“We walk forward we walk in the light. We walk forward for
those who see us and support us”--Coach Laura Sandoval
(FEB 16) Coach Laura
Sandoval has become a shining light for the boxers on the Fort
Berthold Indian Reservation in New Town, North Dakota.
Getting to that point was not easy though and with lack of
resources and lack of support from community she continues to
push on and forward.
She is that coach who through faith and fortitude and a lot of
hard work and struggles decided to reach one goal at a time with
a golden spirit.
Sandoval said, “Living on a reservation is very tough to put it
lightly. There are no mental health resources, no resources for
kids looking for guidance and the only counselors they have is
for alcoholism and addiction. It’s a terrible cycle for most
because families can be completely dependent not only the drugs
but the enabling behaviors they have known for so long.”
Boxing is a safe place. Boxing builds confidence and strength
and with the help of coach Laura Sandoval, every kid that walks
into the Holy Child gym counts.
Sandoval said in the old days of training on the “rez”, the
coaches would just throw the newbies in the ring and have them
fight to learn how to fight. There were no fundamentals being
taught. It was a fight more out of survival than a good
foundation.
Mary Sandoval
Sandoval said she has two beautiful indigenous female boxers,
among others, who have cut their teeth boxing, when there was no
one in their division. One of them, Mary Sandoval, now 15 years
old, has been fighting as a super heavyweight, and has been
fighting from Chase Gym since 10 years old. A sophomore out of
New Town High School, has excelled at Speech, Tae Kwan Do, and
is now interested in Softball and Golf.
The other boxing sister is Destiny Cameron, out of McLaughin
High School, she has faced many challenges also. When Destiny
needed a coach who could teach her and work with her, she
reached out to Holy Child Boxing Club and works through Zoom for
nightly trainings.
Laura studied, read, and learned all her knowledge of boxing on
her own. When she knew the children needed boxing she knew she
needed to learn and that’s what she set out to do.
Sandoval said, "We
wish them both the best as we do for all of the young women
fighting for their futures. I'm the first Native American Coach,
Official and Secretary for our ND LBC 52 and my goal is to
compete in the Master's Division to show our youth we can do
what we set our mind on. Our club has several greenies coming
up, the youngest being 7 year old Rosena Sandoval who has
watched her family box throughout the United States. She will be
entering the ring this year in April when she turns 8."
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