Hays Amateur Boxing Club has New Facility Up and Running

Boxing, like any sport, requires a lot of dedication and hard work to succeed. It helps develop hand-eye coordination, improves physical condition and is a proven stress reliever. It also builds character and instills pride in those individuals who give it their all. For any young child, those traits are highly desirable. For children who may not have the best of situations at home they can be lifesavers.

Head Coach and Trainer Jon Jay Mount has worked diligently getting the Hays Amateur Boxing Club (HABC) up and running after years of dormancy. "I had been living in Billings and the Tribal Council contacted me about resurrecting the program. I made it clear that the only way I would come back would be if they provided a building."

Mount went right to work and with the Tribal Council went to work finding a suitable location, "The White Clay Society had a building they were using for storage and I was confident that I could do something with it. The Tribal Council initiated the transition and after some time we were able to finally move in."

The building was in bad shape, there hadn't been any running water in it for roughly 25 years. "The outside looked rough, but inside it was pretty solid. We got the lights turned back on and went to work," said Mount.

Mount officially restarted the program in November of 2018, "When we initially began training we used the commons area at Hays/Lodge Pole High School. We did that until we moved into the new building in March of 2019," said Mount.

By March everything had been cleaned out, and personal equipment that Mount had acquired through the years were now in place. "Island Mountain gave us $800 for some new equipment to add to our new gym," said Mount..

Before any practice could be held in the 'new' building there was plenty of work that needed to be done. Through a program called Tawihi, run by Sarah Gone, the HABC was able to get the roof fixed, new windows installed and siding. A new furnace was installed and had plumbing updated in addition to running water.

Richman Insurance along with Milk River pharmacy provided funds necessary to purchase a 18' gym ring, 16' inside the ropes, one level. "I looked on Craigslist and was interested in a particular one.

I submitted a request and when I got a reply I found out it was being sold by former WBC World Light Middleweight Champion, Cristy Martin in Austin Texas.

The ring was purchased during the summer but still needed to be delivered to the new facility, "When I got done fighting fire, I used some personal funds and along with some tribal funds and my brother in law and myself flew down, rented a U-haul and drove it back," Mount stated. "We flew down on November 1 and got back to town, November 4." Along with his Dad, Jay W. Mount's help the two got the ring set up in about two hours.

"The facility is now ready to go, when lock down gets lifted and we get a COVID plan in action we will open back up," stated Mount.

In just a short time the HABC has had plenty of success, inside the ring and out. "We've had about 20 kids or more join us, 6-12 year olds mostly and a few older kids once in awhile, but they tend not to stick around," said Mount.

Breeane Cochran, 12, is a two time National Champion, earning a Olympic National Champion (Uncontested) in late 2018 and Silver Glove National Champion by TKO in Kansas City, February 2019. Dianna Old Elk, 12, is ranked No. 5 Nationally. "Most of my experienced boxers are around 12. I have a 12 year old boy, Wendal Hawkinson Jr. who has ton of potential. He just needs to focus, he knows he's good, but has a lot to learn," Mount added.

"It's really nice to have a new facility all ready to go for the kids to use. I've had kids in here that do really well and we have helped them get past drugs and alcohol, but then tragedy happens and they go back to it," said Mount. "I Hope I can get them back in the ring. I've had my own demons, made plenty of mistakes but I like to say, I made the mistakes for them so they don't have to."

"This is the first time a permanent gym has ever been set up in Hays, before we were was always kicked around from place to place and never had a ring. This is the first, hopefully we can build from it and the kids can go on to do amazing things, and they will, I know they will now," concluded Mount.

Wamnee Ereaux, Social Services Director at Fort Belknap was instrumental in helping the club get started and also helps train kids as well. Hawkan Hawkinson also serves as Assistant Coach and Trainer.