RHINELANDER (WJFW) — Tyler Olson and Robert Schramke, amateur boxers and owners of Hodag Den Boxing and Fitness, have loved the sport of boxing since they were kids.
Even though growing up, the city of Rhinelander never had a fully dedicated boxing gym.
“Just growing up watching boxing and watching MMA, I’ve just kind of always been fascinated by the sport of boxing,” Olson said.
Schramke added: “We started watching UFC and boxing and just fell in love with the sport.”
Right out of high school Olson and Schramke opened their gym for around $5,000. Holding youth and adult classes every afternoon to get more people in the area into the sport of boxing.
“We realized that this area was really missing a boxing training facility,” Olson said. “So we said “‘Hey, we can sit around and wait for one, or we can bring one to our area,'” so that’s what we did.”
Bringing a boxing gym was a delight to Hayden Zarda, who drives almost an hour from his home in Pickerel for training. Now, he has dreams of making boxing a career.
“This is probably one of the best things that’s happened for my life so far,” Zarda said. “Being here everyday, putting in that work, being dedicated for this sport. Rob and Tyler, they’ve helped me so much.”
Although the owners of Hodag Den Boxing are amateur boxers themselves, they believe teaching and getting their students into the sport is the most important part.
“This is a real rich area for travel, sports, and what better sport to bring to Rhinelander than boxing,” Olson said.
Zarda added: “Giving them that mind set of working hard, having that progress shown, being dedicated to what you do, it’s a big part of life and it will work into their work goals.”
Olson, Schramke and Zarda believe that there should be more facilities like Hodag Den around the state of Wisconsin.