North Battleford’s Four Corner Boxing has become an athletic staple in the community, teaching youth the fundamentals of the sport and helping boxers of all ages take their craft to the next level. (Submitted photo/Dylin Curiston)

By Martin Martinson

Provincial Slugfest

Six Battlefords area boxers to vye for success at provincials

Nov 15, 2019 | 5:00 PM

Six local boxers from Four Corner Boxing will compete in Provincials Nov. 23 in Weyburn.

Those participating will range in age from 10 to 21, offering a nice glimpse into what the Four Corners’ program is all about; offering an active athletic outlet for people of all ages, from children to youth and adults alike.

Competing this year will be 10-year-old Keira Gerstenhofer, 13-year-old Daltan Gerstenhofer, 15-year-old Amy Solano, 17-year-old Cody Chaykowski , 17-year-old John Pekas and 21-year-old Shalin Steel. Together the six will make the trip to represent the North Battleford-based club.

For at least two of the club’s boxers, Steel and Pekas, the pair will enter the tournament with the opportunity to advance to Nationals with a good showing at the Provincial level.

To attend Nationals, one must either have at least 10 boxing matches under their belt, or be selected by the Province to enter what is called an open class. Only those granted status into an open class can get around the 10-match requirement to compete against the best in the country.

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The six athletes mark a vast improvement in number from last year, when just one boxer from the Four Corner club went to compete on the provincial stage. The increase serves as another benchmark for the club, originally started just a few years ago in the community.

“In Saskatchewan, that is a high number,” Founder of the club, Dylin Curiston said. “[We were] probably first or second for the number of entries into Provincials this year numbers-wise.”

Curiston said while he obviously hopes to see his team achieve success at the Provincial level, the most important thing is that the athletes competing learn and continue to develop from their experience.

“Obviously we hope to get the win, but more than anything I just want them to take a lesson from the experience and learn from it to become better boxers,” he said. “Win, lose or draw, it doesn’t matter. As long as they develop, learn from it and do better, that’s what we are hoping for.”

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1