Saturday, March 20, 2004

Mighty mite

T.S. Last News-Bulletin Sports Editor; tlast@news-bulletin.com

Belen Five-year-old Danielle Saavedra is a little shy. In her first encounter with the news media, she lets her dad do the talking.

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"She loves it," Charlie Saavedra says of his daughters passion for wrestling. "She's always wrestling daddy, mommy or her brother at home. It's all she talks about."

Danielle doesn't say much when she steps into the ring either. She lets her wrestling do the talking.

This weekend, Danielle is competing in a junior wrestling national tournament in Denver. She'll be wrestling in an all-girls division and is the only girl enterd in the 6-and-under 35-pound open division.

Danielle is used to wrestling against the boys. She qualified for the tournament by winning the state championship in February. She finished second to a Rio Rancho wrestler at the regional tournament in Albuquerque earlier this month, losing the match by one point.

Beating the boys isn't a big thing for Danielle, "but their dad's don't like it too much," says Charlie, who is accompanying Danielle to Denver along with her mother, Christina.

Danielle, who will enter kindergarten next fall, has always wanted to be a wrestler. At least ever since she saw her older brother Tyler, 10, wrestle in competition.

"We entered her brother in wrestling, and she was crying and screaming. She didn't want to be left out. She wanted to be a part of it," says Charlie.

Danielle, who has been wrestling under the guidance of Belen Junior Wrestling coach Brian Griego for about a year, may have a long career ahead of her.

"She's a tough little girl," her father said. "She's hooked on it, and she's going to stay hooked on it."

Danielle's trip to nationals was supported by Benny's Mexican Restaurant, Toppers, Dr. Jeff Jaramillo and Marcelino and Sawella Lucero.

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