Club boxing provided new path
Mount Saint Joseph grad Stern found his passion
Ethan Stern enjoyed a lot of success as a youth and high school wrestler. At Mount Saint Joseph, the Reisterstown resident became a National Preps All-American. He was a key contributor as the Gaels captured three consecutive MIAA A Conference and Maryland Independent Schools state championships.
Stern was recruited to the Naval Academy and did not immediately find the success to which he had become accustomed. Frustrated by not being able to earn a spot in the starting lineup, he did not respond well and was eventually invited to leave the program.
“I just wasn’t 100% committed over in the wrestling room. Between injuries and not taking things seriously, the coaching staff felt it would be better if I moved on,” Stern acknowledged.
Stern crossed the street and joined the club boxing program, discovering a passion for the pugilistic sport that he somehow lost after spending so many years on the mat.
“I’ve found a new home here with Navy boxing and it’s been nothing but an upward arrow ever since,” Stern said. “Wrestling had almost become like a job. With boxing, I’m out here having fun and learning something new every day.”
Stern was still a member of the wrestling team in 2021 when he signed up for the Brigade Boxing Championship tournament. He did not bother going to the gym to train and just showed up for bouts, advancing past the quarterfinals through sheer toughness. However, he ran into a more experienced boxer in the semifinals and discovered that a straight-ahead, rough-and-tumble style did not work against an opponent that moved around the ring and threw punches from all angles.
“It was definitely a wake-up call because I was a little cocky. I thought I could just go out and brawl with everybody and beat them with strength and toughness,” Stern said.
Stern walked into Dahlgren Hall in January
2023 and promised the boxing coaching staff he would be fully invested.
“Ethan showed up and said he wanted to give this a real shot and actually learn to box. He has been super-dedicated ever since and a real student of the sport,” Navy interim boxing coach Adan Salguero said. “Ethan is one of those guys who is obsessed with the sport and I love that about him. He has been super-coachable the last two years and really soaked up everything about boxing. He’s always asking questions and doing everything possible to improve.”
Stern captured the Brigade Boxing Championship in the heavyweight division, scoring a unanimous decision against Liam McCarthy. He dominated a taller, heavier opponent despite having to gain almost 20 pounds to make the minimum weight.
“Ethan is not even close to being a natural heavyweight. We moved him up because we didn’t have many wrestlers at that weight class and knew he had the power to compete,” Salguero said.
Stern will seek a second straight title when the 83rd annual Brigade Boxing Championships are held Friday night at Alumni Hall. He will meet sophomore Malik Ghodhbani in the 175-pound final, which is basically the same weight class at which he wrestled.
“I’m much more comfortable at 175 pounds. Last year, I was stuffing my face just to get to the minimum for heavyweight. It definitely feels better to be at my natural weight,” Stern said.
Being part of the boxing program has literally turned around the trajectory of Stern’s career at the Naval Academy. Salguero has seen a significant transformation from a cocky sophomore who talked trash to opponents to a respected senior who sets an example in practice each day.
“I got the feeling Ethan was kind of a knucklehead with the wrestling team,” Salguero said. “Since coming over and really committing to boxing, he has displayed great work ethic and become a real team leader.”
Friday night will mark the first time since 1986 the Brigade Boxing Championships will not be overseen by Jim McNally, who retired last spring following 37 years at the Naval Academy. Salguero served as McNally’s top assistant for three years before being given the interim tag.
“Jim built brigades up to be a really big event, so I need to uphold that standard. I don’t want it to go backwards in any way; it does feel like a little bit of pressure,” Salguero said. “This is my first year putting the show together by myself. It’s been a bit hectic, but fortunately, I’ve been here the last couple years and have seen what it takes.”
Navy has three boxers — seniors Gabi Shultz, Kole Songonuga and Jake Jones — looking to capture their third consecutive championships. Shultz could establish herself as one of the top female boxers in program history by three-peating at 132 pounds.
Sophie Lekas became the first female fourtime champ in Navy boxing history in 2019 and two years later Jeanette Steerman matched that feat. Both provided inspiration for Shultz, a San Diego native who discovered boxing almost by accident.
“One of my friends wanted to try it out, so I went with her as kind of a comfort and support thing. She wound up not liking boxing and I did,” Shultz said. “It was a great workout and everyone on the team was very welcoming, which made me want to come back each day and get better.”
Shultz, who lost in the semifinals to Jasmine Brown as a plebe, has captured her two championships by split decisions. She was an NCBA national runner-up in 2023 and is determined to win the final bout of her career this year.
Songonuga has been impressive in posting unanimous decisions to secure championships as a sophomore and junior.
“Cole is probably the quickest boxer on the team. He has long arms, good reach and great hand speed,” Salguero said. “Cole is a real dog in the ring. He’s not going to back down from anyone.”
Songonuga is an ambidextrous fighter able to switch back and forth between southpaw and orthodox stance, which gives opponents trouble. He credits sparring with upperclassmen such as Francis Benoit, Aidan McNally and Adrain Johnson as keys to learning the finer points of the sport.
“My style is a mixture of staying outside and using the jab then coming in close and working the body. In and out movement is something I’m really big on,” Songonuga said.
Jones, a Pittsburgh native, has also registered two straight unanimous decisions in the Brigade Boxing finals. He is facing a freshman and will be heavily favored to become a threetime champ.
Jones is a four-time finalist, having lost to Benoit as a plebe. He also cited mentorship, both in and out of the ring, of 2023 team captains Johnson and McNally.
“Aidan and Adrain have been a huge influence, not just with boxing but also with the leadership side of things; They were the type of captains and officers I want to become,” Jones said. “That leadership piece is the biggest thing I’ve gotten from Navy boxing.”
Brigade Boxing Championship Pairings
Women’s Bouts
119 pounds — Kaylah Gillums, senior vs. Stephanie Galindo, freshman; 125 pounds — Natasha Neve, senior vs. Sophia Baguilod, junior; 132 pounds — Lucia Arny, freshman vs. Gabi Shultz, senior; 139 pounds — Erin Nicastro, junior vs. Julia Fitzpatrick, freshman; 147 pounds — Heidi Richardson, sophomore vs. Emily Spencer, junior; 156 pounds — Cecilia Wheeler, senior vs. Cami Johnson, sophomore
Men’s Bouts
132 pounds — Pape Daouda Traore, freshman vs. Joe Veloz, senior; 139 pounds — Cam Delay, junior vs. Gabe Armendariz, sophomore; 147 pounds — Nick Smith, sophomore vs. Stephen Luebbers, junior; 156 pounds — Kole Songonuga, senior vs. Gage DeNatale, senior; 165 pounds — EJ Hagins, junior vs. Joey Motzel, senior; 175 pounds — Malik Ghodhbani, sophomore vs. Ethan Stern, senior; 185 pounds — Jake Jones, senior vs. James Garcia-Gallegos, freshman; 195 pounds — Sakile Johnson, sophomore vs. Steve Brunache, sophomore; HWT — Liam McCarthy, junior vs. Gabe Kitsch, senior