Connie Bechtel, is 24 years old (as of 2002), and fights out
of Pennsylvania. Bechtel graduated from Lebanon Valley College in 1999, with
a B.S. in biology. Bechtel said, "I am planning on going back this
spring to complete my teaching certification. I currently work at a high
school as an instructional assistant and as a physical therapy assistant at
a rehab center."
A funny thing happened at the fight when Bechtel took on Shakurah
Witherspoon on September 25, 2001 in Reading, Pennsylvania. Bechtel said,
"I just received a modeling contract. I was discovered by the company
at my fight against Shakurah Witherspoon!"
Before Bechtel got into boxing, she played field hockey and soccer in
high school. She continued to play field hockey in college and her principle
position was goal keeper.
The reason Bechtel decided on boxing? Bechtel said that she started
boxing in her junior year, to stay in shape for hockey. But, that she
actually began as a kickboxer, which she never competed. In her senior year,
she switched to boxing, and after her senior year of hockey was over,
Bechtel said that she started to compete in the sport.
Bechtel said, "I won my first fight by TKO, then went on to be the
Pennsylvania 1999 State Golden Gloves Champ. Bechtel went on to say,
"Needless to say then it was in my blood, I fell in love!"
Considering that Bechtel’s opinion on boxing at one time was a
"stupid sport", she said that she no longer felt that way after
she started doing it.
Bechtel said, "I just love the discipline, knowing that you are in
there and you either make it happen or you watch slip by. I love the energy,
the will power, everything it takes!"
After Bechtel competed as an amateur and accumulated an amateur record of
7-3, with her trainer’s feedback, she decided to go pro. Bechtel said,
"though now in retrospect, I wish he
would have waited and let me get some more experience. At that time I was
with Terry Nye (the former trainer of Leah Mellinger). We had a fall out and
I began training with Marshall Kauffman of Kings Gym in Reading---He is a
wonderful person and I owe him a lot."