Region II Golden Gloves Results
Photo by: Liz Kaupen
Region II Golden Gloves Tournament Results 03/20 & 21/2010
Some people like spring because of the smell of the flowers in the air, the sound of the birds singing and the melting of the snow. While others, the ones who know amateur boxing like spring because it is tournament time and we love the smell of leather and the sound of a thunderous left hook followed by the roar of the crowd. The Region II tournament took place last Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at Brunette Boxing Gym at the Eastside Rec Center. You see the Brunettes have their own form of “March Madness” and it takes place inside a squared circle!
At the door I was greeted by Al Brunette and his lovely other half Jackie Camack proprietors of this bombs away event , why is it whenever I see these two I am in store for some top flight boxing action?
The tournament’s first night was refereed by Mark Nelson, Joe Lucio and Scott Erickson the second day they were joined by Bobby Brunette. Physician in attendance was Sheldon Siegel. Long-time Golden Gloves board member, coach, director and President Joel Marsh presiding. Chief of officials Veid Muiznieks. Time Keeper Pete Bombach, Judges: Arlye Weisheim, Duane Bobick, Scott Moe, Dan Joyce, Tim Keane, Derek Delpino, Jake Benson, TC Leveille, Don Lathrop.
On to the tournament action:
Saturday March 20th,
#1. Connor Linderholm (Anoka) 90lbs. Bryce Koeing (Believers Boxing)
Linderholm came out fast throwing both hands and Keoing answered with his own right hands which he seemed to hurt in the second round. Linderholm wins a decision in 3 rounds.
#2. Nate Burkhalter (Rochester) 105lbs. Jesus Rivera (White Bear Lake)
Burkhalter used his height and reach combined with a solid left jab to keep Rivera at bay. Rivera was effective especially in close by going to the body with both hands but could not stay ahead of Burkhalter on the cards. Burkhalter by decision in 3.
#3. Cord Vansickle (Savage) 165lbs. Billy Kapaun (Rice Street Gym)
I knew going in that Kapaun was heavy handed but after having three bouts he is showing what the payoff is for hard work in the gym. His coach Johnny Johnson told me he was going to be ready for this one and he was. He came out firing meaningful punches with both hands catching Vansickle repeatedly to the body and the head. Late in the first Vansickle started to rush Kapaun landing a couple of his own meaningful punches but Kapaun caught him and a standing 8 count was issued. In the second Vansikle came out hard rushing Kapaun and was met with a vicious onslaught by Kapaun including two big right hands which ended the bout. Kapaun RSC round 2.
#4. Jamal Morris (Rochester) 105lbs. Damon Lochman (White Bear Lake)
Morris had shown in the past that he is a force to be reckoned with and this night he was taking on a veteran in Lochman. Lochman continually put pressure on Morris but his aggression was met with combination punching from Morris who started controlling the bout and repeatedly landed quick and crisp combination’s. Morris by decision in 3.
#5. Mike Monchamp (Duluth) 123lbs. Nick Christiansen (Hastings)
This semi-final at 123lbs was an action filled affair with both boxers landing to the body and the head and several center ring exchanges which had the crowd on their feet! Monchamp landed several solid right hands to the head throughout the first two rounds and Christiansen would fire rapid combination’s to the body and then upstairs as the crowd went wild. In the third after expending all that energy these two met again at center ring exchanging wildly, both were tired and Christiansen was able to land several key combination’s down the stretch. Christiansen by close decision in 3.
#6. Zach Hill (Sisseton SD) 141Lbs. Joe Suchy (White Bear Lake)
This semi-final at 141lbs pitted two southpaws against each other. Hill is a counter puncher and Suchy a sharpshooter and has Hill tried to come over the top with counter left hands and right hooks, Suchy would use a solid jab followed by quick left hands to the body and head with striking accuracy. Suchy by decision in 3 rounds.
#7. Will Mathews (Duluth) 141lbs. Jason Shaller (Rice Street Gym)
Shaller came out fast in this one slipping in and out landing some stiff left hooks early with Mathews responding and trying to utilize lateral movement which played right into Shaller’s game, he came in backing up Mathews. In the second round Shaller began landing several combination’s, while Mathews backed up resulting in a couple of very hard shots. Finding the mark, Mathews could not evade these and the referee called a halt to it. Shaller wins this Semi final RSC2.
#8. Abdi Gelle (Rochester) 152Lbs. Gavin Quinn (Anoka)
Looking amazingly like his dad boxing from his southpaw stance trying to set up the straight left but Gelle had other ideas. Landing several hard shots to the mid-section Quinn was getting backed up and losing ground on the score cards. Quinn came out strong in the third but was met with some furious combination’s which backed up Quinn. Gelle wins this qtr final by decision in 3.
#9. Joe Claus (White Bear Lake) 152Lbs. Ben Musha (White Bear Lake)
Claus is a veteran and has seen a lot of action under the tutelage of Larry Goodman but Musha learned about midway through the second round that his conditioning was going to be the key to this Qtr final at 152. Musha was finding the mark and Claus was skilled but lacked wind in the sails as Musha pushed him giving Claus a standing 8 count in the third and cruising ahead on the cards. Musha wins by decision in 3 rounds.
#10. Trevor Marmon (Duluth) 152Lbs. Oscar Soto (Rice Street Gym)
This quater final was pitting two tough guys in a bout early in the tournament. Looking every bit like this was going to be his show Soto came out using his amazing leverage against a strong and formidable opponent and was able to land a devastating right uppercut in the first minute dropping Marmon on all fours. Marmon rose and looked like he wanted revenge and came after Soto which proved to be a big mistake as Soto landed several serious blows ending this one before it even really got started. Soto RSC1.
