FINDLAY — Under the bright stage lights of the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts, Michigan College Boxing stood tall; not as an official University of Michigan club, but as a determined group of students and coaches fighting for something much bigger than a win.
On Oct. 25, Michigan College Boxing competed in Main Event IV, a 19-bout tournament featuring fighters from across the Midwest, sponsored by oil companies Marathon Petroleum and Saudi Aramco. Twelve of those matches involved Michigan boxers, and by the end of the night, they had claimed the majority of their bouts.
Left: As the crowd erupts in cheers, LSA alum Collin Erickson smiles at his opponent, Wyatt English from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, as they prepare to compete in the final bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo. Upper Right: LSA alum Collin Erickson swings his left fist towards his opponent, Wyatt English from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, during the final bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Lower Right: LSA alum Collin Erickson dodges a punch from his opponent, Wyatt English from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, during the final bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY.
For the team, those victories meant more than trophies. They were proof of worth. Proof that despite being stripped of official University recognition, Michigan College Boxing is still here, still winning and still deserving of the block ‘M.’
Michigan College Boxing was once one of the most decorated club sports at the University. Before 2020, they had racked up national titles and were recognized across the United States Intercollegiate Boxing Association as one of the top club boxing programs in the country.
Left: Engineering senior Sabrina Wong challenges her opponent with a punch as she swings her left fist towards Elise Bell from the Air Force Academy, during the ninth bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo. Right: In the corner of the boxing ring, Engineering senior Sabrina Wong swings her right fist towards her opponent, Elise Bell from the Air Force Academy, during the ninth bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY.
Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and with it came a blow the team did not see coming.
In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Rama Mwenesi Musalia, Michigan boxing coach and assistant professor of learning health sciences at Michigan Medicine, recalled the surprise of the change in team status.
“In 2020, we lost our club sport status, almost overnight,” Musalia said. “At that time, we were the winningest team in the association. But the University decided boxing was too risky.”
LSA sophomore Gregory Skakun sits in the blue corner of the boxing ring as Michigan College Boxing assistant coach Theron Tingstad and coach Rama Mwenesi Musalia talk him through a break during the 14th bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. On the opposite side of the boxing ring in the red corner, Skakun’s opponent, Andrew Callihan from Indiana University, also participates in discussion during a mid-fight break, surrounded by his coaches. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo.
Raising his gloves in front of his chest, Engineering alum Arjav Patel prepares to react to his opponent, Dom Feliz from the Air Force Academy, during the 10th bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo.
LSA junior Oscar Kaye completes a punch against his opponent, Oliver Sesmas from the University of Indiana, during the second bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo.
For a moment, it appeared the team had taken its final hit. But boxers, as Musalia teaches, don’t stay down after a hard swing.
“Boxing is about resilience,” Musalia said. “And the story of resilience is woven not just through the fight itself, but through this entire community.”
In the second bout of the evening, LSA junior Oscar Kaye holds up his boxing gloves as he competes against his opponent, Oliver Sesmas from Indiana University, during Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo.
In the years that followed, Musalia and his athletes rebuilt the organization from scratch. They found new training spaces after losing access to campus facilities. They fundraised for equipment and travel. They established space in A-Square Fight Club and TITLE Boxing Ann Arbor, which became their new home bases. Musalia saw parallels between his work in his health systems lab and potential improvement in the boxing team.
“I stepped into the role of coach when I realized there was a need,” Musalia said. “Being someone who studies systems and infrastructures, I realized the sport was so substantial for others. That is when I formally went through a coaching pipeline to first become a junior, then later head coach.”
The effort paid off. After a two-year stretch from 2021 to 2023, Michigan College Boxing returned to compete in nationals and continued to earn respect across the USIBA circuit. In 2024, the team was invited back to help host Main Event IV — a regional showcase of top collegiate boxing talent.
“For us, it’s about so much more than the fights,” the team wrote in an email to The Daily. “Main Fight IV is our chance to show what Michigan boxing really is: serious, disciplined, and competitive. A strong showing here could help us build momentum to regain recognition and show the University, and the community, that we are worthy of the Block ‘M’ again.”
Donning competition headgear and his mouthguard, LSA sophomore Malaki Gascho smiles at Michigan College Boxing assistant coach Theron Tingstad and coach Rama Mwenesi Musalia before entering the 14th bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo.
