Eight-year-old Vann Wildcat with his championship belt from Tulsa Battle of the Belt on Dec. 17. Courtesy Photo

Wildcat is a youth wrestler for the Pawhuska Elks Lodge wrestling team coached by Bruce Cass and his father, Beaushee Wildcat.

He is in the Division II Class for kids ages eight and under in the Northwest Region for Oklahoma Kids Wrestling Association. His current stats are six wins to one loss for the season.

"Vann is at the bottom of the division, wrestling kids eight and older. That's remarkable for his age and to come out the winner. He is an all around good little athlete," Cass said. "This year he also got MVP for first and second grade in the Ironman football league."

Wildcat participated in the Tulsa Battle of the Belt on Dec. 17 at the Tulsa Edison High School gym. Wildcat weighed in at 75 pounds and came home with a championship belt.

"We are so amazed by his natural talents and very proud of him!" said his mother, Mary Wildcat.

He belongs to the Wah-Xah-Ko-Li^ District and his maternal grandparents are Vann and Mary Bighorse of Pawhuska. His paternal grandparents are Darrell and Carla Wildcat of Norman, Okla. Maternal great-grandparents are Kenneth and Toby Bighorse of Pawhuska, and the late Andrew "Buddy" and Margaret Gray. Paternal great-grandparents are the late Jimmie and Eunice Wildcat and the late Carl and Viola Tahmahkera.

The Oklahoma Kids Wrestling Association is an organization that promotes the sport of wrestling to all ages, giving children the chance to perform at competitive levels. Participants compete in multiple tournaments during wrestling season in hopes to make it to the Novice State Championship.