Crosstown Boxing Smoker to feature 19 bouts
By DAVID LESNICK
The Daily Inter Lake
The ninth annual Crosstown Boxing Smoker, set for tonight in the Trade Center at the Flathead County Fairgrounds, will be bigger and better than ever, according to event organizer Greg Pisk.
The card will consist of a record 19 bouts, six of those featuring girls, attendance is expected to break last year’s best turnout ever of 1,200 and money raised for Flathead Valley wrestling is also sure to exceed last year’s total.
“It seems to grow every year,” Pisk said.
“We’re adding more bleachers as we need to.”
Pisk said close to 70 high school student-athletes signed-up for this year’s event. Schools represented are Bigfork, Columbia Falls, Flathead, Glacier and Whitefish.
“We had calls from Eureka to see if we had room for their kids,” Pisk said.
Eureka has participated in this event in the past.
All bouts consist of three one-minute rounds if they go the distance. All participants must attend four practices at The Summit, starting two weeks before fight night.
Phil Moore of Flathead Boxing is in charge of the practices and pairing the fighters. He also is the referee.
“We’re very fortunate to have Phil training the kids,” Pisk said.
“He can match them up pretty evenly. He has done a great job of matching their skills.”
Pisk said the boxing smoker initially was designed to raise money to help pay with second-day expenses for wrestlers at high school tournaments. His son Riley was a two time state placer.
“The second-day bills were not covered (by schools) for out of town trips,” Pisk said.
“Some kids basically went without. That bothered me. I came up with the idea to raise funds for second-day meals.”
From there it expanded to wrestling activities for the Flathead Valley and included funding camps, purchasing equipment, bringing in coaches, scholarships for wrestlers and tournaments.”
The smoker has raised close to $100,000. The first year it brought in $8,000.“
“You always hope for (success), but never know,” Pisk said.
“I’m glad it continues to have community support.”
“With having two high schools (in Kalispell), you get a good rivalry going between the two schools,” Pisk added.
“It’s a fun, community event and very well supported. We appreciate the corporate sponsors and everyone who sponsors the event.”
Tickets are $20 for ringside, $15 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets are available at Universal Athletics or at the door.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with boxing at 6:30.
Ninth Annual Crosstown
Boxing Smoker
Presented by Glacier Wrestling Association
and Flathead Wrestling Association
Red Corner Vs. Blue Corner
Bout 1 — John Jones (Flathead) vs. Robert Hurly (Glacier)
Bout 2 — Joel Turner (Flathead) vs. Caden Gilmond (Glacier)
Bout 3 — Melissa Guillen (Flathead) vs. Renee Sandlin (Columbia Falls)
Bout 4 — Dallas Moore (Flathead) vs. Brandon Thomas (Columbia Falls)
Bout 5 — Harley Hunt (Glacier) vs. Kala Blincoe (Glacier)
Bout 6 — Archie Brevik (Bigfork) vs. Colton Todd (Glacier)
Bout 7 — Caleb Way (Flathead) vs. Nathan Buckley (Whitefish)
Bout 8 — Kevin Maldonado (Columbia Falls) vs. Justin Gronley (Glacier)
Bout 9 — Jonathon Hamilton (Flathead) vs. Brandon Jordan (Glacier)
Bout 10 — Aaris Hill (Flathead) vs. Kaiah Moore (Whitefish)
Intermission
Bout 11 — Chance Sheldon-Allen (Flathead) vs. Andrew Glynn (Glacier)
Bout 12 — Isaac Balla (Columbia Falls) vs. Zach Hill (Glacier)
Bout 13 — Shelby Daniels (Flathead) vs. Elyse Pendlay (Bigfork)
Bout 14 — Tyra Christensen (Glacier) vs. Emma Baumann (Glacier)
Bout 15 — Trey Baumgartner-Siers (Whitefish) vs. Adam Bartlett (Glacier)
Bout 16 — Camden Way (Flathead) vs. Dylan Miller (Glacier)
Bout 17 — Becca Catina (Whitefish) vs. Sidney Zimmerman (Glacier)
Bout 18 — Jaden McNeil (Flathead) vs. Tim Brough (Glacier)
Bout 19 — Tucker Nadeau (Flathead) vs. Jackson Pepe (Glacier)
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Judges — Tom Vanek, Wayne Treweek, Paul Wachholz
Referee — Phil Moore