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Mission Bouts More Than Boxing To Fighters
77th Annual Mission Bouts
Lee Roth
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| Molly Birecree of Greece, 17, right, spars with Dana Rightmyer of Churchville, 14, while training for tonight's Mission Bouts at Aquinas. (JAMIE GERMANO Democrat and Chronicle staff photographer) |
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Pulled by school and family tradition, Molly Birecree signed up for the famed Aquinas Mission Bouts as a freshman four years ago, having no idea what she was in store for.
She was the only girl in a class of 200 to do so. She wondered if she'd last four minutes let alone four years.
But much to Birecree's surprise, she wound up loving everything about the Mission Bouts. The challenging workouts, the bonding with classmates, the butterflies associated with performing in front of 1,500 people, the fact boxing is a singular event where you and you alone are responsible for what happens in the ring.
Of course, there was also the satisfaction in helping raise money for the Basilian Fathers' mission work, doing good for others while doing something good for yourself.
"I think back and it's like, 'What possessed me to sign up for boxing?'" Birecree said. "But I'm so glad I did. It's taught me so much. I didn't know how much I'd love it.
"There's just so much tradition behind it. To think people like Don Holleder came from this program and so many other legends."
Butterflies and fists will be flying again tonight at 7 at the Wegmans-Napier Science and Athletic Center during the 77th annual Mission Bouts. About 20 bouts are scheduled, pitting students who have been training for the past three months.
Storylines abound.
In the 150-pound girls final, Birecree meets Alyssa Werner, a freshman from Greece who has shed 123 pounds in 17 months working out at the Roc Boxing and Fitness Center under Mission Bouts coach Dom Arioli ('73).
Meanwhile, this is the first year junior high students have been able to participate. That allowed eighth-graders Aarika Kaester and Hanna Cullen to sign up, producing the first sets of brother-sister boxers in Mission Bouts history. Senior Henry Kaester and junior Jeff Cullen mentored their younger sisters and worked in their corners through the preliminaries.
As for Arioli, this marks his 28th season as director.
"It's more than just a boxing program, that's why I do it," he said. "Now we have eighth-graders training with seniors. It's great to see the kids bond and the older ones mentoring the younger ones. It's a real growing and learning process."
Molly Birecree can attest to that.
Her father, Bob ('76), and uncles Tom and Mike, thought it was neat that she stepped through the ropes just as they did all those years ago. As for mom, Judy, "She supports me but she's probably a little apprehensive," Molly said.
Birecree's own apprehensions were knocked out long ago.
She said boxing has helped shape her life, teaching her discipline and giving her the confidence to tackle anything. While she won her bout last year, Birecree said, the Mission Bouts aren't about winning and losing, but rather about making the effort.
"My favorite quote is that 'It's about the journey, not the destination,'" Birecree said. "You get out there and you have to rely on your training. You get out of it what you put in."
She put in 100 percent, even electing to write about her Mission Bouts experience in her college entrance essay. She has been accepted at Geneseo, Nazareth and Ithaca College and is waiting to hear from Notre Dame.
"I thought it was a unique topic," said Birecree about taking part in one of the nation's few high school boxing programs.
Arioli isn't surprised that Birecree survived — and thrived — all four years in the program. He was a classmate of her uncles.
"Well, from the name Birecree, she comes from a family of very dedicated individuals," he said. "Once I heard Molly's last name, I knew she'd stick it out. She's just as tenacious as her father and her uncles."
The same description certainly applies to Henry Kaester, who tonight can move his Mission Bouts career record to 4-0 when he takes on junior Josh Leonardo in the boys' light heavyweight final.
Kaester's name already is engraved on Mission Bouts trophies in the athletic center's main entranceway: Outstanding Freshman in 2006 and Fighter of the Night in 2007 and '08.
"Coach Dom has taught me a lot," said Kaester, who is coming off knee surgery that cost the middle linebacker his senior season of football. "Coach Dom, my family, everyone has been so supportive. It's really because of them that I'm here."
Kaester credited his friend, Leonardo, for bringing out the best in him in last year's Mission Bouts final.
"Last year, I got the Fighter of the Night trophy but I said if I had it my way, both our names would be on it because that was an astonishing fight," said Kaester, who wears a four-leaf clover charm around his neck. "You have so much respect for the other guy after a bout."
He has a lot of respect for his little sister, too. Aarika, who lost her preliminary bout to Cullen, boxed and played basketball this winter.
Tonight, she'll be cheering on her brother. So will dad, Kevin, and mom, Diane, the one who wouldn't sign Henry's permission slip when he was a freshman.
"She's learned to understand me," Henry said. "Before any of us gets in the ring, she yells, 'Keep your hands up.'"
Boxers should always listen to their mothers.
LROTH@DemocratandChronicle.com
Democrat and Chronicle
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