In a major upset at the WA State Under 19 Boxing Championships held at the Yugal club Leederville on September 15, Max "The Sandman" Mead from Northam PCYC's STRYKA fight team captured the WA State schoolboy 52 kilogram championship.
In doing so Mead has became the first Northam boxer ever to win a state amateur title in this division and category.
First up to represent Northam PCYC on the program were novices "Savage" Sarah-Jane McCall (12 years, 44kg) and Elijah "The Hitman" Jennison 14yrs, 81kg), who were both competing in non-title special bouts for their boxing competition debuts.
While they acquitted themselves well in their first ever competition appearances, both unfortunately were unable to bring home a win against their far more experienced opponents, but were glad to gain some new friendships and take some hard earned lessons away from this invaluable experience.
These early losses put all the pressure squarely on "The Sandman's" shoulders to bring home a much needed win for the team in this prestigious event.
He did so in spectacular fashion by storming home to collect the state title in only his third boxing bout by dominating his far more experienced opponent with a savage display of relentless pressure that had the entire crowd in attendance roaring their approval from the first bell to the last.
Having already earned a Silver medal in the WA State Novice championships back in March this year, this championship win now brings Max's State level medal tally to two and the STRYKA team state boxing championship medal tally to five so far for 2019.
With Mitchell "Hardcore" Hartherly 14yrs, 48kg (Silver), Mitchel "Baby Bull" Daley 14yrs, 63kg (Gold) and Georga "G Force" Stanley 14yrs, 54kg (Gold) also bringing home the bling in that same novice tournament.
All of the three Northam PCYC boxers competing this event were under the tutelage of STRYKA coaches Guy and Fi Mead who were quick to express their immense pride in the exceptional efforts put forward by Sarah, Elijah and Max.
As a results of Max's win he has been invited by Boxing WA to compete as part of the WA state boxing team in the 2019 Under 19 Australian Boxing Championships to be held at the Gold Coast over October 23-26 to contest the national junior male 52kg division title.
This will make him the first Northam boxer to ever compete in this division and category at the national level.
PCYC are now trying to raise the money to get Max and his coaches to the Gold Coast to represent Northam on the national stage.
Any donations would be most appreciated and can be made either via the GoFundMe link on its Facebook page or by dropping it into the PCYC.
