GRANITE CITY - Eli Miller is one of 10 sophomores on a young Granite City High School wrestling team, and finished fourth in the 190-pound weight class at the William "Red" Schmitt Holiday Tournament on Dec. 30, 2025, at Granite City Memorial Gym.
He lost a close third-place match to Killian Rauch of Belleville East by fall at 1:38.
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It was a great overall tournament for Miller, despite going 2-3 overall in the two days of competition. His wins came over Tucker Mosbauch of Normal Community West via a 16-second pin and a 9-6 decision over Mark Aeschliman of Metamora. Miller has been enjoying a solid season as a linchpin for the Warriors, and in an interview conducted before the bout, Miller felt ready to go.
Miller is a Stillwater Senior Living Male Athlete of the Month for the Warriors.
"It's definitely a different kind of feeling than it was last year," Miller said of the Red Schmitt Tournament. "Last year, I came here, got bit, took a few beatings, but this year, I'm definitely coming out feeling a lot better than I did."
As with any other wrestler, Miller's main goal is to make it to the IHSA Class 3A state tournament in late February, and he is very ambitious in his main goal.
"My main goal is to make it to state," Miller said, "and place in state. I want to do whatever I have to do to get there."
Miller feels the Warriors have a much-improved team from the season before, and is confident that he and his teammates will do well.
"The team this year is pretty good," Miller said. "We have a really good squad this year, and as long as everybody keeps coming, putting in the work, I think, honestly, we'll have a big winning season this year. Right now, we're still having a winning season, but I think, honestly, these last few meets, I think we can win them all."
The Granite Holiday Tournament is still a very prestigious event throughout the Midwest, and to finish in the top four is a wonderful feeling for Miller.
"Yes, it is," Miller said. "It's definitely a really good feeling placing in the tournament, that's for sure."
He's also hopeful of good things happening to and for himself and the Warriors in the second half of the season.
"I'm hoping we can all go out there and do our things," Miller said, "wrestle, and do what we were born to do."
