National PALBoxing Tournament October 17-24, 2009
SAN ANTONIO- The 35th annual National PAL Boxing Tournament came to a roaring close on Saturday with Zanesville in the competition. There were 587 participants making it the largest showing since the officials could remember.
Travis Jerig lost in his attempt to repeat his 2008 championship victory in a close match with David Jasso of Michigan. Jerig stayed tight in the middle with solid defense scoring off of well thrown left hooks while Jasso took the outside and got tagged by the referee for slapping. The computer scoring left it at 9-8 in favor of Jasso putting Jerig out of the tournament in the 119-pound intermediates.
Michael Roark also dropped a close decision in the second round of qualifiers to Justin Welch of Texas. Roark was solid in his attack early with Welch concentrating inside with short power shots. In the third Roark landed several straight shots leaving Welch struggling but at the end was 2 points short on the score at 154-pounds in the senior division.
Michael Norris met Mark Martinez of Texas in the open men’s division at 141 pounds. Martinez attacked from the sides getting called for slap fouls without any penalty points. Norris boxed and moved but Martinez ran up the score on the computer winning the match. The division was the most contested in the tournament with 44 participants and necessitating competitions for all six days of the tournament.
One reason for the huge turnout and the high quality of competition was the anticipation of the 2010 National PAL Tournament which as it now stands will be the first qualifier for the selection competition for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team trials. Michael Norris and Michael Roark are among those that will be eligible next year from Zanesville to compete.
Zanesville’s PAL team was headed by Coaches T. J. Hartmeyer and Brady Boyden. “Our kids worked hard in school and at the gym to earn this trip that was funded by community donations,” Hartmeyer said. “I am proud to have such great kids represent us nationally.
PAL made part of the trip educational with visits to several places including the Alamo Mission, the U.S.S. Lexington aircraft carrier museum and the Gulf of Mexico. Trips expose kids to the different cultures in different areas of the country increasing knowledge of the diversity of customs and geography in our country.
Zanesville PAL boxers will be in action next hosting their own show on Saturday, November 7 at 7pm at the PAL facility at 804 Pine Street in Zanesville. There are 15 bouts scheduled in all divisions.
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