The Ring—News and Notes

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 10, 11 July 1936, Page 22

The Ring—News and Notes

FRESH WRESTLERS IN VIEW

LITTLE WOLF'S METEORIC RISE

(By "Aeneas.")

Though it has already been responsible for a fine array, of talent being brought to the Dominion" this-season, the New Zealand Wrestling Union is. hot resting on its laurels, but has already entered into negotiations for new men, so tHat'the season will be able to finish amid even, greater enthusiasm than that which marked the start of it and has; since been in /evidence. Consequently, before activities close,; it will. be/placed on; record that New Zealand had this year, both in quantity and quality, its finest set of wrestling importations since the sport was placed on the footing of a Dominion-wide organisation. The names of the new-, comers have not. yet been definitely announced, but it is known that among the men the union has in mind are Chief Little Wolf, Leo Numa, and Wee Willie Davis, as the first detachment, with Ed "Strangler" Lewis following later. Other possibilities are "Jumping Joe" Savoldi and Chief Chewchki.

One of the most interesting ring personalities among these is undoubtedly Chief Little Wolf. His name has been heard in the past mainly as a successor to Jinn Londos when it was apparent that the Greek's days as champion were nearing their close, and although Dan O'Mahpney suddenly stepped in and grabbed the prize that was almost within Little Wolf's grasp, the Red Indian has remained to threaten the supremacy of all champions, no matter what titles they hold. The present champion, Dick Shikat, is one Whom he accounted for when he was heading for Londos's title. The story of Chief Little Wolf is told in the following words by Ed. W. Smith in "The Ring":— ' '.'•'•■ '• ■

"When they christened him . Chief Little Wolf in his Haskell school days they didn't take into consideration that he might grow into a really big boy some day. They admitted that he was _ ; \

a good football player,; but as far; as his being anything else, that never seemed to have' occurred to his: pals. • "All but 'Lone Star' Dietz,' his football coach. This capable handler of many good gridiron stars once told the squatty little chap' that, if he were so minded, he would be able to cope with the very best of them on the wrestling mat. Dietz realised this at once, because of Little Wolf's tremendous native strength. SPEED OF A GAZELLE. "This Indian got his name at a time when he weighed only about list 111b. He stands only sft 7in in height and it was not thought thathis short frame could stand a big poundage. It would make him too dumpy, they said. But since then he has grown into 15st of desperately hard flesh and he is not, a bit that way. In fact, he shows all the speed of a gazelle in flying about the wrestling ring, and none of the big chaps has a thing on him in the matter of speed. "As a matter of fact, the family name is Tenario, his father's first name being Joe. He comes of the Navajo tribe in New Mexico, but a few years ago his daddy, through frugality and good management, purchased a considerable ranch near Trinidad, Colorado, and Little Wolf is going to help improve the place by sending some of his mat earnings back to the ranch. , "It is strange that the man he threatened to depose from the championship bears a somewhat striking resemblance to him. He and Jim Londos look alike both physically and facially. In fact, if you were standing a little distance off from a ring in which Little Wolf was working, and you were told that it was Jim Londos, you might not know the difference. "And, in passing, it might be mentioned that the Indian doqsn't like to be reminded of this. Without even meeting Londos he conceived a dislike of the ex-champion; and has never bothered to correfct it. ALL-ROUND ATHLETE. "He played in the forward line on several of Haswell College's really good teams and, under the guidance of Dietz, was encouraged to try other branches. He finally ran a mile in 4 mm 40sec—considered very good at the school, and could pole vault over 12ft. He also went in for basketball, so he was considered quite a good allrounder. "Best of all he showed tremendous stamina in everything he did in an athletic way, and« Dietz considered that he would be good in any event that took* up a considerable length of time. That is why Dietz thought of wrestling. And the boy tried it while he was at school. He got away several times and mixed it with the professionals. Among others he had the hardihood to tackle was Hugh Nichols, a champion among the middleweights. Despite his inexperience on the mat, he twice gave a good account of himself with that clever performer. This rather gave him the idea that if he learned more he might some day. amount to something. TAUGHT BY MARSHALL. "But it was not until the family moved to the ranch near Trinidad that the boy got his first real chance. Then it was that he met Everette Marshall, who was attracted to the youthful Indian. There were not many wrestlers around there at the time and Everette welcomed this green but ambitiously willing young chap. So it was that they worked a lot together and Little Wolf picked up what is generally known as technique and style.

"Marshall advised this bri§ht-eyed young chap to apply his well-learned football tactics to the wrestling game, just as Gus Sonnenberg, Jim McMillen, and others had done. So almost from the jump Little Wolf showed 'em a- flying tackle that was as effective as anybody's. Backing this up with' some of the fundamentals that he had picked up from Marshall, he got along beautifully. DISCOVERED BY SCOUT. "It was far up in the north-west country that a scout first saw him; a scout with an idea that if he could uncover something unusual in the way of a wrestler he could sell the contract to Joe Toots' Mondt, or somebody else esseeeeeeessssseeeeeeeesee