Zaiden Yake, 7, is seeking a national championship for wrestling.
The first-grader at Mesa Elementary has a record of 51-9 and has maintained the No. 1 spot for most the Rocky Mountain Nationals series.
On Feb. 25, Yake won his third Colorado state championship at 43 pounds in his age group. Now he will compete for the national title in Cedar Falls Iowa, where he placed second last year.
“He just loves the sport, and is gunning for the national title,” says his mother, Holly Buffington. “His life goal is to become an Olympic wrestler.”
Yake competes with the Mighty Lightning Wrestling team that his dad started. The team has nine boys and girls.
His mom said she is proud and a little scared when she watches her son’s matches, and is impressed by his determination.
“He has several signature moves and is really good at learning what his opponent will do,” she said. “He has a game plan before he hits the mat, and 90 percent of the time he succeeds. He is determined to walk away with the national title.”