03-05-2025
Nation's best amateur boxers descend on DuBois
DuBois, Pa. (WTAJ) – DuBois was the place to be on Friday night if you wanted to catch a glimpse of the future stars of boxing. Seven amateur boxers ranked in the top ten nationally gathered for a training session between Team 412 and Team 814 at WPAL DuBois.
Among the group of star boxers was U.S. Olympic Team Trials bronze medalist Trinity Burke, who began her career in Punxsutawney at WPAL Helman's Boxing Gym.
'It's pretty cool because it reminds me of where I started,' Burke said.
As a teenager, Burke's interest in the sport was piqued after watching a match on television.
'It was so cool. I just went down to the gym to try it,' Burke said.
Fast forward a few years, the 23-year-old has moved to the Pittsburgh region and now trains with Team 412. Despite having two national titles under her belt, Burke is still motivated to qualify for the Olympics one day.
'There is a gym two blocks from her home that she could walk to in five minutes every day. Instead, she rides a bus an hour each way to train with ours,' Team 412 head coach Jim Hoy said. 'That's how dedicated she is to our team and to our craft. Her level of commitment and dedication is remarkable and should be an example for anyone participating in sports.'
Next week, Burke is heading to Colorado Springs to train in the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center. She will be trying to earn a spot on USA Boxing's prestigious High Performance Team.
'(It's incredible to) think that a girl that started in a small town in central Pennsylvania is going to be in Colorado Springs, working with the United States Olympic coach and their staff,' Hoy said. 'Sometimes you can forget how special that is and what a big deal it truly is.'
Others practicing alongside Burke are inspired by what she's been able to accomplish in her young career.
'She made it this close. She's one step away from the Olympics,' three-time national champion Gea Fultz said. 'If she can do that, I can do that. She's paving the way for the younger ones (in the club).'
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