Former Trojan Wrestler Sets Sights on Olympic Glory
From a young age, senior 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock student KJ Miley had Olympic-sized ambition. Now, he鈥檚 working to turn that ambition into reality as he trains to make the U.S. World Teams in 2026 and 2027, with the ultimate goal of earning the 97-kilogram spot at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
The rigors of training for international competition are only part of Miley鈥檚 journey. While preparing for the sports world鈥檚 biggest stage, he is also completing his business management degree online through 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and plans to graduate in May. It鈥檚 a commitment he believes has strengthened him as an athlete by sharpening his time management skills and mental approach to competition.
The Olympics have always represented the pinnacle of the sport.
鈥淔rom a young age competing in wrestling, I always looked at the Olympics as the prime-time show,鈥� Miley said. 鈥淭here are world championships every year, but nothing compares to the Olympics. College wrestling always felt like the next step for me, and I was fortunate to find a great home at Little Rock. They sharpened my skills and made me a more competitive athlete.鈥�
Miley鈥檚 development continued on the international stage, where he captured two U23 Pan American titles. Those accomplishments confirmed his potential, but it was competing at the 2024 U23 World Championships that helped clarify his path forward.
鈥淚 may not have placed, but experiencing that level of competition showed me exactly where I stood,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t showed me how much I needed to change and challenge myself. Collegiate wrestling shaped the way I trained and competed 鈥� it definitely raised my level as an athlete.鈥�
Beyond competition, wrestling has shaped Miley鈥檚 approach to life.
鈥淚t鈥檚 made me a better student, employee, son, partner 鈥� just a better person overall,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he discipline it takes to be a high-level wrestler is something you don鈥檛 get from another sport.鈥�
Miley said the discipline he鈥檚 learned through wrestling has taught him a simple but lasting lesson.
鈥淵ou get what you earn,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 put in the right effort at the right time, you won鈥檛 get the results you鈥檙e seeking.鈥�
That mindset now guides Miley as he balances training, international travel, and academics. Time management, he said, has been his biggest challenge.
鈥淪taying on top of classes while traveling out of the country for weeks at a time can be tough,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he biggest thing I鈥檝e learned is to complete my work ahead of time.鈥�
Miley is completing a business management degree, a decision he views as essential to his future beyond competition.
鈥淔inishing my degree is really important to me,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not exactly part of my wrestling plan, but I have future goals in the wrestling world that will be much easier to pursue with a degree. That鈥檚 been a major motivation.鈥�
Continuing his education through 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock allowed him to stay focused on both goals. Miley said the university鈥檚 fully online option made it possible to keep his credits intact while training at an elite level.
鈥淭he option to stay with the same school and complete everything online made 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock the right fit,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t kept me from having to deal with transferring credits and allowed me to focus on finishing my degree.鈥�
He also credited faculty support for helping him stay on track academically.
鈥淢ost professors are extremely understanding and willing to work with students who have real-life situations going on,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he online setup is simple, and that makes a big difference when you鈥檙e balancing school with travel and training.鈥�
Miley believes his education has strengthened him in competition as well.
鈥淏eing educated has helped me in every part of life,鈥� he said. 鈥淓arning my degree has sharpened my time management skills, and I use that on the mat too. I think it gives me an edge, mentally as much as physically.鈥�
While Miley now competes for the New York Athletic Club and represents the United States internationally, he remains closely connected to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. Rather than pointing to a single mentor, he credits the collective impact of the Trojans wrestling staff.
鈥淭he coaching staff at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock helped me through so many things on and off the mat,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey made me a better person overall. Every coach played a role in different areas of my life.鈥�
As he continues training toward the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Miley carries those lessons with him 鈥� from the mat, the classroom, and his time as a Trojan.
鈥淚鈥檒l always credit 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock for the role it played in my development,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hose experiences helped shape who I am today.鈥