A school known for its great sports teams can now box its way to the top. The Syracuse University Boxing Club has its opening day on Jan. 27.

Coach Joseph Stray, an SU alumnus, is leading a small group of athletes who have been training hard in hopes of winning a championship later this year in Miami. The U.S. Intercollegiate Boxing Association’s 2014 national championships will take place April 3-5.

“I think we have a pretty good chance at winning the championship,” said Tony Chao, the team’s captain.

The focus of the club is to promote discipline through intense training. With opening day approaching, there will be six main fighters: Chao, Adam Benavides, Tommy Daviu, Tomas Smith, Ryan Williams and David Jackson.

“We are a very diverse and multi-ethnic group of athletes. It’s all types of people from all walks of life,” Stray said.

Jackson, a freshman sociology and secondary education major and one of the novice boxers, started his career by joining the club. He said he is very enthusiastic about the sport.

“I joined last semester so I may not be able to go to Miami, but I definitely would like to. That’s where I’m from.”

Chao joined the club because he had already been boxing for three years before the club started. He said the team is a group of close friends who socialize through the competition.

“We are all pretty close friends. There may be some competiveness, but we don’t try to kill each other,” he said.

While the team formed for the first time since the 1950s just last year, the members have a few fights under their belts they will use as a starting point to their championship training.

They have an intense training regimen. The fighters start with cardio, then move to punching drills. There are three rounds of jumping rope, three rounds of shadow-boxing, all followed by more intense conditioning.

While training, everyone is concentrated, quick and powerful, Stray said. The team will continue to practice and train to achieve its goal in April.

Stray, the team’s coach, has been inspiring the team with his knowledge of the sport, and continues to motivate them in training, Jackson said.

With great, motivated athletes and a knowledgeable coach, the teammates said they are feeling strong and confident as they look to take the title in April. As their season progresses, they will be fueled by SU fans cheering them on.

Said Stray: “We are a good community and a good collective.”

Published on January 26, 2014 at 9:58 pm

Contact Bodeline: bkdautru@syr.edu