Dating back to 1997, Notre Dame’s largest all-female club, Baraka Bouts, has connected hundreds of students for nearly three months of sisterhood, service and sparring. The unforgettable and uniquely Notre Dame experience has utilized boxing to assist the fundraising efforts of the Congregation of Holy Cross to ensure that children in Kyembogo and Jinja, Uganda have access to quality education. While this November marks the end of their “blood, sweat and tears” with their Baraka Bouts teammates, first-time senior captains Lauren Barnes, Katherine Beckman, Lauren Buetow, Luisa Capobianco, and Kim Nguyen are proud of the work they have accomplished inside and outside of the ring over the previous four years.
All five captains had no boxing experience before they joined Baraka Bouts, which over the last 22 years has grown into the largest women’s boxing club worldwide. While each of the captains hold specified responsibilities that help the club operate, they all help coordinate eight two-hour practices five each week. In these practices, the captains, along with the help of volunteer boxing coaches from the South Bend area, train the underclassmen in a cardio regimen and boxing techniques before undergoing practice spars.
Lauren Barnes is a neuroscience major, minoring in compassionate care in medicine on the pre-med track. Barnes is originally from Long Island, N.Y., and has lived in Johnson Family Hall on campus. While she is also involved in research and Dublin study abroad, Barnes said she became hooked on Baraka Bouts while touring campus with a friend as a senior in high school.
“I initially thought there was no way I was going to do this. It was way out of my comfort zone. But when I got to campus I was looking for a way to stay active and I also liked the community service aspect, so I decided to give one workout a try. I became hooked immediately,” said Barnes in an interview with The Observer.
While she stated that it can be challenging to get in the ring every day, she claims that her experience with Baraka Bouts has enriched her personal growth, and that the challenges are justified by being able to mentor the new boxers. Barnes serves as the wellness captain, which involves her coordinating “Wellness Wednesdays” for the club member’s mental and physical well-being, along with organizing the daily spar sheets.
Convinced to join the club by neighbor and current club vice president Olivia Mancuso, Katherine Beckman serves as the apparel captain, organizing all equipment and gear for the club’s 200+ members. The Minnesota native is majoring in biochemistry with a concentration in neuroscience, and has lived in Howard Hall. Outside of boxing, Beckman is involved in research, and also commits her time to volunteer with Mending Minds, a campus organization that provides services and companionship to promote healthy aging for individuals in six local South Bend nursing homes.
“As a freshman I thought there was no way I had time for it, but I was super active in the summer before my sophomore year, but I didn’t have any goal in mind,” Beckman said. “So I joined Baraka Bouts and it was rewarding to be active, while having motivation and something to work towards.”
Beckman also recalled the positive encouragement of the club.
“It’s a really good community. Everyone has your back, win or lose. You get out of the ring and all the captains and your friends are there and they said, ‘Wow, Katherine. You did that — you’re a dawg,’” she said.
A political science and psychology double major from Milwaukee, Wis., Lauren Buetow serves as the social media captain, responsible for all messaging and promotion for Baraka Bouts. Buetow is also involved on campus with Iron Sharpens Iron, BridgeND and as an intern for YoungLife. She has lived in Flaherty Hall, where as a sophomore, she became involved with Baraka Bouts through a Hall Council event.
“It was pitched at hall council and it sounded like something I’d be good at,” Buetow said. “I really missed having a team sport environment because I had that my whole life before Notre Dame. I was able to bring the community and athletic aspects back into my life through Baraka Bouts.”
Fundraising captain Luisa Capobianco is from Easton, Pa., majoring in finance with minors in real estate and Italian. Capobianco has lived in Welsh Family Hall and is also involved with Student International Business Council and the women’s club soccer team. Having joined Baraka Bouts in the midst of tough times during her sophomore fall, Capobianco has risen to assume the large responsibility of overseeing all fundraising efforts of the club.
“I went through a difficult time and decided to pour all my time and energy into boxing. It became very empowering and I’ve made some great friends,” Capobianco said.
She discovered boxing by attending the Bengal Bouts tournament as a freshman. ”I’m very competitive, so once I put my mind to it I knew I was going to do it,” she said.
Kim Nguyen is a science business major from the greater Atlanta area who has lived in Walsh Hall. Outside of Baraka Bouts, Nguyen operates her own blog, in which she does food reviews and character studies. As with Buetow, Nguyen became involved with boxing through her dorm, as she said that Walsh has had a large posse of a boxing community since she has been at Notre Dame. Nguyen serves as the practice captain, allowing her to run many of the club’s workouts, one of her favorite aspects of her involvement with Baraka Bouts.
“When I was a freshman, one of my friends encouraged me to give it a try. There was a group of five in my dorm who would walk over and that’s how I started to enjoy morning practices. I have loved building that community, and now all of us captains are good friends, which is my highlight of the club,” Nguyen said.
The 22nd annual Baraka Bouts will continue with the semifinals next Monday, Nov. 18, The tournament will conclude on Thursday, Nov. 21. Both upcoming rounds will kick off at 7:00 PM inside the Dahnke Ballroom atop Duncan Student Center.
Baraka Bouts is currently about two-thirds of their way towards reaching their $75,000 fundraising goal for 2024.
“Just $67 can pay the annual room and board for one Ugandan student,” Beckman said.
If you are interested in helping Baraka Bouts efforts to construct new facilities, dormitories, and labs at St. Joseph’s Hill Secondary School and Lakeview Secondary School, please visit this link: https://giveto.nd.edu/baraka-bouts-2024.
