THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 24, 1994 TAG: 9406230154
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: 940624 LENGTH: Long
When Owens raised his hands to defend his head, knotted muscles in his upper arms and shoulders glinted in the bright lights of the gym. His red tank top was soaked with sweat.
{REST} Owens, 16, battled as though his life was on the line. But there was no opponent.
He was shadow boxing.
Owens, a rising senior at Tallwood High School, is one of several young boxers, anywhere from 8 to 17, taking lessons from coaches Pete Claypool and Gilbert Olguin at the Virginia Beach Boys and Girls Club. The boxers include Jerold Moorer, brother of heavyweight champion Michael Moorer.
Boys and Girls Club is more than a name. Anikia Jackson, 8, of Brookwood Elementary School shows surprising aptitude. She started boxing lessons in May and can fight other girls in competition. The pugilists train five nights a week, Monday through Friday for two or three hours.
The two-story sand-colored stucco and block structure sits behind TGI-Friday's on Lynnhaven Parkway. The two former fighters started the boxing program in January, and they teach more than sticking and moving.
``We monitor grades. They must make C and above. We don't have `attitudes' in here. We expect them to behave, to learn values. Self-reliance, confidence,'' said Claypool, a Marine sergeant with 17 years of service.
Olguin was even more blunt.
``We get them so tired working here, they won't have energy to get in trouble when they leave,'' said the former high school wrestler and Navy boxer. ``First two weeks, they don't do nothing but exercise, get in condition, find out if they like boxing. If they can't handle workouts, they leave. Then, they've got to find out what it's like to get hit. After that, if they're around, we know we got a potential fighter.''
Claypool whistled Owens to a halt. The teen took another furious swing or two at his unseen enemy and stopped long enough to jog to the heavy bag. The 5-foot 3-inch, 105-pounder attacked the 150-pound canvas bag.
Malik Owens knows about battles. Born in Brooklyn, he grew up in the tough Bedford-Stuyvesant section of New York City's biggest borough. He shuttled between New York and Washington for a couple years in his early teens before settling in Kempsville about two years ago.
His eyes have seen mean streets and meaner people.
``There's lots of knuckleheads, roughnecks, everywhere,'' he said. ``Virginia Beach doesn't have as many as up there. It's slower-paced here.''
Owens is winning the battle of the books, too. He carried a B average at Tallwood, with no ``crip'' courses. In his junior year, he took chemistry, algebra II, principles of technology, Virginia/United States history, honors English and marketing. Next year, he will have an equally heavy classroom load: advanced placement chemistry, math analysis, honors English 12, government and basic technological drawing.
``I want to major in environmental engineering at Penn State,'' Owens said. ``It's a branch of civil engineering.'' He often used time between portions of his workout to study. The discipline and conditioning he learns through boxing helps him academically, he said.
He worked with Olguin at the Kempsville Recreation Center before following him to the Boys and Girls Club.
``I've never lifted weights,'' said Owens, who looks like a slender body builder. ``I did this here at the boxing program.''
Claypool and Olguin have a collective 30 years in boxing, in the ring and out. They see something special in Owens, in D'Juan Burden, Terence Woolard, Joey Simeon, Rahman Williams, Josh Baker and Wale Ogunleye.
Burden is called ``B-Man'' because of his dreadlocked-resemblance to former world champion Livingston Bramble. Like Bramble, the 124-pounder hits hard.
``I can hit somebody without getting in trouble,'' said Burden, a 15-year-old sophomore at Salem High School. ``Take my anger out here and not on people outside. I was getting bored at home.''
Burden speaks softly and smiles easily. He came to the club in March. ``I'm making B's and C's,'' he added.
``B-Man hits hard for his size. He's probably the hardest puncher,'' said Olguin, watching Burden shadow box.
``Don't just keep him in the corner. Move. Use the whole ring,'' Olguin shouted to Burden.
The boxers use a bare-bones gym at the club now. Claypool and Olguin want to get a ring. Claypool constructed a wooden-frame stand for the light and heavy bags and the speed bag. The boxers work on conditioning mostly. They jog three miles around the parking lot, jump rope, shadow box, do leg lifts, situps and ``reach for the stars,'' pumping their arms above their heads.
Terrence Woolard weighs a solid-looking 164. ``I'm going to get to 147,'' he said.
Program director Rachel Edlich oversees the operation the Boys and Girls Club. A graduate of Old Dominion University with a degree in counseling, Edlich has worked at the facility for three years. She knows sports. She played lacrosse at ODU. She likes what she sees in the boxing program.
``Pete and Gilbert are doing a fine job with the boys. They're experienced. Great coaches. The principles they emphasize to their boxers are the same ones that underlie our programs,'' said Edlich.
