Sports
Local 7-year-old phenom makes statement on mat
Here in the Coachella Valley, when it comes to wrestling, there’s a long line of Mantanonas who have made their name known on the mat. It’s been inspiring to watch for many locals but especially the next generation.
At just seven years old, Nixon Mendoza has reached heights many wrestlers don’t reach in their lifetime
But he keeps it simple when he says, it’s just constant work.
“Just me training here , training at home, training in the morning at Category 5 and just training at different gyms.”
He’s making a statement on the mat, not just here in the Valley but around the world.
Nixon was a two-time state champion by the age of 6 years old and one of the top wrestlers in the nation in his weight class. And his parents love watching his growth over the years.
“We’re all so proud. We love traveling with Nixon and taking him to practice — everything we do is as a family with him,” says Clarissa Mendoza, Nixon’s mom.
“I feel like it’s a big part of his journey to just have the support and that’s what he thrives off, having his family there and his friends.”
The success speaks for itself. Nixon is now one of just seven kids in the world to become part of an elite wrestling club.
And to be the best, you have to train with the best. And The best usually find their way inside of Coachella Valley Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Palm Desert.
Anthony Mantanona, who trains at CVBJJ and coaches at Palm Desert High School, has coached and even raised some of the best. He knows what it takes to make it on the mat under the big lights and he says Nixon is just getting started.
“He’s just like the other champions that we’ve had come through here, he works really hard. He’s always the hardest worker in the room. He’s respectful. and he’s got a good support system — his family is very supportive. They’re invested in him just like all the other great ones that come through here.”
Clarissa says the Mantanonas have all had a major impact on Nixon’s growth as well.
“When we started here at CVBJJ, he’s known of the mantanonas for I want to say as long as he’s been wrestling but they really encouraged him and inspired him to be the best he can be, and to travel and do all these different national tournaments that he’s been doing.”
Coach Anthony says at CVBJJ, “it’s a huge support system and the kids all help each other. It’s a big family here and it’s hard not to put in the hard work when everybody else is — it’s really contagious.”
But it takes a village and that’s what Nixon’s got around him.
“It’s about consistency and then willing to go out and put it on the line. It’s not about going and winning all the time, which a lot of them do. It’s about going out and challenging themselves. so a lot of these families they traveled the country looking for the best competition out there to see you know, what they’re striving to catch up to or you know, where they’re trying to get to.”
And Clarissa, a mother of three (soon to be four), add the number one rule is to always have fun.
“Yes, of course he trains really hard. but the main thing is always have fun and make sure you’re loving what you’re doing
By: Talialaina Letoi
July 26, 2023
Latest Instagram Posts
Who makes the NBC Top 3, winner will be announced Sunday night on NBC Palm Springs, with the player who makes the number one spot winning a $250 prize from @hondaofthedesert! Comment below if it will be 1) Xzavier Hernandez with the dot towards the back of the endzone, 2) Jesse Rodriguez with the 50 plus yard TD throw, 3) Trace Vargas with the diving TD, 4) Ryan Rumsey with the screen pass TD, making guys miss, or 5) Moyses Aguilar with the pick #fyp #fnl2026 #hondaofthedesert #highschoolfootball #fridaynightlights
Drop your thoughts in the comments 👇 #therogginreport #coachellavalley #localnews #explore #nbcpalmsprings
⚡️ TOP STORY: A man is recovering after he was struck by lightning. Firefighters battled a brush fire along Snow Creek Road, while another lightning strike in Chino Canyon sent a man to the hospital. If you hear thunder, stay indoors for at least 30 minutes after the last rumble. #PalmSprings #Lightning #FireSafety
🚨 Chasing that year-round “summer glow”? A social media tanning trend involving the unapproved peptide melanotan-2 is raising serious safety concerns. Dermatologists say safer sunless tanning options are available. ☀️ #YourHealthToday #SkinHealth #Melanotan2 #TanningSafety
Palm Springs firefighters responded Thursday to a report of a person struck by lightning in the Chino Canyon area. The person was transported to a hospital for medical treatment. Firefighters also responded to a palm tree fire in Chino Canyon that officials say was caused by an apparent lightning strike. NBC Palm Springs News Director David Reese is in the neighborhood tonight knocking on doors and trying to learn more about what happened. Did you see the lightning strike? Did you hear or see anything unusual? Do you know who was struck or have information that could help us understand what happened? We’d like to hear from you. Send us a DM here or contact NBC Palm Springs if you witnessed the incident or have information to share. #PalmSprings #ChinoCanyon #Lightning #PalmSpringsNews #NBCPalmSprings CoachellaValley BreakingNews
Fred Roggin’s response? Show us the receipts! #therogginreport #coachellavalley #localnews #explore #nbcpalmsprings
A $557k budget shortfall … so why do they need $11.3 million in new taxes? Are you voting Yes or No on Measure P? #therogginreport #measurep #localnews #coachellavalley #nbcpalmsprings
School board trustee wears “FAFO” shirt to court deposition. Drop your thoughts in the comments 👇🏽 #therogginreport #coachellavalley #localnews #explore #nbcpalmsprings
Estevan Figueroa of King’s Club Barbershop is giving back across the Coachella Valley — one haircut at a time. He and his team recently gave dozens of free haircuts to kids at the Boys and Girls Club in Cathedral City. Figueroa also provides clothing, essentials and encouragement to people in need. Inspired by lessons from his father, he’s now started a nonprofit to help even more people in the community. “Look good, feel good.” @barbercipactli Read the full story at NBCPalmSprings.com.
9 months. 5 deposition notices. 1 no-show. What is this official hiding under oath? Let us know what you think in the comments 👇 #therogginreport #jesusgonzalez #localnews #coachellavalley #nbcpalmsprings