On Monday evening, the 22nd annual Baraka Bouts began with the quarterfinal round at Duncan Student Center’s Dahnke Ballroom. Here’s how each of the 13 bouts played out.
Aracely “Chelas” Gonzalez def. Ava “My Stomach Hurts” Goldsmith
The night’s showcase bout opened with a quick tempo supplied by Goldsmith, a first-year student from Cavanaugh Hall and Bellemore, New York. Gonzalez, an off-campus junior from Waukegan, Ill., would settle into the fight, playing the role of aggressor into the second round. The two came out swinging big in the final round, but a series of late connections gave Gonzalez the upper hand. Despite the best efforts of Goldsmith’s boisterous cheering section, Gonzalez prevailed by split decision.
Jaylene “Detonator” Diaz def. Kylie “Sneaky Pizza” Fuerbacher
This bout began much more tentatively than the first, as the two fighters sized one another up early. Diaz, a fifth-year student from Breen-Phillips Hall and Houston, Texas, gained the edge in the second round, chasing Fuerbacher around the ring with relentless jabs. The New Jerseyan junior from Welsh Family Hall would pull some momentum back in round three but couldn’t do enough to slow down Diaz, who won by unanimous decision.
Hope “The Wonder” Wanken def. Sara “Partial Credit” Werner
Hailing from St. Louis and Pasquerilla West Hall, Werner began this battle of juniors with high energy, dipping her shoulders in search of punching angles. Wanken withstood her fast start, the Minnesotan from Lewis Hall landing more and more swings as the fight wore on. As Werner searched for a response, Wanken kept hitting en route to a victory by unanimous decision.
Tavin “3-Alarm” Martin def. Megan “Big Red” Gallagher
This Hoosier State bout pitted Goshen’s Gallagher, a senior from Johnson Family Hall, against Evansville’s Martin, a senior out of Lyons Hall. Playing for state pride, the two fighters began physically, going to the ropes several times in the first round. At one point, Martin sent Gallagher down to the deck, surprising the crowd. Wailing away at her opponent in tight quarters during rounds two and three, Martin earned a victory by unanimous decision.
Erika “Tortilla Slayer” Cucala def. Kailyn “Rah” Meyer
Neither fighter took the upper hand early in bout number five. The contest’s physicality increased in round two, with the official on several occasions halting the fight due to shoulder-high grabs. Ultimately, the older and taller Cucala, a senior from Spain, would get the better of her sophomore foe and prevail by unanimous decision.
Lilly “The Lineback” Nadler def. Chevelle “Barbenheimer” Boomershine
First-year Massachusetts native Nadler, a Flaherty Hall resident, made quite the first impression in the sixth bout. Crouching low and driving hard, she sent her graduate student opponent to the floor midway through round one. Nadler would keep on the attack, landing a pair of hefty rights late in round two. The Ohioan Boomershine rallied well early in round three, but Nadler held on and won by split decision.
Emma “The Enforcer” Hazel def. Lauren “Half-Pint” Hubert
A Farley Hall senior from Nebraska, Hubert opened bout number seven with a series of frantic swing. Hazel, a Pasquerilla West junior from nearby Granger, fender her off well and began to take control as Hubert ran out of gas. Landing a few key shots late, Hazel prevailed by split decision.
Samantha “Smitty” Smith def. Erin “Oh Oh Oh” Reilly
These two East Coast opponents fought with massive cheering sections behind their respective sides of the rings. While Smith, a Ryan Hall junior from New Jersey, found some success on right hooks, Reilly got going in the second round with a steady dose of left jabs. However, the Virginian senior from Walsh Hall couldn’t hold off Smith, who claimed a victory by unanimous decision.
Caroline “Ba Ba Ba” Flannery def. Maisie “I Don’t Have One Yet” Jenuwine
Both fighters approached this contest with a conservative start, Flannery representing Ryan Hall and Chappaqua, New York, as a senior and Jenuwine showing out for South Bend and Cavanaugh Hall as a sophomore. Eventually, Flannery forced her way through Jenuwine’s solid defense, connecting on a few crucial rights in the final 15 seconds. As her supporters belted out Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” Flannery wrapped up the contest with a victory by unanimous decision.
Katherine “Bend It Like” Beckman def. Lily “Lil’ Knockout” Mesler
The 10th contest of the night went off ferociously, as the more experienced and significantly taller Beckman put Mesler on the defensive early. The senior from Howard Hall and Minnesota continued to attack the first year from Walsh Hall and Pennsylvania, forcing a count midway through the second round. Beckman forced another count early in round three and continued punching downhill on her way to a victory by unanimous decision.
Rae “Racecar” Smolen def. Emma “Bad Intentions” Speyrer
Smolen, a first-year from Maryland and Welsh Family Hall, and Speyrer, a senior from Texas and Cavanaugh Hall, prioritized defense early on as their supporters cancelled out one another’s raucous chants. The bout opened up in the second round as Smolen dealt sporadic body blows to open up lanes for high hits. That trend would continue into the final round, Smolen in full command of the contest’s direction. She would win by unanimous decision.
Katie “Beast” Sullivan def. Maddie “Mad-Dawg” Orchard
As roars of “Let’s go, Katie!” and “Let’s go, Maddie!” clashed behind the ropes, Sullivan and Orchard pounded away with calculated cuts throughout the first two rounds. Although Sullivan took the upper hand in round one, the Virginia sophomore from Johnson Family Hall hit her hard in the second. At one point, Sullivan required a 10-second respite in the blue corner, but the Saginaw native kept battling into the final round, earning victory by split decision.
Lindsey “The Beater” Weeter def. Siena “Asian Persuasion” Hua
Though a bit out of control to start (she needed a count due to a stumble), Weeter tracked Hua all around the ring in the night’s final contest, a battle of sophomores. The Virginian from Flaherty Hall gave Hua, her Chinese adversary, few chances to strike back, hitting after the second round’s final bell. Hua would offer some pushback to start round three, but Weeter held her off to secure a victory by split decision.
