Pequea Valley's Undefeated Gabe Miller Earns Spot in 2A Semifinals

HERSHEY:  Pequea Valley sophomore Gabe Miller isn’t surprised to be in the PIAA State 2A Semifinals. Last season as a rookie Miller entered the famous 2016 Class AA 126 lbs. bracket after finishing second in the Southeast Regional. 

In his first trip to Hershey Gabe opened with a fall but ran into 2015 PIAA State Champion Cole Matthews (Reynolds) who pinned the freshman in (1:22). In the blood round Miller fell one win shy of a State Medal ending his season with a (40-10) record. 

Entering this week Miller held a #2 State Ranking at 132 lbs. but that means little inside the GIANT Center.

In his quarterfinal match the undefeated Miller took on talented rookie #4 Caleb Dowling (Saint Joseph’s Catholic).  After a scoreless first period Miller took bottom and escaped in six seconds but Dowling countered with a takedown to end the period with a (2-1) advantage. 

In the third period, with Dowling in the bottom position, it appeared he escaped and Miller quickly scored a takedown. Despite the referee indicating two for Miller it was determined no escape was granted therefore he was still in control.  

When asked if he was confused Miller stated “I figured it out pretty quick when I thought I had the takedown. I looked up at the ref and he said nothing, nothing so I cut him right away.”

Gabe seemed unfazed by the confusion late in the match and, after a relenting push,  scored a takedown with eight seconds left to tie the match up (3-3). With momentum in his favor Miller was quick off the whistle in sudden victory. He got in on Dowling’s legs and finished a low single to clinch the win (5-3 SV).

“Looking at things short term it’s huge – but in the long run this is all for fun. I am here for a higher purpose” Miller said of his quarterfinal win. “I’m a child of God and I am here to represent him. I’m excited, this is fun, but grand scheme I know there are better things for me.”

After falling short a season ago the Pequea Valley star now finds himself in the Championship Semifinals with a legitimate shot for a State Finals appearance. He will take on #8 Tyler Griffiths of Southmoreland. The junior is in his third trip to Hershey having left with an eighth place medal his freshman season. 

2A wrestlers will return back to the GIANT Center this evening to wrestle the Championship Semifinals until then Miller will get his mind in the right place.

“I’m going to head back, relax try to stay calm, and not let all the hype get to me. I have to move on and take it one match at a time.”