NEW BRITAIN -- An 11-year old from New Britain is hoping to grab hold of her future, which is apropos because she is a star in judo.
Destiny Mateo, who is a seventh-grader at HALS Academy in New Britain, trains at New Britain Judo and Karate and was recently invited to join Team USA's judo squad.
These days, Destiny is busy working with her instructor, Henry Arroyo, a third-degree black belt, as she looks ahead to the Pan American Judo Championship and South American Championship, which will be held in Cordoba, Argentina in November.
"Not many 11-year-olds get to fight for their country," Mateo said.
No more than 5-foot-3, Destiny often times is forced to face off against competitors 15 or 16 years old, and much bigger than her.
She recently placed second at the U.S. Open of Judo in Fort Lauderdale, losing to a 15-year-old from Ecuador.
Arroyo, Destiny's instructor for four years, said, "For her age she is very good. She is on an international level now."
After delivering a take down to older brother Raul, a judo star himself, Destiny said she is looking forward to fighting for Team USA. "I'm going to fight hard and do my best and I'm going for that first place medal."
While Team USA pays for the entrance fees for the upcoming competition in Argentina, Destiny and her family have to cover the costs for air fare and hotels.
You can visit this GoFundMe page set up by Destiny's family to help fund the upcoming trip.
