Best Of Summer Series Tournament

An annual tradition 18 years in the making took place at the Police Athletic League of Zanesville Muskingum County this weekend.

Teams and amateur boxers will be traveling to Zanesville from five different States this summer. Not so much for a victory in the ring but for a victory in growth of their skills. Head Coach Tim Hartmeyer explained more.

“Try to give them the experience that it takes to prepare them for like, upper level tournaments and travel that we do when we compete.”

Some of the boxers are as young as ten years old. Though they may be small, all are making big punches to defeat their goals. Hartmeyer said, “Several of our boxers here have moved in to the professional ranks.”

Though experience and trophies are important, it’s also about raising funds for the Police Athletic League.

“We have about thirty five to forty five kids a night, six days a week in here,” Said Hartmeyer, “so the most of the money is going to go to fixing the wear and the tear on the equipment we use.”

Hartmeyer shared they rely solely on fundraising, donations and different sponsors. All of which who share a similar belief. Hartmeyer said, “It’s worth a thing to take care of your kids and to give them something responsible, something fun and something good to do.”

A crowd three hundred and fifty strong, who love a good match and to fight themselves to keep an organization going. Some might say that’s that biggest victory of all.

If you missed Saturday’s matches, there are upcoming events later in the summer that you can attend. Those dates are July 18 and August 15. Tickets are twelve dollars at the door and fifteen dollars for reserved seats.