Gary “Digital” Williams’ Amateur Pulse
By Gary “Digital” Williams
The Potomac Valley Association, the region that governs amateur boxing in Washington, DC and Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties in Maryland, captured the team trophy at the 2010 East Central Senior Regionals at the University of Maryland’s Ritchie Coliseum. PVA will send six boxers to the USA Nationals in Colorado Springs, CO July 11-18.
PVA won five championships during the second day of competition. In a great bout, David Grayton won the 152-pound championship by decision over Virginia’s Moshea Aleem. At 141 pounds, Michael Reed stopped Alleghany Mountain’s Tony Romano. Jerry Odom won the 178-pound title by RSC against Diane Mohammed of Virginia. Danny Kelly took the 201+-pound title defeating Mark Rideout of Mid-Atlantic Association. Shadeed Floyd won the 123- pound title when South Atlantic’s Glen Dezurn failed to make weight.
D’Mitrius Ballard lost his bid to advance to the nationals in the 165-pound division to Rashad Brown of Mid-Atlantic by decision. Earlier in the tournament, Gary Antonio Russell, a younger brother of 2008 US Olympian Gary Russell, Jr, won the 114-pound region
Virginia captured one title on Saturday as Jesse Owens won the female 132-pound title over Sharline Mendez of Mid-Atlantic. All three of Virginia’s titles came in the female division as Dara Shen (165 pound) and Jennifer Barnes (152-pound) were unopposed champions. The three titles gave Virginia a second-place listing in the team standings.
At 132 pounds, Gregory Wilkerson of Alleghany Mountain defeated Kevin Harris of Virginia to win that title. Tyrel Colston of Mid-Atlantic won the 201-pound title by stopping Joe Liles of South Atlantic.
Other champions crowned during the competition:
141 pounds (female): Samantha Griffith (Allegheny Mountain)
108 pounds: Donald Smith (Mid-Atlantic)
112 pounds (female): Tyrieshia Douglas (South Atlantic)
119 pounds (female): Brittany Fisher (West Virginia)