46 Future Champs, One Unforgettable Summer: Kingsway’s Youth Camps Continue to Build Champions
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Kingsway Boxing Club’s Youth Development Camps delivered another unforgettable week of energy, learning, and growth!
This Summer Break, the Kingsway Boxing Youth Development Camp welcomed a full roster of future champions.
Eager participants of all skill levels laced up their gloves and dove into the fundamentals of Olympic-style boxing.
Led by our team of Boxing Ontario–Certified Coaches and supported by competitive athletes and mentors, campers were immersed in an empowering, disciplined, and supportive environment. Through a structured program that emphasized technique, fitness, respect, and teamwork, young boxers learned what it truly means to train like a champion.
The Kingsway Boxing Club summer camp was more than just a place to throw punches. It was a hub of diverse training and personal development. This year’s camp brought together young athletes from all backgrounds, fostering a culture of respect, discipline, and growth. One of the highlights was the integration of cross-training elements designed to build well-rounded fighters both inside and outside the ring.
Our first guest coach of the July camp was Leda Grovestine, who introduced campers to a unique blend of Pilates and mindset coaching, equipping them with valuable tools to strengthen both their physical performance and mental resilience. Drawing on her extensive experience working with OHL teams and athletes across a variety of sports, Leda led sessions focused on Pilates-based movement, breathwork, visualization, and practical mental performance strategies to help athletes manage performance anxiety, stay composed under pressure, and compete with confidence. Her sessions emphasized movement quality, core strength, body awareness, and the powerful connection between mind and body, while equipping athletes with techniques to stay calm, focused, and resilient in challenging moments.
Through her engaging coaching style and wealth of high-performance experience, Leda provided our young boxers with skills that will benefit them not only in the ring, but in sport and throughout everyday life.
One of the most impactful additions to our camps this year has been incorporating more focus on the mental side of sport. At our August Youth Development Camp, we welcomed Yoga and Mindfulness Coach Katerina Muchnik as a special guest, introducing our young athletes to yoga, mindfulness, breathwork and recovery. Kat helped them understand that becoming a stronger athlete isn’t only about training harder… it’s also about learning to slow things down, stay present, manage pressure and allow both the body and mind to recover.
These are skills that translate directly into the boxing ring, but more importantly, far beyond it. Kat brought a completely different energy and perspective to the camp, reinforcing our goal of developing not just better boxers, but stronger, more confident and resilient young people.
Among the standout sessions was a special workshop led by Olympic pathway boxer Andrea Young, who guided July and August campers through practical boxing workouts, technical drills, and an honest discussion about the dedication, discipline, and sacrifices required to compete at the highest levels of amateur boxing. Drawing on her experience as both a national-level boxer and former Trinidad and Tobago national team soccer player, Andrea gave campers valuable insight into the mindset, resilience, and work ethic needed to pursue excellence in sport.
Photos provided by Rebecca Freeman (article continues below photos)
Strength Coach Mitchell Cairns, led the teams through an intensive strength and conditioning day, specifically tailored for boxing and cross-training. His expertise helped the participants build the physical endurance and high performance strength needed for success in and outside of the ring.
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The camp also featured an inspiring visit and training session with professional boxer Sara Bailey and professional boxing coach Stevie Bailey. Sara, a WBA Lightweight World Champion with an impressive professional record, has been a valued supporter of our youth camps for over a decade, continuing to give back to the next generation of athletes. Her journey from first stepping into a boxing gym at 16 to becoming a world champion resonated deeply with the campers and offered a powerful example of where dedication to the sport can lead.
This year, Sara was joined by Stevie Bailey, who helped lead the campers through a series of technical drills alongside her, sharing his experience, knowledge, and coaching perspective with the group. Together, Sara and Stevie worked directly with the athletes, offering individual encouragement, answering questions, and reinforcing the discipline, resilience, and consistency required to succeed both inside and outside the ring. Having them share their time and passion for boxing made the session especially memorable and left a lasting impression on everyone in attendance.
Photos provided by Zardasht Photography (article continues below photo)
For some, this camp was just the beginning, as several participants are now moving on to join our competitive program. Others will continue refining their skills in our youth technical program. No matter their path, each of these young athletes leaves the camp with a strong foundation in boxing and a renewed sense of confidence.
The Kingsway Boxing Youth Development Camp was designed for youth of all genders and fitness levels, providing a safe, effective, and exciting environment to learn, improve, or test their skills as Olympic-style boxers. Whether they were recreational sports enthusiasts or aspiring competitive boxers, this camp offered an unparalleled opportunity to take their boxing skills to the next level.
We’re incredibly proud of the progress these young athletes have made and can’t wait to see where their boxing journeys take them next. The future looks bright for these future champs!
The camp was run by international Olympic-level official Jennifer Huggins and Head Coach Virgil Barrow, who earlier this year led Team Ontario to the Youth Nationals in Calgary. Together, this dynamic duo provided a safe and inspiring environment for the youth to explore a sport they both love.
All photos courtesy of Zardasht Photography. If you would like to order special prints or high res digital files, please reach out to Thelayzeephotographer@gmail.com
Special shout out to the dedicated individuals who made our recent camp a resounding success:
- Assistant Coaches Raul Gallart and Ethan Muia dedicated the week to coaching at camp, sharing their athleticism and boxing skills through hands-on demonstrations all week long.
- Kobe, Kendall and Kurt Daulo, Liv Agapito, Acacia Fabing, Aemon Courey, Olivia Crouse, Paul Marcial, Jacob and Rebecca De Nino who were instrumental throughout the week, partnering with campers and helping facilitate safe and effective sparring drills. Their leadership, patience, and focus on safety played a key role in creating a supportive and empowering environment for everyone involved.
- Justine Ly and Jessica Zado: Providing invaluable support throughout the week, contributing to coaching, photography, and even sparring sessions.
- Coach Shireen Fabing: Generously supported our introduction to technical sparring day, ensuring the safety and confidence of our young boxers.
- Competitive Team Member Quentin: A special thank you to Quentin Snowden, who devoted his entire Thursday and Friday to assist with the camp’s strength session and finale simulation bouts.
- Rebecca Freeman and Zardasht Photography: For capturing the special moments for our campers and coaching team.
Their collective efforts and dedication significantly enriched the experience for all participants, embodying the true spirit of our boxing community.
Pre-Register: Youth Boxing Camps
Our Youth Camps run throughout the year, offering young athletes the opportunity to immerse themselves in the art of boxing. Don’t miss out on our upcoming camp:
👊 Free Saturday Classes: Kickstart your weekends with our complimentary Saturday sessions at 12:15 pm, held at our Norseman location. These classes are perfect for all skill levels, offering a firsthand experience of our vibrant community and top-notch facilities.
At Kingsway Boxing Club, we are committed to maintaining the standards of ethics, safety and respect in the sport of Boxing, for all our athletes and coaches. 💪
👊 Unlimited Starter Membership: Immerse yourself in a month of unrestricted access to all classes and open gym facilities. With no contracts or registration fees, this membership is ideal for individuals of all ages and experience levels. Now available at a special rate of $105 (regularly $190).
👊 3 Private Lesson Special: Elevate your training with personalized guidance through our TKO Private Training Special, which includes three one-on-one sessions with our nationally certified coaching team. This tailored approach ensures you receive focused attention to refine your skills and achieve your fitness goals.