Pulling back his right fist, LSA junior Jay Min prepares his next swing against his opponent, Jay Cuartero from the University of Illinois, during the fifth bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo.
Michigan College Boxing assistant coach Theron Tingstad and coach Rama Mwenesi Musalia cheer for boxers as they compete against teams from across the country at Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo.
Engineering senior Aden Schmidt holds his boxing gloves in front of his chest as he faces his opponent, Ellison Taylor from the Air Force Academy, during the seventeenth bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo.
For many Michigan College Boxing athletes, the sport represents more than athletic competition — it’s a way to grow mentally, emotionally and academically.
In an interview with The Daily, LSA sophomore Reagan Healy expressed that she found her community in the boxing gym after she joined the team as a freshman last January.
“As a freshman trying to navigate a school as big as the University of Michigan, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed,” Healy said. “But when I met someone from the boxing team in my physics class, I knew I should try out for the team. The people here are the most hardworking, kind and supportive you’ll meet.”
Left: Illuminated by stage lights, LSA sophomore Reagan Healy leans backwards to prepare a rebuttal against her opponent, Kira Granito from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, during the sixth bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo. Right: After winning her fight during the sixth bout, LSA sophomore Reagan Healy raises her left hand and flexes her right arm to the crowd of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. On the other side of the ring, Healy’s opponent, Kira Granito from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, stands and faces the crowd. Holly Burkhart/DAILY.
This year was Healy’s first time competing in a Main Event series bout.
“I was nervous,” she admitted. “And my coach, Alejandro Pineda, could tell. Right before my match, he started dancing with me, just to help me relax. Once I got in the ring, everything felt much more clear, and I could think about my usual tactics; you look at your opponent, you react and you trust your training. It’s honestly therapeutic.”
For Healy, boxing isn’t about aggression, but rather control and composure.
“Amateur boxing isn’t about knocking someone out. It’s about showing skill. We’re scored by points for clean strikes, and we understand the value of our opponents,” Healy explained. “It’s very technical. And really, it brings me a lot of peace.”
Left: As a roar of applause filled the theater, Engineering junior J.P. Figueiredo raised his hand and stared at the crowd after winning his match during the eighth bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Michigan College Boxing assistant coach Youha Shin stands in front of the boxing ring, clapping for Figueriredo. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Upper Right: Andrew Callihan from Indiana University places his hand on the shoulder of LSA sophomore Malaki Gascho after their fight as they congratulate one another on their performances during the 14th bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo. Lower Right: Pulling back his right fist, LSA junior Oscar Kaye prepares his next swing against his opponent, Oliver Sesmas from Indiana University, during the second bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY.
Mindfulness — balancing strength with thought — is something Musalia has built his philosophy around.
As a former Michigan club boxer himself, Musalia went on to earn his doctorate degree and later became a professor, coach and mentor. His “RTK” approach to boxing —named after his nickname, Rama The Kid — focuses on the development of mind, body and spirit.
“This RTK way is something I have been building over the years,” Musalia said. “And it is a spirited approach to boxing. The first approach is your spirit; can you overcome the fear of the ropes, the fear of looking at your opponent across the ring who wants to take you out. Following the individual soul comes the physical approach, mental obstacles, then how they act relationally.”
Holding his boxing gloves in the air, LSA alum Collin Erickson smiles towards the crowd after competing in his match during the final bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo.
In an interview with The Daily, Engineering senior Aden Schmidt discussed his experience as a team leader having never boxed before coming to the University. A chance encounter at Festifall changed that.
“I saw someone holding a boxing flyer and decided to check it out,” Schmidt said. “Even though boxing is technically an individual sport, our team is like a family. I’ve played baseball, football, basketball, but this is the closest team I’ve ever been a part of.”
Upper Left: In the center of the boxing ring, Engineering senior Aden Schmidt swings his left fist toward his opponent, Ellison Taylor from the Air Force Academy, during the 17th bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Lower Left: After winning his fight, Engineering senior Aden Schmidt raises his left hand and smiles towards his teammates in the crowd after the 17th bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo. Right: Engineering senior Aden Schmidt holds his boxing gloves in front of his chest as he faces his opponent, Ellison Taylor from the Air Force Academy, during the seventeenth bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo.
At Main Event IV, Schmidt earned a victory in his bout, helping Michigan College Boxing secure an overall winning record for the event.
