thedrifter
09-04-08, 06:16 AM
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Sept. 3, 2008) — The gym was dark, illuminated only by spotlight, bringing the crowd’s attention to the center ring. The two opponents bumped gloves, the bell sounded and the murmuring in the crowd died down as they watched the opponents push the boundaries of a friendly competition.
Every boxing match begins the same way. Marines and sailors on the Marine Corps boxing team know the heart and dedication it takes to compete in the ring. Members of he team are selected based on their skill level and experience. Being a Marine Corps boxer requires heart and dedication, not only to service but to self as well.
Lance Cpl. Patrick Moody, an embarkation specialist with Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group and Seaman Aaron Wartman, a corpsman from 2nd MLG, are privileged to be two of the boxers for the Marine Corps boxing team here.
Moody has been boxing for the Marine Corps for five months, but has been participating in the sport for about five years. As a freshman in high school, he began his fighting career in wrestling, but when a boxing gym opened near his house, he wanted to try the sport for a new challenge.
Wartman, on the other hand, has been on the boxing team for just three months, but has been boxing since he was 12. His father, a former boxer, introduced him and his brothers to the sport by teaching them the basics of how to be a good boxer.
Wartman and Moody are now sharing their skill and passion for the sport with a much bigger organization, the Marine Corps. After being selected for the team they have to get into shape, meet weight standards and prepare for future fights.
Whether a tournament is months away or just weeks, the boxing team constantly trains hard. Their coach pushes them to always work on improving their skills and maintaining a positive attitude.
“We do a lot of running and plyometrics for conditioning,” said Ron Simms, who has been the coach of the Marine Corps boxing team since April 2007.
Simms said once the boxers are in good condition, and have the endurance it takes to fight, they start learning techniques. They do 12 rounds at a time of hitting the bags, shadow boxing and speed bag drills. When preparing for a tournament the boxers are in the gym for long hours at a time.
The boxing team’s most recent tournament took place Aug. 28-30. The two service members, along with their teammates, competed in this three day tournament taking on a Canadian team from Nova Scotia, as well as boxers from all over the United States.
Wartman, a 175 pound light heavyweight, won his first fight of the tournament when he took on Craig Hilliard, a boxer with the Canadian team. The fight ended in the third round due to a retirement, when the fighter or coach decided to stop the fight, leaving the final score 8:4.
Wartman’s victory meant he would compete for the championship on day three of the tournament. His next opponent was Sou Shabazz, from La Cruces, NM, who currently ranks number two in the country. Wartman fought hard, but did not walk with a championship belt.
“He was a good fighter,” said Wartman. “Had I been in as good of shape as him, my chances would have been better.”
Moody, competing in the 125 pound weight class, went up against Joe Laviolette from the Canadian Team. Although the crowd was rooting for the Marine Corps contender, Moody did not win his exhibition fight. Moody’s opponent was more experienced in the ring with 70 fights and 57 wins under his belt.
“It was a good experience for me to be able to fight someone with so much time in the ring,” said Moody. “We all worked hard to prepare for this tournament and I know everyone on the team did their best.”
Boxing can be mentally and physically tiring because you are constantly trying to predict what your opponent is going to do next. The coach helps to combat these limitations by teaching the boxers to visualize what they are going to do in the ring before they even step into it.
“I have confidence in the entire team,” said Simms. “All of the boxers step into the ring expecting to win. In the end I know they all did their best.”
At the end of the tournament the fights conclude, the crowd thins, the lights go out and the boxers hang up their gloves. Some of the fighters walk away with a champion title, others with a title that can be defended but not taken, the title of a United States Marine or sailor.
Every boxing match begins the same way. Marines and sailors on the Marine Corps boxing team know the heart and dedication it takes to compete in the ring. Members of he team are selected based on their skill level and experience. Being a Marine Corps boxer requires heart and dedication, not only to service but to self as well.
Lance Cpl. Patrick Moody, an embarkation specialist with Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group and Seaman Aaron Wartman, a corpsman from 2nd MLG, are privileged to be two of the boxers for the Marine Corps boxing team here.
Moody has been boxing for the Marine Corps for five months, but has been participating in the sport for about five years. As a freshman in high school, he began his fighting career in wrestling, but when a boxing gym opened near his house, he wanted to try the sport for a new challenge.
Wartman, on the other hand, has been on the boxing team for just three months, but has been boxing since he was 12. His father, a former boxer, introduced him and his brothers to the sport by teaching them the basics of how to be a good boxer.
Wartman and Moody are now sharing their skill and passion for the sport with a much bigger organization, the Marine Corps. After being selected for the team they have to get into shape, meet weight standards and prepare for future fights.
Whether a tournament is months away or just weeks, the boxing team constantly trains hard. Their coach pushes them to always work on improving their skills and maintaining a positive attitude.
“We do a lot of running and plyometrics for conditioning,” said Ron Simms, who has been the coach of the Marine Corps boxing team since April 2007.
Simms said once the boxers are in good condition, and have the endurance it takes to fight, they start learning techniques. They do 12 rounds at a time of hitting the bags, shadow boxing and speed bag drills. When preparing for a tournament the boxers are in the gym for long hours at a time.
The boxing team’s most recent tournament took place Aug. 28-30. The two service members, along with their teammates, competed in this three day tournament taking on a Canadian team from Nova Scotia, as well as boxers from all over the United States.
Wartman, a 175 pound light heavyweight, won his first fight of the tournament when he took on Craig Hilliard, a boxer with the Canadian team. The fight ended in the third round due to a retirement, when the fighter or coach decided to stop the fight, leaving the final score 8:4.
Wartman’s victory meant he would compete for the championship on day three of the tournament. His next opponent was Sou Shabazz, from La Cruces, NM, who currently ranks number two in the country. Wartman fought hard, but did not walk with a championship belt.
“He was a good fighter,” said Wartman. “Had I been in as good of shape as him, my chances would have been better.”
Moody, competing in the 125 pound weight class, went up against Joe Laviolette from the Canadian Team. Although the crowd was rooting for the Marine Corps contender, Moody did not win his exhibition fight. Moody’s opponent was more experienced in the ring with 70 fights and 57 wins under his belt.
“It was a good experience for me to be able to fight someone with so much time in the ring,” said Moody. “We all worked hard to prepare for this tournament and I know everyone on the team did their best.”
Boxing can be mentally and physically tiring because you are constantly trying to predict what your opponent is going to do next. The coach helps to combat these limitations by teaching the boxers to visualize what they are going to do in the ring before they even step into it.
“I have confidence in the entire team,” said Simms. “All of the boxers step into the ring expecting to win. In the end I know they all did their best.”
At the end of the tournament the fights conclude, the crowd thins, the lights go out and the boxers hang up their gloves. Some of the fighters walk away with a champion title, others with a title that can be defended but not taken, the title of a United States Marine or sailor.