Sisters (from left) Amy, Carina and Aubri Zogg competed at the World Amateur Boxing Championships Aug. 5-9. Amy won the world championship in the 9-to-10-year-old, 90-pound weight class. Carina and Aubri were runner-ups in their respective classes. (Photo by David Wolman)
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Zogg Sisters Take To Ring
La Cygne Residents Spar In World Amateur Boxing Championships In K.C.
BY DAVID WOLMAN, DAVIDWOLMAN@MICONEWS.COM
Holding a 15-pound leather championship belt that sags down from her waist, 9-year-old Amy Zogg and her two sisters, Carina and Aubri, strike fear into the hearts of others when they’re in their fighting stances.
The three sisters from La Cygne competed in the World Amateur Boxing Championships on Aug. 5 through Aug. 9 at the KCI Expo Center in Kansas City, Mo.
The girls certainly made their mark.
Amy, the youngest of the three, was crowned world champion in the 9-to-10-year-old, 90-pound class. While she fought in just one match, she earned the right to hold the distinction. She won after her opponent quit 30 seconds into the second round.
Carina and Aubri were the runner-ups in the 11-to-12-year-old and 13-to-14-year-old weight classes, respectively, each falling short in their only match. The girls didn’t have to qualify for the championships; they just registered in advance.
This was the second career fight for each of the sisters. They made their debuts earlier this year at Paola Fight Night, an amateur youth boxing event.
Boxing was a sport they didn’t even think of competing in until February. That’s when Don Elam, owner of La Cygne Boxing Club, spotted the Zogg sisters, who are daughters of Prairie View football coach Murray Zogg, in the weight room at Prairie View High School.
“There are too many girls being abused,” Elam said. “Boxing is a way for girls to learn how to stand up for themselves.”
He noticed that the Zogg sisters were sitting around and asked them if they wanted to learn how to box. Elam said it took a few months to convince them to join, but he has enjoyed working with them since.
Just before the Zogg sisters landed their first blows on the punching bag, Elam said they were “scared to death.”
Now, they have grown to love the sport. They trained two or three days a week during the spring and three to four days per week in the summer for approximately two hours per day.
Amy said boxing has increased her confidence. She recently brought her belt to school. A boy in her class saw it and said that he wasn’t going to pick on her.
Carina said she would like to see more females compete in boxing.
“There are not that many girls who box,” she said. “That’s the reason why I don’t get that many matches. More girls need to get into boxing. That way, we can get more girls in the Olympics.”
Aubri, who just entered the seventh grade, is turning her attention to junior high school sports, while Carina and Amy plan to continue boxing.
Carina’s and Amy’s next bouts are scheduled for Sept. 13 in Manhattan.
Anyone from ages 8 to 40 is welcome to join the club. With high gas prices, Elam said the boxing club has competed in only half the events as compared to previous years. If any donations pour in, he said he would be able to take his club to more events.
For more information or to make a donation, call Elam at (913) 710-4097.
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The three sisters from La Cygne competed in the World Amateur Boxing Championships on Aug. 5 through Aug. 9 at the KCI Expo Center in Kansas City, Mo.
The girls certainly made their mark.
Amy, the youngest of the three, was crowned world champion in the 9-to-10-year-old, 90-pound class. While she fought in just one match, she earned the right to hold the distinction. She won after her opponent quit 30 seconds into the second round.
Carina and Aubri were the runner-ups in the 11-to-12-year-old and 13-to-14-year-old weight classes, respectively, each falling short in their only match. The girls didn’t have to qualify for the championships; they just registered in advance.
This was the second career fight for each of the sisters. They made their debuts earlier this year at Paola Fight Night, an amateur youth boxing event.
Boxing was a sport they didn’t even think of competing in until February. That’s when Don Elam, owner of La Cygne Boxing Club, spotted the Zogg sisters, who are daughters of Prairie View football coach Murray Zogg, in the weight room at Prairie View High School.
“There are too many girls being abused,” Elam said. “Boxing is a way for girls to learn how to stand up for themselves.”
He noticed that the Zogg sisters were sitting around and asked them if they wanted to learn how to box. Elam said it took a few months to convince them to join, but he has enjoyed working with them since.
Just before the Zogg sisters landed their first blows on the punching bag, Elam said they were “scared to death.”
Now, they have grown to love the sport. They trained two or three days a week during the spring and three to four days per week in the summer for approximately two hours per day.
Amy said boxing has increased her confidence. She recently brought her belt to school. A boy in her class saw it and said that he wasn’t going to pick on her.
Carina said she would like to see more females compete in boxing.
“There are not that many girls who box,” she said. “That’s the reason why I don’t get that many matches. More girls need to get into boxing. That way, we can get more girls in the Olympics.”
Aubri, who just entered the seventh grade, is turning her attention to junior high school sports, while Carina and Amy plan to continue boxing.
Carina’s and Amy’s next bouts are scheduled for Sept. 13 in Manhattan.
Anyone from ages 8 to 40 is welcome to join the club. With high gas prices, Elam said the boxing club has competed in only half the events as compared to previous years. If any donations pour in, he said he would be able to take his club to more events.
For more information or to make a donation, call Elam at (913) 710-4097.