Published: April 06, 2008 11:12 pm            

The name of the game

Female boxer having a good time at WVU

Lauren Maochi is a fighter.

Since joining the West Virginia University boxing team, the Pittsburgh native boasts an unblemished 1-0 record and newfound sense of pride and accomplishment.

“As a freshman, sometimes I just want to go out with my friends and have a good time,” said Maochi. “I really want to do something good for myself, though, something I can be proud of.”

The 19-year-old pre-business major began boxing in high school, but has improved greatly under the instruction of coach Sam Checa and team captain Patrick McLaughlin.

“When she came in, she had some previous experience, which was great,” said Checa. “We polished her up a bit, worked on her footwork and got her to drop some bad habits the had picked up.”

Maochi, who had heard about the program through her previous gym, asked around and found out when the club met.

“I just came to practice one night. Pat was really nice and told me that I should start coming down,” said Maochi.

At first, Maochi found it difficult to juggle her classes and practice, but with the help of McLaughlin, she was able to continue.

“I had night classes the first semester, so it was kind of hard, but Pat would stay after and help me out. He would give me advice,” said Maochi.

After a few months of training with the club, McLaughlin approached her and invited her to join the team.

“At first, I wasn’t on the team. I was just in the club, trying to get back into it,” said Maochi. “Then one night Pat invited me to come down to the team. Sam was real nice.”

Under the wing of coach Checa, who moved to the area from Los Angeles two years ago, Maochi has begun to focus on the more the technical aspects of the sport.

“Her main strength is her technique,” said Checa. “She is a tough kid. A lot of girl boxers step into the ring and think it is about who is toughest. We focus a lot on footwork and balance.”

Maochi’s ability to take instruction is another of her strengths, according to McLaughlin.

“She is very teachable. You can tell her something and she will apply it and use it to her advantage,” said McLaughlin.

As the season progresses and Maochi prepares for her coming matches, both she and her coaches are working to improve upon her existing strengths.

“Her biggest advantage is the ability to keep moving forward,” said Checa. “She knows it’s good to be aggressive, but we work a lot on angles. It is about hitting and not getting hit. That’s the name of the game.”

The risk of injury inherent to the sport of boxing is not something that is lost on Maochi.

“You have to realize every time you fight that there is a chance you are going to get hurt. If you can’t accept that, then you shouldn’t be boxing,” said Maochi.

Maochi’s parents are not overly enthusiastic about her choice of sport, but respect her dedication.

“They are just worried that I will get hurt, which is understandable,” said Maochi.

According to Checa, Lauren’s physicality is an advantage.

“She can punch hard and take a punch,” said Checa. “A lot of girls, and guys, get hit hard in the nose, and they don’t know what to do. She knows what to expect.”

Much of her ability to take a hit Maochi attributes to the lack of female sparring partners available to her.

“I spend a lot of time sparring with the guys,” said Maochi. “It has helped me a lot.”

For Maochi’s friends, her involvement with the boxing team is a source of comfort as she has become the unofficial bodyguard for her group.

“My friends are always saying, ‘Lauren will protect us wherever we go. She’s a boxer. Don’t worry about.’ They think it’s funny,” said Maochi.

As the team prepares for the regional tournament at the University of Kentucky, Checa is optimistic about Maochi’s chances.

“If she does her homework and stays in shape, I think she has a great chance at regionals,” said Checa. “She is more talented than most of the girls I have worked with.”

For Maochi, the most difficult battle she faces is with herself.

“A lot of people are always telling me how they would love to get involved, but it is all about taking that next step,” said Maochi. “It is a matter of pushing myself to just get out there and do it. That’s it.”

        

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