19

Sports Student Prints 19 STUDENT PRINTS KNOCKOUT FOWLER story brent pearson Tim Connors, left, watches Josh Fowler spar with an opponent during a training session. Tape up the hands, string up the gloves and step into the ring with a boxer. When Josh Fowler climbed between the ropes, he never knew the lessons he would learn. Fowler, senior, began boxing 10 months ago at House of Hard Knocks boxing gym. Fowler spends up to six days a week inside the gym working on his endurance and technique when training. Fowler entered the sport of boxing after researching with his grandfather about his family’s past generation of boxing. “I’ve always been interested in it and I watched it when I was little” said Fowler. He signed up at House of Hard Knocks in South County with coach Tim Connors. Connors, a pro boxer and kick boxer, op- erates the gym. When Fowler entered the gym, he didn’t know if he would fight, but Connors knew he would be something special. “He had a go-getter attitude. He’s an athlete and young.,” said Connors. Fowler has to rely on himself in the ring and training. “It’s not a team sport. If you mess up, it’s on you to take it. You motivate yourself to go train in the gym,” Fowler said. After six months, Fowler stepped into the boxing ring for his first bout. He lost his first fight to decision. The loss failed to discourage Fowler. One month later, he technically knocked out his opponent in the first 30 seconds of the fight. Fowler has yet to fight since his win. Fowler took a break in the summer months to refocus and relax. He returned to his training as the school year began and looks to get back into the ring. Later this year, Josh will enter Golden Gloves, a regional competiton. If he competes well, he may have a trip to the 2012 Olympic Qualifiers in the future. “I box because all it is, is me and the other guy, there is no one else to blame,” said Fowler. Fowler has learned more than a sport, but life lessons inside the ring. Connors has helped Fowler beyond boxing, but in life. From school to social life, to self-con- trol and discipline. “I’ve learn that you can’t judge people. You have to repect them. It’s a gentle- man’s sport. Josh approach- es Connors like a brother. “The kids come to me for advice about life. It’s a cool feel- ing for me to help them out. I’m hon- ored to be looked apon in such a way,” Connors said. All it took was a pair of gloves and some coaching for Fowler to learn life lessons. “It taught me more about myself than anything,” he said. Mission Student Prints is a mostly self-funded forum whose goal is to inform, entertain, and represent the diverse population of Mehlville. Student Prints is published in paper six times during the school year. The web- site is updated consistently throughout the school year. Please contact the staff regarding publication, subscriptions, or advertising/sponsoring information. Editorial Policy Student Prints editorials represent the opinions of the staff and not necessarily those of the Mehlville School District Board of Education or administration. Letters to the editor may be submitted, but the staff reserves the right to edit any and all letters, including personal attacks. Please limit the letters to 300 words or less. Anonymous letters will not be accepted. All submitted story comments will be reviewed by an authoritative member on staff before being published. Co-Editors-in-Chief Anushri Thakkar Liza DiStefano Photo Editor Jessie Franklin News Editor Marlee Cox Opinions Editor Nathan Quinn Features Editor Tony Vanzo Sports Editor Brent Pearson Copy Editor Amy Flandreau Business Manager Alma Coralic Staff Reviewer Bryce O’Neal Writers Mack Durham Stephanie David Adviser Mrs. Erin Moeckel Contact Us Student Prints Mehlville High School Journalism 3200 Lemay Ferry Road St. Louis, MO 63125 mhsprints@yahoo. com

Upload
brent-pearson
Category

Documents
view
213
download
0

Embed Size (px):

description

Copy Editor Amy Flandreau Co-Editors-in-Chief Anushri Thakkar Liza DiStefano Business Manager Alma Coralic Features Editor Tony Vanzo Student Prints Mehlville High School Journalism 3200 Lemay Ferry Road St. Louis, MO 63125 mhsprints@yahoo. com Opinions Editor Nathan Quinn News Editor Marlee Cox Contact Us Photo Editor Jessie Franklin Sports Editor Brent Pearson Staff Reviewer Bryce O’Neal Mission Editorial Policy

Transcript of 19

Sports Student Prints 19

STUDENT PRINTS

KnocKout Fowler story brent pearson

Tim Connors, left, watches Josh Fowler spar with an opponent during a training session.

Tape up the hands, string up the gloves and step into the ring with a boxer. When Josh Fowler climbed between the ropes, he never knew the lessons he would learn. Fowler, senior, began boxing 10 months ago at House of Hard Knocks boxing gym. Fowler spends up to six days a week inside the gym working on his endurance and technique when training. Fowler entered the sport of boxing af-ter researching with his grandfather about his family’s past generation of boxing. “I’ve always been interested in it and I watched it when I was little” said Fowler. He signed up at House of Hard Knocks in South County with coach Tim Connors. Connors, a pro boxer and kick boxer, op-erates the gym. When Fowler entered the gym, he didn’t know if he would fight, but Connors knew he would be something special. “He had a go-getter attitude. He’s an athlete and young.,” said Connors. Fowler has to rely on himself in the ring and training. “It’s not a team sport. If you mess up, it’s on you to take it. You motivate yourself to go train in the gym,” Fowler said. After six months, Fowler stepped into the boxing ring for his first bout. He lost his first fight to decision. The loss failed to discourage Fowler. One month later, he technically knocked out his opponent in the first 30 seconds of the fight. Fowler has yet to fight since his win. Fowler took a break in the summer months to refocus and relax. He returned

to his training as the school year began and looks to get back into the ring. Later this year, Josh will enter Golden Gloves, a regional competiton. If he competes well, he may have a trip to the 2012 Olympic Qualifiers in the future. “I box because all it is, is me and the other guy, there is no one else to blame,” said Fowler. Fowler has learned more than a sport, but life lessons inside the ring. Connors has helped Fowler beyond boxing, but in life. From school to social life, to self-con-trol and discipline. “I’ve learn that you can’t judge people. You have to repect them. It’s a gentle-man’s sport. Josh approach-es Connors like a brother. “The kids come to me for advice about life. It’s a cool feel-ing for me to help them out. I’m hon-ored to be looked apon in such a way,” Connors said. All it took was a pair of gloves and some coaching for Fowler to learn life lessons. “It taught me more about myself than anything,” he said.

MissionStudent Prints is a mostly self-funded forum whose goal is to inform, entertain, and represent the diverse population of Mehlville. Student

Prints is published in paper six times during the school year. The web-site is updated consistently throughout the school year. Please contact

the staff regarding publication, subscriptions, or advertising/sponsoring information.

Editorial Policy

Student Prints editorials represent the opinions of the staff and not necessarily those of the Mehlville School District Board of Education

or administration. Letters to the editor may be submitted, but the staff reserves the right to edit any and all letters, including personal attacks.

Please limit the letters to 300 words or less. Anonymous letters will not be accepted. All submitted story comments will be reviewed by an

authoritative member on staff before being published.

Co-Editors-in-ChiefAnushri ThakkarLiza DiStefano

Photo EditorJessie Franklin

News EditorMarlee Cox

Opinions EditorNathan Quinn