Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 14, 1993 TAG: 9303120168
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN DEVIDO SPECIAL
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
CONFIDENCE CONNECTION
Maynard Quesenberry doesn't see too many positive outlets for today's youth. But the 41-year-old Blacksburg native is trying to change that.Quesenberry runs a boxing club three days a week at Virginia Tech because he's found it instills positive values in its members.
"There's very little in society that helps kids feel better about themselves," he said. "This does. It gives them confidence."
Boxing was the source of confidence for the goateed Quesenberry. At 17, he started amateur training in Roanoke under the Police Athletic League system.
Over a 14-year career, Quesenberry compiled a 34-8 amateur record in the 147-pound class. He almost qualified for the 1972 Olympic boxing trials.
The sport was never his profession, though. Five years later, he graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in education and joined Tech's personnel services department the following year, in 1978, as a job placement worker.
In 1984 he became head of Tech's laundry services. Since then he has added the duty of directing the university tailor shop, which fits each cadet's uniforms.
Quesenberry's work with the boxing club is voluntary. Its members pay $25 to $30 per semester for equipment fees, and 25 to 30 people participate.
The coach's greatest memory from the sport came in 1974 in a dressing room before a fight.
He shared that dressing room with former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, who was in Roanoke for exhibition bouts. Quesenberry remembers they didn't call Ali "The Greatest" for nothing.
Quesenberry lost his fight that evening - a disappointing first loss as an amateur.
"When I came back to the dressing room, Ali told me he'd gotten beat in the amateurs, too. He tried to cheer me up."
While Quesenberry has many great memories, he said his purpose isn't to create amateur boxers.
"He doesn't force them into anything," said Dennis Kiernan, 42, who has worked out with the club for three years.
Quesenberry just wants students to have a place to work out and learn some basic values.
"From boxing you learn respect, how to deal with the fear and realities of life and how to work hard," he said.
The boxing club formed in 1985. People who saw Quesenberry training in War Memorial Gym at Tech wanted to work out with him. Eventually, more space was needed and a club was formed.
According to his boxers, Quesenberry the coach is like Quesenberry the fighter: His confidence is contagious.
Reese Stecher, a senior who has boxed with Quesenberry for five years, recalled the moments before one of his amateur fights - against an opponent with a 9-0 record.
"I had all my friends watching me and I was nervous. Maynard grabbed me by the head, looked me in the eye and told me I could beat this guy."
Stecher won the fight.
"All he's got in his mind about this club is that the people who come in here become better people," Kiernan said.
"I've grown to love the sport," Quesenberry said. "I know what it does for people. It prepares you to handle other situations in life."
And he wants others to reap the benefits boxing brings.
Quesenberry said he would like to open a city-supported boxing gym in Roanoke. Some people there want a gym, but the city would have to support it financially, and "it would have to have white-collar people working out, because they're the ones that support the gyms."
He said he plans to continue running the boxing club at Tech, even though his back bothers him and he sees a chiropractor occasionally. His keeps going for a simple reason: "I love to see young people develop in boxing."
It was nearly 8 o'clock on a Wednesday evening. Quesenberry, Kiernan and a freshman were the only ones left in the workout room.
"Come on, Maynard," Kiernan said. "Let's go." Kiernan put his workout bag over his shoulder.
Quesenberry was busy showing the freshman how to punch correctly. Straight punches, Quesenberry tells him. You need to throw quick, straight punches.
He glanced over at Kiernan.
"I'm ready, Dennis. I'm gonna show him one more thing."
He smiled. He was developing a fighter.