Submitted

Youth boxing was the topic of a program presented at the Thursday, Jan. 22 meeting of the Trenton Rotary Club, held at the BTC Bank community room. Daniel Gott presided over the meeting, Dan Wilford gave the prayer and Chris Hoffman was the sergeant at arms. Joe MacDonald and Dan Wilford were the program chairmen.

MacDonald introduced Rocky Dunkin and Amanda Tobias of the Bulldog Boxing Club, who presented information about the local youth organization. Dunkin said the club was started in 1978 as part of a physical education program at Trenton High School and has been active since that time, producing several individuals who have won state, regional and international titles. Dunkin was a boxer with the club through 2007, when he signed a professional contract with Craig Cummings, a former boxer with the Trenton club who also went on to fight professionally.

During Dunkin’s amateur career, he boxed in the Olympic Boxing Trials, losing to Andre Ward, who went on to win a gold medal and later became a professional title holder. He has been coaching local boxers since 2007 as well. Dunkin said the club focuses on helping youth who “need a place to belong” and currently has around 20 to 30 boxers, both male and female. There is no charge for the boxers to take part, with the club relying on fundraisers and donations. The club currently practices in an area of Dunkin’s business at Eastgate Shopping Center. He said the boxers take part in matches throughout the U.S., noting that some of the matches are held in the Kansas City area. He has two boxers who have won state and regional tiles in the Silver Gloves Division (17 and under) and who will compete next month at the National Tournament in Independence. He noted that fourl of the current boxers are ranked in the Top 5 nationally by U.S. Boxing.

Ms. Tobias, who has worked in the mental health profession for several years, told how boxing has helped many children in areas other than sports, with participants using the sport to cope with struggles such as a lack of self-esteem, behavior, etc. She noted that Dunkin also makes sure that the participants keep up their grades at school, providing them a place to study.

Carter Tobias then gave a sparring demonstration with Ms. Tobias and then with Rotary member Joe MacDonald to end the program.

During the business meeting. It was announced that Rotary District 6040 will be participating in a district giving contest, beginning Feb. 1 and ending July 1. The club who has the best per capita member giving will participate in a social activity with the District Governor. It was also announced that Assistant District Governor Chris Higdon will visit the club on March 5. The club will also begin its efforts to collect shoes and monetary donations for the Rotary Shoes for Orphan Souls project on Feb. 1.

The Jan. 29 meeting will the the club’s “Fifth Thursday” meeting, with members meeting for lunch at the Dr. Neil and Susanne Nuttall Student Center on the NCMC campus. This will be followed by a tour of the building. Kristi Harris is the program chairman.