She spoke of the six core programs at the club: ``citizenship and leadership, social recreation, cultural enrichment, personal adjustment, health and physical education and outdoor and environmental awareness. My job is to create programs that combine all these aspects.
``Kids are getting more than just games. They get guidance, education, help, good attitudes and role models. Our youth development strategy tries to instill qualities - competence, usefulness, belonging, power and influence - in members,'' she said.
Claypool worked with Boys and Girls Club boxing when he was stationed in Yuma, Ariz.
``When I came here, I went to Norfolk to see about starting a program and they sent me out here,'' he said.
Claypool, 36, played five sports in his hometown, Phillippi, W.Va. (population 1,500).
``The thing I liked about boxing is, it's just you and him,'' said Claypool, a trim 167 pounds.
Olguin is 40. He wrestled, played football and baseball in high school. He boxed and wrestled during his Navy enlistment in the early '70s. The coaches encourage their young charges to play other sports.
The Boys and Girls Club boxers fought in their first competition at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base as part of the Virginia State Games, the weekend of June 11 and 12.
Rockwell Hall, the athletic building at Little Creek, spans an entire block. The fighters prepared for the bouts amid the swirl of activity in the gym. Olguin and Gilbert wrapped hands, helped with headgear, gloves and mouthpieces and offered last-minute instructions.
In his 64-pound division bout with Tyrell Towner, Joey Simeon, 9, who makes A's and B's at Hermitage Elementary, jabbed, covered his head with the defensive techniques he has learned and knocked Towner on a standing eight-count.
He went on to win the bout easily, with three more eight-counts in the three-round fight.
``He looked real good. First fight, no sparring before,'' said Claypool.
``I was a little nervous,'' Simeon admitted. ``The guy was talking trash. I didn't say anything.''
``He answered with these,'' said Olguin, holding up Simeon's hands, pillowed in the huge red boxing gloves.
The rest of the competition turned into a classroom for club boxers.
Olguin stopped Owens' bout because he said he felt the fighter was ``too hyper.'' Another fighter was disqualified by the referee in round 2 for hitting on the break.
The Monday after the bouts, the fighters were training even harder, convinced that more physical conditioning was the answer. What had Burden, who said his legs got tired, learned from his first fight?
``Get in shape, take the cake,'' he said.MALIK OWENS FIRED A JAB, followed with a left hook and a right hand that whistled through the air. He circled to his right, bouncing on his toes.
When Owens raised his hands to defend his head, knotted muscles in his upper arms and shoulders glinted in the bright lights of the gym. His red tank top was soaked with sweat.
Owens, 16, battled as though his life was on the line. But there was no opponent.
He was shadow boxing.
Owens, a rising senior at Tallwood High School, is one of several young boxers, anywhere from 8 to 17, taking lessons from coaches Pete Claypool and Gilbert Olguin at the Virginia Beach Boys and Girls Club. The boxers include Jerold Moorer, brother of heavyweight champion Michael Moorer.
Boys and Girls Club is more than a name. Anikia Jackson, 8, of Brookwood Elementary School shows surprising aptitude. She started boxing lessons in May and can fight other girls in competition. The pugilists train five nights a week, Monday through Friday for two or three hours.
The two-story sand-colored stucco and block structure sits behind TGI-Friday's on Lynnhaven Parkway. The two former fighters started the boxing program in January, and they teach more than sticking and moving.
``We monitor grades. They must make C and above. We don't have `attitudes' in here. We expect them to behave, to learn values. Self-reliance, confidence,'' said Claypool, a Marine sergeant with 17 years of service.
Olguin was even more blunt.
``We get them so tired working here, they won't have energy to get in trouble when they leave,'' said the former high school wrestler and Navy boxer. ``First two weeks, they don't do nothing but exercise, get in condition, find out if they like boxing. If they can't handle workouts, they leave. Then, they've got to find out what it's like to get hit. After that, if they're around, we know we got a potential fighter.''
Claypool whistled Owens to a halt. The teen took another furious swing or two at his unseen enemy and stopped long enough to jog to the heavy bag. The 5-foot 3-inch, 105-pounder attacked the 150-pound canvas bag.
Malik Owens knows about battles. Born in Brooklyn, he grew up in the tough Bedford-Stuyvesant section of New York City's biggest borough. He shuttled between New York and Washington for a couple years in his early teens before settling in Kempsville about two years ago.
His eyes have seen mean streets and meaner people.
``There's lots of knuckleheads, roughnecks, everywhere,'' he said. ``Virginia Beach doesn't have as many as up there. It's slower-paced here.''
