ROYAL CITY — Darrin Miller, a two-year running back, did not turn out for football this so he could concentrate on his favorite sport of wrestling and a quest for greatness.

On Oct. 23-26, Darrin and his father, coach Randy Miller, will be in Las Vegas for the Freak Show, a national high school tournament. This is a tournament of the best high school kids around the nation.

“It will be Darrin’s first true test nationally,” Randy said. “He’s been training five days a week for the past month; running, lifting, wrestling.”

Randy is part of Darrin’s workout routine. Another part of it is having to travel to Hermiston, Ore., where Darrin’s workout partner is an ex-Olympian from South Africa and a senior at Hermiston High. He weighs 195 pounds and is ranked first in the nation at this time.

“Finding workout partners is tough, but putting in many hours on the road makes it happen,” Randy said. “We will attending some other practices in the next couple of weeks in Tri-Cities and Spokane.”

Darrin plans on wrestling at 170 pounds at Las Vegas. So he has to work off about 10 pounds, which is tough in the off season.

The reason Darrin gave up football even though he probably would have started is that his more important quest is a state high school championship and a college scholarship. There are sure to be plenty of scouts at Las Vegas.

Darrin has placed at state his freshman, sophomore and junior years, finishing third last year. He will be the favorite to win the 170 title.

His long-stated overall goal is to become a college All-American wrestler.