Hunter Miller’s senior season has come to a close, but not without some pride and a podium finish at the IHSAA Wrestling State Finals!

Miller took sixth place overall after winning one of three matches in Saturday’s final round at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. His run to a championship ended after just 43 seconds in the quarterfinals as Evansville Mater Dei’s Hunter May needed just one takedown and a cover to get the pin and the advancement, which sent Miller to the back-four draw, where he took on Merrillville’s Adrian Pellot.

Getting back to what Miller has done so well in his career, the senior Warrior put on yet another shutout performance – his second of the weekend – in beating the Merrillville sophomore 5-0. Just a nearfall two from Miller in the second period was all the scoring through four minutes, but Miller opened with an escape off bottom, then made it academic with a takedown with 24 seconds left to close out the win and a guaranteed top-six.

In the final match of his high school career against Tell City’s Tyce DuPont, a nearfall three from DuPont with 45 seconds to go in the third was the big blow in a 6-2 result, leaving Miller in sixth overall after the state tournament.

“Hunter Miller’s career has been a prime example of how to ‘do it right’,” said Wawasee head coach Frank Bumgardner. “From his academics, weight management, goal setting, technical analysis, being coachable, to his tenacity on the mat, competitive spirit, offseason work ethic, and unwavering desire to be successful. Beginning his career vying for a varsity spot at 106 to ending his career as a state placer at 152 is the amazing culmination of those traits coming together. We could not be more proud, and we are extremely honored to have been a part of Hunter’s journey.

Continued Bumgardner on Miller’s legacy with the Wawasee program, “His family has put in a lot of time to him, his coaching staff has put in a lot of time and dedication to him, and he has given the same amount back. He does a very, very good job at being a complete human being. He was nominated for the Mental Attitude Award here at the state finals, which is a super prestigious award that one wrestler in the entire state wins that every year.

“His accolades are tremendous, state placer now, but also a four-time semi-stater, all the sectional and regional finishes, the All-Conferences. Two-time Academic All-State and has a 3.9 GPA. What a blessing he has been to us and our program.”