by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
The Leech Lake Boxing Club is continuing their successful history inside and outside the ropes. There are three young boxers who are carrying on the tradition of representing their people.
Alberto Luna, 11 years old, boxes for the Leech Lake Boxing Club, Cass Lake, MN. He competed at the USA Boxing National Silver Gloves Championship along with his younger brother Gabriel, 9 years old and 75 lbs., and Dylon Widstrom, 10 years old and 65 lbs., from Walker.
“Alberto was ranked #6 in the nation at 90 pounds but we moved him up to 100 lbs. because he’s growing and he’s won seven of his last eight bouts,” said Byron Wilson, head coach, Leech Lake Boxing Club.
Alberto and Tonya Luna are Gabriel and Alberto parents and Dylon Widstrom’s guardian is assistant coach Charles Oothoudt. Charles works with Dylon and Byron trains Alberto and Gabriel.
“These three boxers went to Independence, MO to compete Jan 29 to Feb 2, 2020 in the National Ringside Silver Gloves Championships,” said Byron.
The boxers didn’t make it out of the semi-finals and their season was over. There will be a few days of rest and training will start for the new season of boxing.
“The Nationals was a good learning experience and we know what it takes to be there,” said Byron. “We will be back again more experienced and definitely prepared to take on the nations best.”
The Leech Lake Boxing Club normally works out 5:30 to 8 pm Monday through Thursday at the Veteran’s Memorial Building in Cass Lake. This occurs when there isn’t a funeral or wake going on. The building is a community center with many users.
“Charles Oothout is my assistant coach and he also is a registered senior boxer,” said Byron, also a Level 2 USA Boxing official.
The Minnesota State Silver Gloves Championships were held in St. Cloud, MN Dec 14th, 2019. The Regional was Jan 18th and 19th, 2020. The three boys were state and regional champions.
Workout structures are determined by how close the boxer’s competition dates are. “A few days before a competition, they start off by stretching,” said Byron. “They then run 1.5 miles and jump rope four to five rounds at three minutes per round. They do 100 sit-ups and push-ups then do four to five rounds on heavy bag, and end the session with pad work with me for four rounds. They run and do push-ups and sit-ups days they not in the gym.”
Byron Wilson is a member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. The Leech Lake Boxing Club in Cass Lake has 10 boxers and some newer kids that come off and on between ages 8 years to 15 years old.
“I started boxing at All Nations South MPLS in 1984,” said Byron. “My coach was the late Curtis Buckanaga. I began to box to stay out of trouble: boxed four years with Bemidji Boxing Club coach Jim Lafrinere. I won the 1992 Silver Gloves, was Region 4 runner-up in ‘93 and ‘94. Started to coach in 2004 with Bemidji just helping out young kids and after Jim LaFrinere passed. I had to stop for a while until 2008 and started helping out Henry Harper and I’ve been here ever since.”
Byron talked about his core values in and out of the ring: “Honesty and respect are very important to me in order to have kids listen and do the type of work boxers do they have to respect you and show them respect and that reflects back to their personal life. Like getting better at school and being honest with their parents and teachers. If they work hard in the gym and do well in the sport they carry that outside the practices into there personal life. Boxing does require a lot of discipline and that can change a lot of things in their lives.”
Charles Oothoudt is also Leech Lake Band Of Ojibwe. He works with the Leech Lake Boxing Club at the Onigum Community Center, Onigum, MN.
“I work with 8 to 18 year olds,” said Charles. “We average six kids a night and on good nights there’s around 15.”
“I’ve been in boxing since I was 8 years old,” said Charles. “Just last year Coach Byron Wilson asked if I wanted to coach for my community.”
“We want to make sure kids are having fun and staying out of trouble,” said Charles. “We are helping out with anything they need and someone to talk to when they need it. We need to make sure they have something for them to look forward to in life as we are starting the kids young so boxing will grow on them.”
“The Leech Lake Sports Management Program were honored to send three native youth boxers to the Nationals,” said Brad Croaker, Leech Lake Sports Manager. “The boxers represented the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and Minnesota boxing at the highest national level. Through the years these boys have proved the ability to overcome many challenges facing them and the sport of boxing is an outlet to help not only youth, but also the adults to achieve their goals through the sport and in life. Boxing teaches self-discipline and respect not only for oneself but also towards others. It is an outlet to guide a person towards greatness in life.”
Photo Credit: Byron Wilson
Photo Names:
Front Row: Dylon Widstrom and Gabriel Luna; Back Row: Charles Oothoudt (Assistant Coach), Alberto Luna and Byron Wilson (Head Coach)
