Buena's Jon Miller has made the most of his time on the mat in his junior season

After winning Pacific View League and CIF-Southern Section titles, Buena High junior Jon Miller is one of several area wrestlers who will compete in the Masters meet this weekend in hopes of qualifying for the state tournament.
After winning Pacific View League and CIF-Southern Section titles, Buena High junior Jon Miller is one of several area wrestlers who will compete in the Masters meet this weekend in hopes of qualifying for the state tournament.
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Of any and all sports, wrestling might represent the most solitary of disciplines.

It's just you on the mat with your opponent. No one to pick you up. No teammate to bail you out.

Which, at that, is one of the prime reasons why Jon Miller has been enamored with wrestling since he was 6 years old.

"I like that about it," says the Buena High standout. "It's just me on the mat. I can't blame anyone but myself if something goes wrong. It's all about what I can do. It all falls on me."

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Very little has gone south in what's become a remarkable junior season for the 160-pound performer.

He's a heady 27-2 on the season, including individual titles in the Pacific View League finals at Channel Islands and the CIF-SS Northern Division championships a week ago at Shadow Hills High.

More: Area wrestlers win CIF-Southern Section individual titles, qualify for Masters

Miller was Ventura County's lone individual Southern Section champion to emerge from six divisional finals.

After last weekend's dominance, where he finished 5-0 with three pins, one technical fall and one major decision, Miller gears up for the next prodigious challenge.

He's among the county's 21 boys wrestlers to earn qualifying berths in the uber-difficult CIF-SS Masters Meet on Friday and Saturday at Sonora High. The top-9 finishers in each weight class will qualify for the CIF-State Championships.

Southern Section champions Lourdes Lazo of Pacifica and Angelina Renteria of Hueneme, each at 170 pounds, are among 15 area girls who will compete in the CIF-SS Girls Masters at Marina High.

Miller appreciates what's ahead.

"It's going to be tough, because there are so many good wrestlers I'll be going up against," said Miller. "But it's exciting. I feel like I'm wrestling well and I'm going in with a lot of confidence. Reaching the state finals has always been my ultimate goal."

Miller's spot in the Masters is his first, which is not surprising. A year ago, there were no postseason tournaments staged during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I'm thankful to have this opportunity this year," he said. "I need to take advantage."

Miller's success as an 11th-grader demonstrates his maturity into the total package.

He counts on a strong 6-foot-4 frame to subdue opponents, but knows that the sport demands much more than that.

"The mental side of wrestling to me is more important that the physical part," he said. "Wrestling can be a grind. You need the right frame of mind and a strong focus to be successful."

Old-fashioned smarts plays a role, too.

Miller's experience enables him to size up opponents he's battling for the first time, particularly in high-stakes tournaments.

"My style is more passive in my approach," he said. "I consider myself a strong defender who can take advantage when my opponent wants to attack. If I can stay calm and relaxed, I'm confident on the mat."

Miller is proud of Buena's forward progress as a wrestling stalwart. For years and years, city rival Ventura High has set a high bar as a wrestling power.

"They got us by a few points this season, but I feel like we've come a long way," said Miller. "We can compete with anybody."

Miller took up the sport at a young age, and wasn't an immediate star. He did embrace the challenge of continual improvement.

"It was tough at first," he said. "But I enjoyed competing and I wanted to get better."

Now he's just one weekend away from securing a berth in the state championships on Feb. 24-26 in Bakersfield.

"That would be amazing," he said. "It's always my goal to compete with the best."

BOYS MASTERS QUALIFIERS

  • 106 — Mason Carrillo, Royal

  • 113 — Rylan Pedroza, Buena

  • 120 — Andrew Logan, Moorpark; Alan Smith, Thousand Oaks

  • 126 — Emilio Gonzales, Camarillo

  • 132 — Cooper O'Neil, Royal; Ezekiel Lazcano, Hueneme

  • 138 — Charley Newman, Buena

  • 145 — Timothy Burke, Channel Islands

  • 160 — Jon Miller, Buena

  • 170 — Daniel Gurovich, Camarillo

  • 182 — Isiah Castellanos, Buena; Zerek Zeman, Oxnard; William Fulgentes, Royal

  • 195 — Konrad Fenlon, Rio Mesa

  • 220 — Damian Borrego, Santa Paula; Peter Fulgentes, Royal; Anthony Soliz, Rio Mesa; Miles Kline, Camarillo

  • 285 — Michael Jimenez, Fillmore

GIRLS MASTERS QUALIFERS

  • 106 — Mackenzie English, Westlake

  • 116 — Ireland Donnelly, Royal; Meztli Lopez, Oxnard

  • 121 — Lily Tunnell, Thousand Oaks

  • 131 — Danielle Padilla, Ventura

  • 137 — Bella Smith, Ventura

  • 143 — Audrey Diaz, Hueneme

  • 160 — Donna Arellano, Rio Mesa; Edith Rocete, Hueneme

  • 170 — Angelina Renteria, Hueneme; Lourdes Lazo, Pacifica; Elizeth Guerra, Ventura.

  • 189 — Makensey Schilmgen, Camarillo; Lupe Salas, Pacifica

  • 235 — Trinity Tipton, Camarillo

Loren Ledin is the Prep Editor for The Star. He can be reached at loren.ledin@vcstar.com or 805-437-0285.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Buena's Miller has made the most of junior season on the mat