Local Teen Wrestler Needs Help Getting to National Contest

Miracle Tausaga could use a little bit of divine intervention, as well as a helping hand from the community his family has poured its heart and soul into for nine years.

The 14-year-old Mount Miguel High School wrestler is qualified to go to a national competition this month, and very quickly needs to raise money to travel to North Dakota.

The teenager needs help to make it happen.

Miracle, son of Ula Tausaga, pastor of the , knows plenty about people who can use a hand to get by. His father and mother, Mai, lead the , which distributes free food twice a month with the , offers a daily food pantry, and holds a free soup dinner open to the community every Monday night.

Miracle, who just completed his freshman year, wanted to play football when he started at Mount Miguel. Instead, he gave wrestling a try and found it was the right sport for him—he took first place in his debut competition. He’s No. 1 in the state in Greco-style wrestling.

Tausaga maintains his competitive edge by practicing often with his cousin, but the draw for him to wrestling is its individual nature.

“You don’t have to depend on anyone besides yourself,” Tausaga said.

Now he’s qualified to compete with the California Cadet/ Junior Olympic National Championship Team against the best in the nation, starting July 17 in Fargo, N.D.

The pastor said finding the money to send Miracle to competitions this year has been tough. Sometimes, he’s had to miss his son’s matches because there wasn’t enough money for the both of them to go.

“Trying to raise money for the kids to go somewhere, it’s hard,” he said. Miracle is one of the Tausaga’s eight children.

Like any dad, he’s proud of his son’s accomplishments, and his involvement with the food ministry.

“He still has time to come here and be a part of the community,” his dad said.

To raise the $1,180 to $1,350 needed to send Miracle to the competition, a is planned from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the church.

“We are going to try to do anything we can for the moment,” the pastor said.

As for Miracle, he’s focusing on doing well in the competition and feels his chances of winning the No. 1 title are “pretty good.”