Owens is winning the battle of the books, too. He carried a B average at Tallwood, with no ``crip'' courses. In his junior year, he took chemistry, algebra II, principles of technology, Virginia/United States history, honors English and marketing. Next year, he will have an equally heavy classroom load: advanced placement chemistry, math analysis, honors English 12, government and basic technological drawing.
``I want to major in environmental engineering at Penn State,'' Owens said. ``It's a branch of civil engineering.'' He often used time between portions of his workout to study. The discipline and conditioning he learns through boxing helps him academically, he said.
He worked with Olguin at the Kempsville Recreation Center before following him to the Boys and Girls Club.
``I've never lifted weights,'' said Owens, who looks like a slender body builder. ``I did this here at the boxing program.''
Claypool and Olguin have a collective 30 years in boxing, in the ring and out. They see something special in Owens, in D'Juan Burden, Terence Woolard, Joey Simeon, Rahman Williams, Josh Baker and Wale Ogunleye.
Burden is called ``B-Man'' because of his dreadlocked-resemblance to former world champion Livingston Bramble. Like Bramble, the 124-pounder hits hard.
``I can hit somebody without getting in trouble,'' said Burden, a 15-year-old sophomore at Salem High School. ``Take my anger out here and not on people outside. I was getting bored at home.''
Burden speaks softly and smiles easily. He came to the club in March. ``I'm making B's and C's,'' he added.
``B-Man hits hard for his size. He's probably the hardest puncher,'' said Olguin, watching Burden shadow box.
``Don't just keep him in the corner. Move. Use the whole ring,'' Olguin shouted to Burden.
The boxers use a bare-bones gym at the club now. Claypool and Olguin want to get a ring. Claypool constructed a wooden-frame stand for the light and heavy bags and the speed bag. The boxers work on conditioning mostly. They jog three miles around the parking lot, jump rope, shadow box, do leg lifts, situps and ``reach for the stars,'' pumping their arms above their heads.
Terrence Woolard weighs a solid-looking 164. ``I'm going to get to 147,'' he said.
Program director Rachel Edlich oversees the operation the Boys and Girls Club. A graduate of Old Dominion University with a degree in counseling, Edlich has worked at the facility for three years. She knows sports. She played lacrosse at ODU. She likes what she sees in the boxing program.
``Pete and Gilbert are doing a fine job with the boys. They're experienced. Great coaches. The principles they emphasize to their boxers are the same ones that underlie our programs,'' said Edlich.
She spoke of the six core programs at the club: ``citizenship and leadership, social recreation, cultural enrichment, personal adjustment, health and physical education and outdoor and environmental awareness. My job is to create programs that combine all these aspects.
``Kids are getting more than just games. They get guidance, education, help, good attitudes and role models. Our youth development strategy tries to instill qualities - competence, usefulness, belonging, power and influence - in members,'' she said.
Claypool worked with Boys and Girls Club boxing when he was stationed in Yuma, Ariz.
``When I came here, I went to Norfolk to see about starting a program and they sent me out here,'' he said.
Claypool, 36, played five sports in his hometown, Phillippi, W.Va. (population 1,500).
``The thing I liked about boxing is, it's just you and him,'' said Claypool, a trim 167 pounds.
Olguin is 40. He wrestled, played football and baseball in high school. He boxed and wrestled during his Navy enlistment in the early '70s. The coaches encourage their young charges to play other sports.
The Boys and Girls Club boxers fought in their first competition at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base as part of the Virginia State Games, the weekend of June 11 and 12.
Rockwell Hall, the athletic building at Little Creek, spans an entire block. The fighters prepared for the bouts amid the swirl of activity in the gym. Olguin and Gilbert wrapped hands, helped with headgear, gloves and mouthpieces and offered last-minute instructions.
In his 64-pound division bout with Tyrell Towner, Joey Simeon, 9, who makes A's and B's at Hermitage Elementary, jabbed, covered his head with the defensive techniques he has learned and knocked Towner on a standing eight-count.
He went on to win the bout easily, with three more eight-counts in the three-round fight.
``He looked real good. First fight, no sparring before,'' said Claypool.
``I was a little nervous,'' Simeon admitted. ``The guy was talking trash. I didn't say anything.''
``He answered with these,'' said Olguin, holding up Simeon's hands, pillowed in the huge red boxing gloves.
The rest of the competition turned into a classroom for club boxers.
Olguin stopped Owens' bout because he said he felt the fighter was ``too hyper.'' Another fighter was disqualified by the referee in round 2 for hitting on the break.
The Monday after the bouts, the fighters were training even harder, convinced that more physical conditioning was the answer. What had Burden, who said his legs got tired, learned from his first fight?
``Get in shape, take the cake,'' he said. by CNB