Junior Boxing’s POWerful

WILDWOOD – Wildwood’s Junior Boxing Program has a motto, and it has nothing to do with boxing. It does, however, have everything to do with how the coach approaches the program and its participants.
“Shape Your Life,” is something Coach Delano Richards hopes to instill in the more than 100 who visit the Bryne Community Center on West Youngs Avenue, sometimes on a daily basis.
As part of the boxing program, Richards tries to instill in everyone, from ages 5 to 70, that they “should believe in their dreams, believe in themselves” as he tries to teach about life, taking advantage of one’s talents, and the power of their mind.
“It’s all about the mind,” he said, as he explained his approach to boxing. “I stress paying attention, following instructions and that every action has a consequence.
“The skill of boxing is just a small part of the program. The power of the mind equals knowledge, and with the knowledge, you can conquer the world in a positive way.”
As a child growing up in Colon, Panama, Richards said he grew up in one of the most violent areas of the country. “But it was my family, and the way I was brought up, that showed me what I could do,” he said.
His “Number one” sport, he said, was baseball, and he was encouraged to excel by his father. However, he loved sparring, especially with a cousin, and “would sneak it in whenever I could.” His baseball team won the national Panamanian championship in 1985 and went to Cuba to play.
Eventually, he went to Brooklyn, N.Y., but in 1990, hurt his shoulder, thus ending any hopes of furthering his baseball career.
“So then I began boxing, and I had mentors and trainers and people who worked with me every day,” the 50-year-old father of three, said. “I began training with kids and found I could do it all day, every day. It’s my passion, and I’m grateful to have a chance to help make dreams come true for some of these kids.”
While Richards has lived in Wildwood for the past 18 years, he worked as a civilian at the Cape May Coast Guard Training Center and as supervisor at the Wildwood Convention Center. Last year he was hired by the city’s Recreation Department to run its boxing program.
“Last year, we had 103 members in the program, more kids than adults,” he noted. “So far this year, we’ve had 87 people sign up: 64 kids and 22 adults.”
According to the Wildwood Recreation Department’s website, a six-month membership costs $25.
“I try to build their self-esteem with positive thinking,” Richards said. “Challenge their minds. It’s part physical, mental, skills, communications, and confidence-building.”
Many of the young boys and girls don’t have a father or father figure in their life, according to Richards, so he easily puts himself in that role.
“I approach it as ‘What can I do to improve their lives?’ I tell them to look at people’s eyes when they talk. It’s a sign of confidence. If they don’t look at you or look elsewhere, then they are lying or not paying attention.”
Paying attention is something Richards expects of everyone in the program. “If you don’t, then you have to do push-ups,” he quipped.
Richards loves to share stories of some of the people he’s helped through the boxing program, which was held at a boxing gym before becoming part of the city’s programs.
There’s the young boy who was being bullied in school but was afraid to tell his mother. He told Richards, and Richards helped address the situation.
Two other children have asthma but now are feeling better. An adult with Parkinson’s disease has been helped exercising on the machines, as has another with diabetes.
“Some of the children don’t have the right food or meals, and some of the community members provide cookies, lemonade and other support that we couldn’t do without,” he said.
One such community member is Nilda Langston, who is grateful for Richards’ dedication to “keeping the kids off the streets.”
She plans to take her 7-year-old granddaughter to the program this summer and supporting it however she can.
“It’s great for them to educate their brain, exercise their mind as well as their body,” she added about the participants.
She is so thrilled about the program that she shared her enthusiasm with 91-year-old Dolores Yetter, another Wildwood resident.
Yetter, who has been a resident there for over 50 years, is now living in an assisted-living facility after falling and hurting herself at her home.
She visited the center over Memorial Day weekend to see for herself how the program was going.
“They could use a little help with equipment and supplies,” Yetter said. “I know Delano is doing the best he can for the children, so I hope it all works out. He could use some help, though.”
Richards said so far the city’s mayor has been supportive and is “trying to find some funding” for the program.
“The saddest thing in life is to waste your talents,” the coach said. “I just ask the kids a simple question, ‘Like going fishing?’ And then they open up and will do whatever you want.
“I tell all my kids that this is their Spanish brother, or this is their white brother, or this is their black brother,” he added, “and I’m the Dad. I want to let them be kids, and I want them to learn and have fun.”
As for the adults, Richards wants the same. While sometimes parents of the children participate in the program, some like Yetter are also considering it.
“My main job right now is to get better,” Yetter said. “I can walk, and I can talk, so that’s good. I hope to be back in Wildwood, and maybe I’ll join the boxing program when I return.”
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.