“It feels amazing,” Schmidt said. “Coming out of that competition knowing we won the majority of our fights, it’s proof that we have a solid foundation and incredible leadership. Our coaches are volunteers. They’re here because they care deeply about us.”
Before the last segment of his bout, Michigan College Boxing coach Rama Mwenesi Musalia smiles at LSA alum Collin Erickson during the final bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo.
Standing next to event donors inside the boxing ring, Michigan College Boxing coach Rama Mwenesi Musalia receives recognition for his efforts in the organization of Main Event IV during intermission at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo.
Michigan College Boxing assistant coach Theron Tingstad and coach Rama Mwenesi Musalia embrace after the final bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo.
Still, the frustrations of being an unofficial team do linger.
“It’s definitely something that goes through my head a lot,” Schmidt said. “We’re representing Michigan in everything but name. We train safely, we win respectfully and we compete with sportsmanship. I just hope the University can see that we bring more good than risk.”
To Musalia, the team’s battle for reinstatement goes beyond campus politics. It’s a reflection of what boxing teaches best: perseverance.
As Michigan College Boxing coach Rama Mwenesi Musalia adjusts his gloves, LSA sophomore Gregory Skakun smiles towards Musalia before his fight in the Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo.
“In his speech, ‘Citizenship in a Republic,’ Theodore Roosevelt once said, ‘It’s not the critic who counts …, but the man who is actually in the arena,’” Musalia said. “That quote defines our athletes. They’re the ones in the ring, facing their fears, pushing through exhaustion and proving what’s possible.”
Over the years, Michigan College Boxing has built a legacy of more than 300 alumni — engineers, doctors, entrepreneurs and public servants — who credit the sport with changing their lives. Many still return to support the team, and a few even have the team’s values tattooed on their skin: TDSM, which stands for teamwork, dedication, slightwork, motivation.
“These values, TDSM, have been with us for over a decade,” Musalia said. “They’re our backbone, and will continue to define us for years to come.”
Upper Left: Sitting on a stool in the blue corner of the boxing ring, Kinesiology senior Serena Hao talks with Michigan College Boxing assistant coach Theron Tingstad through a break in her fight during the 16th bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Lower Left: Kinesiology senior Serena Hao raises her boxing gloves during the 16th bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo. Right: After putting on pink competition head gear, Kinesiology senior Serena Hao stares at the boxing ring before her fight during the 16th bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo.
Today, Michigan College Boxing operates entirely as a voluntary student organization, without financial support or official status from the University. Yet their presence at events like Main Event IV, where 12 teams and counting have displayed interest, shows that they’ve built something sustainable, respected and safe. Petitions and safety data — demonstrating that boxing’s injury rates are statistically lower than several other club sports — have been submitted to the University. So far, there’s been no movement.
But they aren’t giving up.
Engineering alum Arjav Patel embraces Michigan College Boxing coach Rama Mwenesi Musalia and assistant coach Theron Tingstad over the ropes of the boxing ring after competing in his fight during the 10th bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo.
Camera in hand, Taubman sophomore Tai Livnat waits to film videos of his team during the next bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo.
After winning her fight in the 12th bout of the evening, LSA sophomore Sarah Ketchum raises her hand in triumph during Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo.
“This isn’t about defying the University,” Musalia said. “It’s about inviting them to see what’s really here. The transformative power of this sport is something we would rather achieve alongside the community, with their support. We don’t want to fight adjacent to Michigan — we want to fight for Michigan, as students of the University.”
Creating an “M” with his hands, LSA alum Collin Erickson celebrates his win in the final bout of Main Event IV at Marathon Center for Performing Arts in Findlay, Ohio Saturday evening. Holly Burkhart/DAILY. Buy this photo.
Back in Findlay, Ohio, after the final bell rang and the last fighter raised their gloves in victory, the team gathered in a circle. Following coach speeches, boxers congratulated one another through sweat, smiles and a shared belief that they had taken another step toward something greater.
“Boxing teaches you to get back up,” Musalia said. “We’ve been knocked down, but we’re still standing. And we’re not done yet.”
For the Michigan College Boxing team, every punch thrown and every match won is another argument for their case, a testament to the worth, discipline and heart of students who refuse to let their passion and praise for the sport end outside the ring.
Managing Photo Editor Holly Burkhart can be reached at hollybur@umich.edu.
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