{"id":581766,"date":"2026-04-03T00:36:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T00:36:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/581766\/"},"modified":"2026-04-03T00:36:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T00:36:14","slug":"boxing-program-helps-middle-tenn-at-risk-youth-tackle-mental-health-academics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/581766\/","title":{"rendered":"Boxing program helps Middle Tenn. at-risk youth tackle mental health, academics"},"content":{"rendered":"

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) \u2014 A organization is taking an unique approach to addressing mental health, behavior and academic challenges among at-risk youth\u2014using non-contact, Olympic-style boxing training.<\/p>\n

Counter Punch Youth Academy is already partnering with several Middle Tennessee schools and continues to expand its reach.<\/p>\n

At McGavock High School, students are stepping into the ring not just to learn combinations\u2014but to build discipline, confidence and control.<\/p>\n

Founder Tramaine Crook said his own upbringing in boxing shaped the foundation of the program.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe life is like a boxing match\u2014you don\u2019t know when you\u2019re going to get punched, but you\u2019ve got to be able to respond and be able to pivot when those times are necessary,\u201d Crook said. Now, he\u2019s using those lessons to guide the next generation.<\/p>\n

Crook said the academy works closely with schools to track more than just physical progress.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe focus on attendance, behavior incidents and also academics when we partner with local schools,\u201d he explained. Inside the gym, the training is structured and energetic.<\/p>\n

Students practice non-contact, Olympic-style boxing drills\u2014learning technique, timing and focus.<\/p>\n

But beyond the drills, some of the work happens through conversation and connection.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe focus on kids who may have anger issues, they may be autistic\u2014but what we do is take those real-world situations and connect them to boxing scenarios,\u201d he adds. For students like Kayden Lawrence, a member of the Class of 2026, those lessons are making a difference beyond the gym.<\/p>\n

\u201cTeaching me to be a better person, control my anger and think more critically\u2014like under pressure,\u201d Lawrence said. School leaders said the program is helping students develop skills that translate into everyday life.<\/p>\n

Principal Bruce Jackson believes the impact goes far beyond physical activity.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople who can think under pressure, people who have self-confidence\u2014people who know how to communicate and advocate for themselves,\u201d Jackson said. For many students, Crook\u2019s role extends beyond coaching.<\/p>\n

Brayden Compton-Schultz, also in the Class of 2026, described the environment as supportive and open.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s nothing off topic\u2014we\u2019re all brothers. We can talk about whatever and say whatever,\u201d he said. Crook’s goal is to remind students that their circumstances do not define their future.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re living examples of how it can be once you overcome those situations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Counter Punch Youth Academy offers programs for students of all ages.<\/p>\n

Schools interested in partnering with the organization can find more information here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This story was reported by reporter Aaron Cantrell and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Aaron and our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Checking in on Cole: Gallatin rallies around teen battling brain tumor with prayer vigil<\/p>\n

Austin Pollack brings us an update on a remarkable young man facing great odds, and his family has one simple request: pray for Cole. I believe in the power of prayer and hope you’ll join me in lifting up Cole and his family.<\/p>\n

– Carrie Sharp<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) \u2014 A organization is taking an unique approach to addressing mental health, behavior and academic…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":581767,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[571],"tags":[64,63,802,85],"class_list":["post-581766","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-boxing","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-boxing","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581766","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=581766"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581766\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/581767"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=581766"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=581766"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=581766"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}