(APR 22) Last Thursday and Friday at the
81st New York Golden Gloves, Team Freeform walked away with 3
impressive performances and three Golden Gloves titles. The team was
also awarded three Golden Gloves in 2005 and 2006.
This year they produced two new
Champions in 138 lb., Rena Anawke and 145 lb.
Dariana Casado. This year's Golden Gloves tournament marks the
team's 10th year anniversary and in the process they have produced 7
Female Golden Gloves Champions and between those Champs have amassed
15 New York Golden Gloves Championships.
Of course the Team has won their
share of National Championships but it's the New York Golden Gloves
that they are most found of. Head Coach Lee Shabaka states: "The New
York Golden Gloves is our baby. We have toured the country and have
fought in many tournaments but it's the New York Golden Gloves and
that trip to Madison Square Garden that we are most passionate
about. Though I've trained many women to participant in this
tournament I will never get use to the grandeur and excitement that
this event presents. It's always a great and gratifying thing to
take your fighters to the Garden."
Team Co-Captain and 4-time Golden
Gloves Champion Fire Mcleod Wells says: "I'm so impressed by
our team's accomplishments this year. We excelled as a team and as
individuals. I'm also grateful of the expansion of the team in the
past few years. With the addition of the new girls the team has
produced more great talent and a diversity in styles which in turn
will help in my own development.
Overall it's been a good year for Team Freeform, the team is being
pitched for a possible reality show, the History Channel just
finished filming a documentary including the team in it and the team
just produced two new Golden Gloves Champions to add to their list
of accomplished fighters. It's all been worth it says Lee Shabaka,
we started out with a three girl team back in 98, we now have 25
active members with about 15 of those being competitors. And we're
only going to get better as the team matures and the sport of
Women's Boxing grows. It all starts here at the amateur level and we
plan to do our part in helping to bring Women's Boxing to the
forefront."
Photo: Fire Mcleod Wells, Rena Anakwe
and Dariana Casado -Team Freeform -
www.teamfreeform.com
