Center Wrestling Club fifth grader Xaria Traversie-Rodriguez won first place at the “Who’s Bad” Rocky Mountain Nationals last weekend. (Courtesy photo)

CENTER— Haskin Elementary fifth grader Xaria Traversie-Rodriguez won first place at the “Who’s Bad” Rocky Mountain Nationals last weekend, participating with the Center Wrestling Club in Denver.

Twelve wrestlers ranging from ages 6 to 14 Center participated in the event, but Traversie-Rodriguez was the only one who placed. She won a first-place wrestling belt to add to her prize collection.

The fifth grader has been wrestling now for two years and placed fourth last year at the nationals, her mother Nicole Traversie-Rodriguez said. The wrestling club is supported by fundraisers throughout the year statewide, and Traversie-Rodriguez also has traveled to Texas and New Mexico to compete in events.

Some 1,200 participants under the age of 18 competed in the event this year. Traversie-Rodriguez also was named an outstanding underage wrestler in the women’s division.

“She loves wrestling and wants to be in basketball and wrestling in the future,” her mother Nicole commented.