By Alesha Capone
Two teenage boxers from the Werribee-based Wyndham Police Citizens Youth Club are weighing in as champions.
Marissa, 17, won the Victorian Amateur Youth 64-kilogram title, at the State Boxing Titles, earlier this month.
The win means Marissa has qualified for the Victorian state selections of the National Youth Boxing Championships, to be held in Queensland in October.
Fellow Wyndham PCYC member, 13-year-old Kyleisha received a “walk through” to the national selections, because none of her opponents wanted to fight her at the state titles.
Kyleisha said she started boxing just over a year ago, while Marissa began boxing just under 12 months ago.
Marissa said she and Kyleisha had become good friends with a third PCYC member, 18-year-old Regan, during this time.
“I like the travelling and I think it [boxing] gives you a family, as the three main fighters here have become really close,” she said.
Marissa said her favourite part is tournaments, although it can be tough to fit in training six days a week with her VCE studies.
Kyleisha said she enjoyed the discipline of boxing and also supporting her friends at competitions.
On March 30, Kyleisha will fly to Tasmania for a boxing tournament, before coming back to watch Marissa compete the next day.
The Wyndham PCYC is supported by the Youth Support and Advocacy Service, Wyndham police, Australian Trade Training and Assessment and the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency.
See www.facebook.com/PCYCwyndham/ for details.
