By Bret Strelow | App State Athletics
BOONE, N.C. — A one-time North Carolina high school state champion who didn't immediately break into App State Wrestling's starting lineup,
Jon Jon Millner closed his career as one of the all-time greats in program history.
Millner became App State's first four-time SoCon champion, making him a four-time NCAA Championships qualifier at 149 pounds. He earned All-America honors in each of his two NCAA appearances, with COVID canceling the 2020 tournament and an illness forcing him to withdraw from the 2023 event in Tulsa, Okla.
After winning his fourth SoCon title in his final match on March 4, Millner walked off the mat in the Holmes Center with a 121-24 career record to leave him No. 3 on the Mountaineers' career victories list.
"Everything happens for a reason, and it's definitely one of the toughest things I've had to go through in my life so far," Millner said. "My wife and I, we did a lot of praying, but it's brought us closer to God. It is what it is at the end of the day. I wanted to come back for my sixth year and use wrestling as a platform to glorify God in any way that I can. This might have been part of his plan. I wrestled 145 matches in the Black and Gold, and I left it all out there. I'm really proud of what I've been able to accomplish, so I don't hold anything back. I don't regret anything. I'm happy with how my career played out."
Millner's success set an example in coach
JohnMark Bentley's program and a standard of excellence for younger teammates, including five who continued on to Tulsa.
A native of Greensboro, N.C., Millner went 100-12 in his four years as a starter, with half of those losses occurring during deep NCAA runs in 2021 (eighth-place finish) and 2022 (sixth-place finish). In conference action, he finished with a 41-0 career record in SoCon duals and tournament matches — the highest win total with no losses in the league's modern history.
"I took great pride in being somebody that's dependable and accountable," Millner said. "That's what it's about. As a man, you want to be dependable. You want people to know that when you step out there, you're gonna do the job right, no matter what. So that's one thing that I'll try to carry over into my life and my career is being dependable, being accountable and being able to do your job. You've gotta take great pride in that."
Millner was many things beyond just an accomplished wrestler in Black and Gold.
A team leader and a fan favorite. A role model for kids and an ambassador for App State. A loving husband and devoted father of two young children.
During his time in Boone, App State won a combined seven SoCon team titles, including four regular season championships. The Mountaineers were 37-9 in duals and 28-2 in SoCon duals during Millner's four years as a starter, and he took pride in being someone his teammates could count upon to deliver team points toward a victory.
That mindset contributed to a 47-4 dual record with a run of 34 straight dual wins — the second-longest streak in school history behind Austin Trotman's 42 straight. He often put on shows for the home crowds, posting a 38-3 record in Varsity Gym to go with his unblemished 11-0 record in SoCon tournament matches at the Holmes Center.
"I wanted to achieve a lot of things just to set up blueprint for guys that can come behind me and achieve that as well," Millner said. "You know, like, 'He went through the same program as me, and I can accomplish that as well.' When I talk about growth, there's personal growth, but also growth as a program. When I come back with my son and I can say we're so much better now than when I was in college, I think that'll be really special."
Millner contributed greatly to the rise and sustained excellence of a program that finished the 2022-23 dual season with a national dual team ranking of No. 20 thanks to a 12-2 record, including a win at No. 21 North Carolina. The Mountaineers produced at least five NCAA qualifiers for the fourth straight year, even without a travel party including Millner.
"We had a lot of support, a lot of prayer," Millner said. "A lot of people came and visited me in the hospital, especially from App State Athletics. Jonathan Reeder was in the hospital almost every day, his wife, too, helping me out and my family out. Doug Gillin came by to see my as well. Just great people, and it just goes to show you the support we have with our administration. It means a lot."
