Cody Miller is 139-0, and wants to finish high school wrestling career in rare company
Photo by Vince Miller
SUMNER, Wash. - Sumner High School's Cody Miller isn't one to jump off hot topics - especially the steamy storylines.
This week, he knows he is at the center of something special - something rare - in the world of Washington high school wrestling entering Mat Classic.
Miller is gunning for four-year perfection.
And he ain't shying away from the subject.
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"I like questions about it," said Miller, just a short time after capturing a Class 4A regional title at Rogers of Puyallup. "It is a lot of pressure. But the pressure helps me wrestle good, even in matches when I necessarily don't need to because there is so much weight on something that could be so cool - undefeated for four years."
At 139-0, Miller opens Friday as the heavy favorite in the Class 4A 157-pound bracket at the WIAA championships in the Tacoma Dome.
If Miller wins his four matches, he will join Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls' Dalton Young (170-0 from 2014-17) as the only two wrestlers in state history to go undefeated in four seasons.
Young captured four WIAA titles during his tenure, but Miller will only be a three-time since state champion if he wins Saturday since his ninth-grade year (2021) had no postseason because of COVID-19 cancellation.
"He always performs great when it is against competition at the highest level," Sumner wrestling coach Matt Harshman said. "He knows how to finish tough situations."
And yet, as many marvel at his winning streak, Miller are largely kept his appearances to in-state tournaments or dual matches.
Why?
Miller has never been interested in national attention.
"He has always wanted to be a Sumner, Washington guy," Harshman said "He wasn't trying to earn a D1 scholarship, or go the Olympics route. When he came here, he made it clear he wanted to be part of a good high school team and get Sumner to become a dominant force.
"He believes in that community piece."
As of now, Miller has no intention of continuing in wrestling the conclusion of his prep career Saturday night. He has other ambitions, such as becoming an entrepreneur.
"He likes to work the sales world," Harshman said. "He takes silverware and turns it into jewelry."
That's not to say Miller has ducked any wrestler who has come his way. Over his career, he has defeated 10 combatants who were reigning state champions or went on to win those titles after he had beaten them.
Two of them happened to cross his path this year.
At a mid-afternoon dual match in early January against two-time 2A state champion Apollo Cruz, of Orting, Miller put on a show in a 10-2 victory.
"It was in front of our whole school, which helped me a lot," Miller said. "I had so much energy, even though I was so sick that day."
In late January, he met talented Arlington sophomore in the 157 finals at the W.F. West Bearcat Invite, and won a 1-0 decision.
What Miller considers his most impressive tournament win was at the 2023 Gut Check where he defeated three-time WIAA champion Jermiah Zuniga, of Toppenish, 6-5, in the 152 finals.
"He's always carried himself in a positive way," Orting wrestling coach Jody Coleman said. "You can't help but root for him."
Miller is hoping plenty of wrestling fans are cheering him on Saturday.
"With a giant crowd, I thrive under the pressure of that - and the pressure of being in front of thousands of people in there," Miller said.
"It is awesome. You have to perform your best. If not, in my eyes, you get kind of embarrassed in front of everyone. And that (feeling) definitely helps."
