Former Trojan Wrestler Sets Sights on Olympic Glory

From a young age, senior UA Little Rock student KJ Miley had Olympic-sized ambition. Now, he’s 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’s journey. While preparing for the sports world’s biggest stage, he is also completing his business management degree online through UA Little Rock and plans to graduate in May. It’s 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.

“From a young age competing in wrestling, I always looked at the Olympics as the prime-time show,” Miley said. “There 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.”

Miley’s 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.

“I may not have placed, but experiencing that level of competition showed me exactly where I stood,” he said. “It showed me how much I needed to change and challenge myself. Collegiate wrestling shaped the way I trained and competed — it definitely raised my level as an athlete.”

Beyond competition, wrestling has shaped Miley’s approach to life.

“It’s made me a better student, employee, son, partner — just a better person overall,” he said. “The discipline it takes to be a high-level wrestler is something you don’t get from another sport.”

Miley said the discipline he’s learned through wrestling has taught him a simple but lasting lesson.

“You get what you earn,” he said. “If you don’t put in the right effort at the right time, you won’t get the results you’re seeking.”

That mindset now guides Miley as he balances training, international travel, and academics. Time management, he said, has been his biggest challenge.

“Staying on top of classes while traveling out of the country for weeks at a time can be tough,” he said. “The biggest thing I’ve learned is to complete my work ahead of time.”

Miley is completing a business management degree, a decision he views as essential to his future beyond competition.

“Finishing my degree is really important to me,” he said. “It’s 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’s been a major motivation.”

Continuing his education through UA Little Rock allowed him to stay focused on both goals. Miley said the university’s fully online option made it possible to keep his credits intact while training at an elite level.

“The option to stay with the same school and complete everything online made UA Little Rock the right fit,” he said. “It kept me from having to deal with transferring credits and allowed me to focus on finishing my degree.”

He also credited faculty support for helping him stay on track academically.

“Most professors are extremely understanding and willing to work with students who have real-life situations going on,” he said. “The online setup is simple, and that makes a big difference when you’re balancing school with travel and training.”

Miley believes his education has strengthened him in competition as well.

“Being educated has helped me in every part of life,” he said. “Earning 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.”

While Miley now competes for the New York Athletic Club and represents the United States internationally, he remains closely connected to UA Little Rock. Rather than pointing to a single mentor, he credits the collective impact of the Trojans wrestling staff.

“The coaching staff at UA Little Rock helped me through so many things on and off the mat,” he said. “They made me a better person overall. Every coach played a role in different areas of my life.”

As he continues training toward the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Miley carries those lessons with him — from the mat, the classroom, and his time as a Trojan.

“I’ll always credit UA Little Rock for the role it played in my development,” he said. “Those experiences helped shape who I am today.”