MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Oct. 27, 2015) -- Four Soldier-athletes from the U.S. Army Installation Management Command are battling it out this week for a spot on the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women's Boxing Team.
Twenty-four of the nation's best boxers are participating in a double-elimination team trials tournament at the Memphis Cook Convention Center in Tennessee. Among them are 1st Lt. Giovanna Camacho, Spc. Alex Love, Pfc. Rianna Rios and Spc. Naomi Graham, all members of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program.
"These are the elite of the elite," said WCAP Coach Staff Sgt. Quentin McCoy, "so this week it's all about execution. We have a game plan, and we're going to execute."
McCoy and the rest of the coaching staff, including Staff Sgt. Charles Leverette and Staff Sgt. Joe Guzman, have been reviewing tape of the other boxers and developing a strategy for the Army boxers for months, McCoy said.
Each fight consists of four two-minute rounds, and most fights end with a decision from the judges, McCoy explained. Knockouts and technical knockouts are rare in women's amateur boxing.
"That doesn't leave a lot of time to impress the judges," McCoy said. "There's no time to feel out the opponent. You have to go in with a game plan and execute."
The real challenge for the boxers comes if they lose the first match of the tournament. If so, they could conceivably have to fight every day of the six-day tournament to battle back through the loser's brackets to win a spot on the team.
The double-elimination format requires a weigh-in every morning at 7 a.m., a grueling schedule for the boxers requiring them to build up energy during the day to box, compete, and then shed any excess weight before the next morning's weigh-in.
"We'll be up all nights some nights this week, just to make weight," McCoy said.
Camacho, Love and Graham may face that schedule: all three lost their first fights. Camacho and Graham lost on unanimous decisions, and Love lost a split decision.
Graham's first fight was against the 2012 Olympic gold medalist in her weight class, Claressa Shields of Flint, Michigan.
Rios took home the first victory for the Army, in a split decision.
"This is not going to be easy," McCoy said, "but they're going to go out there and compete like soldiers. They're going to fight like there's no tomorrow, and never quit."
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REFER:
For more information on the Olympic qualifying process for both male and female athletes, visit www.usaboxing.org. For more information about Army Olympic hopefuls, visit www.ArmyMWR.com.
SIDEBAR:
The 24 Olympic Trials participants earned their berths in the event in one of three qualifying tournaments, beginning with the 2015 USA Boxing National Championships in January. The two finalists from the national championships and top three finishers from qualifying tournaments in June and September all earned spots in the Olympic Trials.
About the U.S. Army Installation Management Command:
We are "the Army's home." Army installations require the same types of programs and services found in any small city. IMCOM manages the day-to-day operations of our Army communities such as emergency response teams, housing, utilities and maintenance, parks and recreation and child-care. Our professional workforce strives to deliver on the commitment to honor the sacrifice and service of military Families, while enabling readiness for a self-reliant and globally-responsive all-volunteer Army.
To learn more, visit www.army.mil/imcom
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