LVN file photo
The Elmo Derrico Gym is packed with students ready to rumble.
The annual Night of Boxing returns on May 31 at Churchill County High School and will feature 12 to 15 bouts. Doors open at 5 p.m. and tickets cost $10 at the door and VIP tables run $250 for six people and includes ringside seats and dinner.
Night of Boxing is the annual fundraiser for the Fallon wrestling program and spearheaded by the Greenwave Takedown Booster Club. The Calcutta spaghetti dinner, where boxers are auctioned off for sponsorships, is Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Fallon Elks Lodge, 93 W. Center St.
“I’m excited,” Fallon wrestling coach Mitch Overlie said. “As always, it’s our big fundraiser and we need people to come out and support us. It’s about the fans and the kids.”
The longtime Fallon coach said about 50 students came out and 40 remain. Overlie, though, must whittle the final tally to 30 or fewer by Tuesday’s dinner.
The dinner allows business or individuals to “buy” a boxer during an auction. Winners will have their business or name published in the program, on the back of the shirt of their boxer and displayed on the video screen in the gym throughout the night.
“We need everyone to show up,” Overlie said. “I know it’s hard after a holiday weekend.”
Overlie said he has plenty of athletes who have the skill, but training has its challenges. A bonus, though, is the number of experienced boxers returning for their second and third event.
“I think some of those matches we are going to have to pit those experienced kids against each other,” Overlie said. “I think we are going to have five or six matchups with kids who have boxed for three years in this thing.”
Night of Boxing avoided a knockdown from the Churchill County School District Board of Trustees in late March. Trustees voted 6-1 in favor of allowing the event to return to the high school.
Areas of concern for CCHS Principal Kevin Lords and Athletic Director Brad Daum were insurance liability and promoting a culture of violence. CCSD interim Superintendent Bus Scharmann also voiced concerns.
Nevertheless, trustees agreed to allow the event to remain at the high school for this year, although the event may have to find another location next year.