Academy boxing coach teaches valuable lessons

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Steve German
  • Air Force News Agency
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFNEWS) --  A plaque on the wall in the boxing gym reads, "Tough times don't last, tough people do." It's a quote that lends itself to the person who spoke those words.

Ed Weichers Jr. became the U.S. Air Force Academy's boxing coach more than 30 years ago. As a testament to his success, the gym displays banners from titles the school has won under his direction. 

In the past 27 years, his teams have never finished lower than second in the nation.

But for Coach Weichers, the banners and titles pale in comparison to the lessons his sport teaches to tomorrow's Air Force officers.

"It's not really about the skills attained, but learning about themselves and how they're gonna react in a pressure situation," he said. "(Boxing) teaches them about self confidence, self esteem and the ability to handle pressure, stress. And when they go into combat that translates into making good decisions under fire."

Building tough people for more than 30 years, this coach continues to not only teach cadets a sport, but plants a seed tomorrow's officers will sow in their Air Force careers.

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