Off-campus boxing matches prompt calls for supervision.Byline: Matt Cooper Matt Cooper may refer to:
SPRINGFIELD - Is the fight game coming to Springfield High School Springfield High School may refer to:
About 14 students and about a half-dozen parents sparred with that question Tuesday at a meeting organized by a mother distraught dis·traught adj. 1. Deeply agitated, as from emotional conflict. 2. Mad; insane. [Middle English, alteration of distract, past participle of distracten, to learn that students have been leaving campus at lunch for unsupervised boxing matches. Karen Baszler said she acted out of fear that a student could be seriously injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. but, after hearing out some of the kids who have boxed, she had a new perspective. "I hope these guys get a chance to box after school," Baszler said. "But make it a sport, with a professional trainer and a supervisor." Phillip Coontz, a sophomore, said news reports have inaccurately characterized char·ac·ter·ize tr.v. character·ized, character·iz·ing, character·iz·es 1. To describe the qualities or peculiarities of: characterized the warden as ruthless. 2. the matches as bare-knuckle brawls where admission is charged and the winner must go again. For Coontz, boxing is sport, but he's concerned that some students won't take it seriously, tarnishing everybody's image. "I have heard about some other kids going to box, but we're taking precautions precautions Infectious disease The constellation of activities intended to minimize exposure to an infectious agent; precautions imply that the isolation of an infected Pt is optional, but not mandatory. ," he said. "These other kids are just doing it so they can do it." What happens next is anybody's guess. Associate Principal Chris Reiersgaard said it was unlikely that Tuesday's meeting will put an end to lunchtime bouts Bouts is the name of
While the district has no authority off school grounds, Reiersgaard said, he'll continue to try to ensure student safety while explaining the liability for property owners who permit matches where someone gets hurt. Student Ryan Magnuson planned to collect signatures to persuade administrators to approve on-campus boxing at lunchtime. Coontz planned to organize those interested for supervised boxing either on or off campus. Heron Mendez, a Eugene resident and former boxing trainer, offered his equipment and services for free - if students can find a place to box. "When I saw these kids are sneaking off at lunch and boxing, I thought, `Oh my god, somebody's going to get hurt,' ' Mendez said. "These kids are pretty motivated and, if given a chance, they'll find a facility." |
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