BUFFALO, N.Y. — High school sports and club activities foster competition, personal growth and hopefully no injuries, though there may be some, like for members of North Buffalo's rare boxing program that other schools can learn from.
“I needed a place where I could use my drive,” said Murphy Suhr, a student at Research Laboratory High School and a member of the boxing club. “I wanted to work hard. I wanted to sweat.”
That's exactly what a high school boxing club brings to the table.
“There's nothing like having a bag packed — I mean, when the bad stuff happens,” said Eric Marlinski, boxing club coordinator and owner of a local boxing gym.
He has run the club at Research Lab High School in North Buffalo for two years, responding to popular demand.
“Everyone's seeing social media stars doing this now,” Marlinski says. “It's coming back and becoming popular again. It seems like a cool thing to do, but it's a sport.”
But kids aren't just interested in gloves and bags because of the clicks and views they get.
“It gives them confidence, it gives them a little bit of a boost, it gives them a little bit of pride,” he noted. “When they go through this program and they actually step in the ring and they get this far for the first time, that's something no one can take away from them. Boxing is not a sport for everyone. It's a challenge.”
It's a challenge club member Johnny Joe Williams welcomes.
“When I first got here it was all about learning discipline,” he said.
He can't attend every practice, but when he is here he's developing more than just a powerful right hook.
“It was a great way to let out all of my anger and stress after a long day at school,” Williams said.
For some, it's stress management and exercise. For others? It's camaraderie.
“It's the people,” member Trenis Lushay points out. “Nobody judges you. You're just having fun, chatting with friends, and being with the people you care about.”
Everyone has similar goals.
“When you punch the bag, you put all your emotions into it,” Lushay said.
For kids like Lushay and fellow athlete Zaire Rose, it was about building the best parts of themselves.
“It was so cool to think of thousands of people coming out to watch the game and cheering us on,” Rose said.
Just as it's not uncommon for high schools to have boxing clubs, these boxing-obsessed athletes continue to prove that diversity in after-school activities can mean a lot.
“When I first got here, they had science club. I'd never been to a science club. So I went to science club. I tried it. I loved it,” he said.
Of course, it only lasts for three minutes at a time.
“I could have played soccer or any other sport, but boxing is just more fun than any other sport,” Suhr said. “I just wanted to give it my all.”
Research Lab High School doesn't have a big gym, but he goes to a nearby boxing gym once every two weeks to spar. What does he hope to get out of the club? Personal growth. Any other hopes? Perhaps a trip up the Thruway and eventually being inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame outside Utica.
