Sigma Chi’s Fight Night turns amateurs into athletes
By Jonathan Houghton
Staff Reporter '
Janies Gartner is not a fighter.
That is, fighting doesn’t come as a second
nature to him. The sophomore agriculture eco
nomics major would rather talk his way out of
a tense situation than resort to violence, and,
on most occasions, he does.
But Saturday night, he fought.
In fact, as a participant in Sigma Chi’s An
nual Fight Night, he fought like he never had
before. Swinging, ducking, blocking—he gave
the fight everything he had.
Fight Night, which drew 1,100 people and
raised about $7,000, featured 13 bouts;
Gartner’s was fifth. Many of the boxers were
first-time competitors, Fight Night Organizer
Jon Gilfiy said, although some were already
registered in amateur boxing.
Gilfry said he thought the reasons many
people signed up to box was curiosity about the
sport as well as a desire to represent their indi
vidual greek houses.
“It’s a great feeling, having 40 or 50 of your
friends cheering you on,” he said.
But for Gartner, who boxed independently,
his place in Fight Night came under different'"'
circumstances, u uO:I o) 0£?i » * \ tr
Growing up in Hastings, Gartner said he I
never imagined he’d one day compete in the I
ring. He said he first discovered his interest in I
boxing by watching an early Mike Tyson fight, I
and was intrigued by the dedication displayed I
by the fighters.
“It was the skill, being able to defend your- I
self and take the hits,” he said.
But Gartner said his interest in boxing was I
strictly as a spectator until a colleague at work I
encouraged him to compete in Fight Night. He I
said his competitive personality as well as his I
admiration for the sport gave him thecourage ■
to try boxing.
“I’ve been told it’s kind of an ego thing for I
me, but I don’t know,” he said.
Every day^Gartner trained for the competi- I
tion by running, working out and sparring with I
friends. His boss’s son, an amateur boxer him- |
self, taught Gartner some of the basics—block
ing, different types of punches and so on—in I
one-on-one sessions.
“I could always prepare more,” Gartner said, I
“but I’m confident enough to step into the ring.” '■
Nevertheless, the night before the fight was I
a restless one for Gartner.
“I was rolling around a lot. I didn’t sleep I
too well,” he said.
Gartner said he started feeling nervous the
day before the fight. His biggest fear, he said,
was not performing to his potential in the com
petition.
But Gartner said his fears had all but van
ished by the time he stepped into the ring Sat
urday night.
Unfortunately, things began to go downhill
for him at the end of the first round, when he
took several quick shots to the head.
Although he appeared to have been re-in
vigorated by the short break between rounds,
Gartner said he struggled in tbs second round.
At 1:33 into the second round, Gartner’s en
ergy ran out. IBs opponent won by a technical
knockout.
After the fight, Gartner said he would have
benefited by additional training.
“Endurance-wise, I could’ve been better
conditioned,” he said.
Gartner said he believed an important at
tribute of a fighter is the ability to be a good
sportsman, and accept a loss.
“I think I had a really good fight,” he said.
“I’ll try again next year.” —
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