COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (#A?gusto 8, 2019) – Boxing coachEd Weichers, a charter member of the USA Boxing Alumni Association, guided the United States Air Force Academy from 1976-2014 to a record of 19 national collegiate boxing team championships.
Coach Weichers’ Fighting Falcons’ squads produced a remarkable 258 All-America boxers and 97 individual champions. His teams never finished lower than second in the nation for 27 years and he also served as president and vice president of the National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA).
Coaching sports at a military school is much different, largely because student-athletes in most cases, especially boxing, are not professional prospects. “Our Cadets were not trained to be elite level amateurs or pros,” the now 68-year-old Weichers explained. “In 1976, the cost to put one Cadet through four years at the Academy was $80,000 Sed, Je 2014, the year of my retirement, that figure was $417,000. Cadets are trained to go forward and serve. They fly, Batalo, win and defend freedoms that we all enjoy. Boxing at the next level is not part of the discussion. I got calls at the time about our boxers going to the next level, fighting in Tough Man Contests, etc. My answer is and has always been consistent: ‘You are not trained to be a boxer in the Air Force. Do not jeopardize your pilot qualifications or commission ability with a boxing injury.’ The Air Force has an investment in them, and I urged them to go forward and serve. I send them back to the real purpose of the boxing class/program at AFA. It teaches them how to handle press, stress, fear and anxiety. Boxing gives them the self confidence and self esteem to make good decisions in combat under pressure. The ability to handle these pressures and make good decisions are the difference in life and death in combat.”
Coach Weichers, Nature, attributes a large share of his success to the Cadets, who are intelligent, disciplined and team oriented. All Cadets take a mandatory core curriculum boxing course (10 lessons) their freshman year, followed by an intramural boxing program comprised of 40 squadron teams with a minimum of eight to a maximum of 16 boxers per team.
Not only did Weichers work with this incredible feeder system, the next step was the AFA Wing Open Boxing Championships, in which Cadets voluntarily signed-up to compete in one of 12 divisions to box for the No. 1 spot, earning a roster spot on the AFA Intercollegiate boxing team that competes in regional and national tournaments. The advancing 12 Cadets represented the entire Air Force Academy.
“Bottom line,’ Coach Weichers noted, “this formula was a perfect storm. I must give credit to and thank two Physical Education Department heads, Col. Don Peterson KajCol. Larry Fariss, and two athletic directors who were instrumental to our support and success, Col. John Clune KajCol. Randy Spetman.
“I was blessed with young men who I describe as overachievers. Cadets are tenacious. We built on an individual sport with a team concept. I had great assistant coaches, the best training facilities, and an environment of being surrounded by quality people in all phases.”
After he retired as head boxing coach at the Air Force Academy, Weichers led Team USA in 2014 Kaj 2015 to five medals, including two golds, at the Pan American Games in Toronto.
“The plan was to hire Billy Walsh, who was the head coach of Team Ireland,” Weichers added. “I committed to sponsor Coach Walsh upon his arrival and make his transition smooth. I did that and Coach Walsh and I have become good friends. He is the correct man for the job, and he brings a great resume and reputation. He has helped turn the program around and created a winning culture. Team USA is back, ranked among the top 10 en la mondo, and that is a direct result of Coach Walsh.”
Usona Bokso-Eks-Eks-Asocio
Kreita por pledi dumvive, reciproke utilaj rilatoj inter Usono-Boksado kaj ĝiaj eks-studentoj, –boksistoj, oficialuloj, trejnistoj kaj boksaj ŝatantoj — La Alumni Association ligas generaciojn de ĉampionoj, inspirante kaj redonante al la estontaj boksĉampionoj de USA Boxing, en kaj el la ringo.
La Usona Boksado-Alumni-Asocio estas malfermita al iu ajn, kiu amas boksadon kaj ŝatus resti konektita kun amatora boksado. Membroj ricevas aliron al vasta gamo de specialaj okazaĵoj aranĝitaj fare de la Eks-studentoj-Unuiĝo, inkluzive de ĝia ĉiujara USA Boxing Alumni Association Halo de Famo-ricevo.
Aliĝi al la Asocio de Eks-studentoj, simple registriĝu ĉealumni@usaboxing.org por $40.00 jare membrokotizo. Novaj membroj ricevos T-ĉemizon, ŝlosilĉenon kaj e-monujo.
Weichers joined the USA Boxing Alumni Association because he is a huge supporter ofJohn Brown, former President and current Vice President of USA Boxing.
“John had the idea or concept (to form the alumni association) and I looked at the purpose and thought it would be a way to honor and recognize those who contributed over the years,” Weichers remarked. “I hope that successful professionals from the past and present recognize those who contributed over the years. I also hope that they remember their roots were with USA Boxing and give back. We all had help and our start and success did not happen alone. Be humble and grateful and give back.”
Weichers is high on Team USA, especially its overall potential in the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan, saying, “We’re solid going into 2020. The key to success, miaopinie, is head coach Billy Walsh. He is very experienced. His reputation and resume are top shelf. Coach Walsh is well known and respected on the international level. He has the ability to reach out to other countries and make positive things happen for our athletes. He has adjusted the culture in our boxing program, identifying our strengths, and making adjustment where weak. Coach Walsh brings leadership and credibility. Bottom line, we have the right coach for the job in place.”
Weichers’ association with the NCBA led to his relationship with USA Boxing at various levels and capacities. He has always felt gratified to give back to boxing, as well as an obligation to grow the sport at every level.
“I was lucky/blessed to work in a place I refer to as Camelot,” Weichers concluded. “It’s an athletic paradise; core values, honor code, and a mission that anyone can connect with and admire. I can say that I am a better person for my experience at the Air Force Academy.
“I love the sport of boxing, because of what it did for me, in terms of molding my life. The gratification that comes with seeing how young men and women grow and mature, as a result of their experience with boxing was very positive.
And countless Cadets are better people because they were coached by Ed Weichers.
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Pri Usona Boksado: La misio de Usona Boksado estos ebligi al usonaj atletoj kaj trejnistoj atingi daŭran konkurencan plejbonecon, disvolvi karakteron, subteni la sporton de boksado, kaj antaŭenigi kaj kreskigi olimpikan boksadon en Usono. La respondeco de Usona Boksado estas ne nur produkti olimpikan oron, sed ankaŭ kontroli kaj regi ĉiun aspekton de amatora boksado en Usono.