the first female wrestler from Paw Paw to compete at the Michigan High School Individual Wrestling Championships this Friday and Saturday at Ford Field. Fellow wrestling teammates Gavin Turk and Austin George, both PPHS seniors, will also be competing individually at Ford Field.
With so much talent, it’s hard to believe Angel has been wrestling for less than a year, so she explained, “My freshman year I did powerlifting, and I was seen as a very strong person physically, but at the time I just wasn’t really into athletics. Then, in my junior year I decided to join (wrestling) with a couple of friends. For the most part, I’ve kept to myself in school, but when the powerlifting and wrestling coaches introduced me to these individual sports, where it’s you and your strength, it was easier because relying on other people is a little hard for me.”
When asked what she’s learned about herself through wrestling, Angel said, “Not to get in my head a lot. Wrestling is one of those physical sports, but it’s mostly mental, and even though you might think you’re going to lose, you’ve got to walk in there and say, “I’m going to win. No matter what, I’m going to win.”
Holly Williams, who was recently named JV and Girls Wrestling Coach, had this to say, “Angel was very timid and shy, but I’m so proud of her and everything she has accomplished. Angel is an amazing young lady all around. Her hard work shows on the mat. She’s goes into each match with a goal and lays it all on the line.”