Wichita native competes in USA Boxing Junior Olympics

Daniel Fair and Zack Martin

28 minutes ago

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — For the second time in three years, USA Boxing’s Junior Olympics and Summerfest will bring the best of young boxers to Wichita.

It takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears to compete at this level of junior boxing.

“The Olympics starts here,” USA Boxing events manager Michael Campbell said. “The Olympics is part of our journey, so what we’re seeing here is the best in the country, the best in the world at this age group.”

Wichita native Evelyn Hernandez may only be 14 years old, but when it comes to the talent she possesses, age is just a number.

“It’s a privilege to be able to compete in some of the skills,” Hernandez said. “I’ve worked really hard to get to this point and I’m just grateful.”

This is Hernandez’s first time competing in the Junior Olympics, and she has already punched her ticket to Saturday’s championships.

“It’s been really cool,” Hernandez said, “I’ve been able to meet a lot of people and get my name out there. You know, I’m a nobody, but a lot of people are getting to know me.”

Hernandez’s boxing coach, Luis Hernandez, said she has a lot of confidence.

“She’s a really good boxer, she can fight and she’s confident in herself,” Lewis said. “She’s very confident and I’m confident in her, so I believe she’ll do well.”

Competing in your hometown offers privileges others don’t have, but it also comes with a lot of tension.

“I’m nervous because I think a lot of people are expecting me to come home with a gold medal,” Evelyn said.

Evelyn is just one of several local boxers competing this week, but it’s a testament to how the sport has grown in the Wichita area in recent years.

“You know, these guys train hard, day and night, every day,” said Israel Villa, president of the Missouri Valley Regional Boxing Association. “Some of them have full-time jobs. They go to school, they’re in the gym doing what they want to do.”