David Edwards admitted his mom Patti was maybe a bit hesitant when he wanted to start boxing five years ago, but now he has a national silver medal to show for his efforts and aspirations of someday boxing in the Olympics.
David lives in the Glaslyn area and is a student at the Medstead High School. He has been boxing for five years and said the reason he got into the sport was because hockey didn't interest him. He and his parents, Patti and Terry, were interested in finding another activity he would enjoy. The boxing season typically runs from September to April, so this became his new passion.
David is a member of the Turtle River Boxing Club in Vawn under the tutelage of Danny McCaffrey, who David says knows just as much as any coach he has seen and has been a major aspect in his career. McCaffrey was the manager for the provincial team this season, as seven boxers from Saskatchewan went to nationals.
David qualified for provincials after a final team selection competition held in the Battlefords to select those who would represent Saskatchewan at nationals this year.
David fought in Quebec in the junior male 50kg division, which is for athletes 15 to 16 years old.
David expected this to be the best competition of his career and decided Olivier Vaillancourt of Quebec, his first opponent, was likely the guy to beat. David beat him by a 13:10 decision and moved to the final against Wyatt Sanford of Nova Scotia. It was the first time David had fought a southpaw and he admits it wasn't the best fight of his career. Sanford won the match and claimed gold while David earned the silver medal.
"It was really exciting. There was lots of people, lots of boxers and it was the biggest event I have been to," said David of his experience in St. Hyacinthe, Que. Feb. 28 to March 3.
With a silver medal around his neck and back home, David's season is far from over. The boxing season will be longer this year, as provincials will be held in mid-May and until then David will continue with this training regime - two days a week at the gym and more cardio and personal fitness at home on his own time.