#11. Richard Kern (Rochester) 165Lbs. Manny Contreras (Rice Street Gym)
This final at middle-weight was pitting two rugged competitors against each other and two different styles as well. Kern walked Contreras down but in the process was repeatedly met with volleys of blows from Contreras. Kern became frustrated and was controlling the bout at times but Manny displayed the skills that have made him difficult to beat in the past and again tonight. Contreras by decision in 3.
#12. Jared Guerrerro (Duluth) S-Hvy Weight Joe Struss (Rice Street Gym)
Struss grew up two blocks away from the Eastside Rec Center and had a huge fan base in attendance. Guerrero came in looking half the size of Struss and having seen Struss dismantle people quickly in the past it looked like this was going to go the same way. Struss came out fast moving forward to a wild fan base going crazy!! Guerrero threw a combination that grazed Struss and I said to Liz Kapaun this kid can hit!! Struss came in to force the issue and found out Guerrero can hit with a beautifully timed right hand. Guerrero caught Struss flush on the chin coming in and collapsed him like a building. The crowd went absolutely silent in one second. WOW what a way to close. Guerrero RSC1.
Sunday 3/21-
The action picked up right where it left off the night before with all the usual suspects in attendance. They had to draw at 152Lbs to see who would box and who would have a bye until April 1st. Ben Musha drew the bye and would meet the winner of Gelle and Soto. Gizzy Hobbs won by walk over for Minneapolis at 141lbs when Jamal Brown was a no show.
#1. Dawson Wrazidlo (Duluth) 90Lbs. Jose Salazar (White Bear Lake)
Wrazidlo had some long straight punches and utilized some solid lateral movement to outlast Salazar’s body shots and pull ahead winning this one. Wrazidlo by decision in 3.
#2. Juan Ramirez (White Bear Lake) 100Lbs. Dennis Ashton (White Bear Lake)
Teammates from the same gym decided to lay in on the line with each other in what was a very competitive bout. Ramirez scoring a standing 8 count in the second and later a victory. Ramirez by decision in 3.
#3. Mark Pogorelskin (Duluth) 112Lbs. Thomas Yang (White Bear Lake)
Both of these gentlemen are Regional Champs at different weights and decided to take on each other for the fourth time!!! Pogorelskin is a southpaw with quick straight punches and Yang likes to come in from the outside throwing combination’s. This was an exciting bout with both landing in several exchanges which got the crowd going! Yang pulled this one out in a very close bout. Yang by decision 3.
#4. Jason Shaller (Rice Street Gym) 141Lbs. Joe Suchy (White Bear Lake)
This was a good action final at 141Lbs pitting two vastly different styles against each other. Suchy, a tall southpaw who sharp shoots and Shaller a straight ahead Joe Fraiser type. Suchy landed several punches early with great accuracy and as the bout wore on Shaller came on with relentless pressure, backing up Suchy while the crowd got into it. Even the coaches were into it with referee Bobby Brunette having to stop the action momentarily to have words with Johnny Johnson who was imploring his boxer to get inside and was very animated about it!! In the end Johnsons encouragement may have inspired Shaller who drove Suchy back to the ropes landing a couple of big punches and it was the difference. Shaller advances by decision in 3.
#5. Oscar Soto (Rice Street Gym) 152Lbs. Abdie Gelle (Rochester)
Talk about tough! These guys are rugged and after this one the winner advanced from this semi-final bout to take on Ben Musha on April 1st. Soto has amazing leverage on his punches and do not let his slim build fool you he packs a punch! During the first two rounds I wondered what a heart on this Gelle kid to be able to withstand the shots that Soto landed. And in the third it was Gelle who poured it on as blood poured from his nose and mouth he went after Soto landing some great left hooks while Soto countered like a warrior and the crowd applauded! Soto advances to the finals with a rough and tumble decision win over a tough Gelle.
# 6. Nick Christiansen (Hastings Boxing) 123Lbs. Brad Heroff (Brunettes Boxing)
I knew this one would be tough with both boxers throwing caution to the wind from the get go! Brad throwing hard right hands down the pipe with Nick going to the body and hooking to the head. Both guys throwing meaningful exchanges and Christiansen landed a good hook that shook Heroff and seemed to wake him up as he landed two devastating right hands at the end of the first round the second one in this scribes opinion broke the nose of Christiansen. In the second, Christiansen came out swinging for the fences and ran into a buzz saw right hand left hook combination that sent him sprawling to the canvas clutching his nose. The referee Mark Nelson called it the end. Herofff advances at 123 to the Upper-Midwest RSC2.
All of the open division winner advance to the Upper-Midwest Tournament in Walker Minnesota on April 9th and 10th in Walker MN. Region II is coming in with a strong team and 152Lbs will still be decided. The Region II Team:
108 – Thomas Yang
114 – Mark Pogorelskin
125- Brad Heroff
132 – Jay Lee (un-opposed)
141 – Jason Shaller
152 – Oscar Soto or Ben Musha
165 – Manny Conterous
178 – Robert Brandt (Un-opposed)
201 – Al Sands (un –opposed)
Shvy – Jared Guerrero
This was a great event and would not be possible without all of the hard work of everyone involved. I thought the boxers for this tournament were very well prepared which is a credit to all of the coaches, their tireless efforts to work with these kids does not go un-noticed. There were some very competitive bouts and some very close decisions, with a raucous standing room only crowd, the sound of hand pads and the rhythmic thumping of the bouts going on, two things came to my mind. One, yes it must be spring because it is tournament time. And the other was that I could feel Tommy Brunette smiling down at all of us, you will never be forgotten brother and I know you are proud!
Reporting live from ringside for “Live From Ringside”
Todd “Tbone” Webb
Photographers: Liz Kapaun and Sean Donovan.
