Evergreen grad wins two national boxing titles for Navy
By Paul Danzer, Columbian
Soccer, hockey and Community Sports Reporter
Published: April 23, 2016, 11:11pm
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Stephanie Simon of Vancouver, left, delivers a punch to Ejakhain Obiomon of Army on her way to winning her second national college boxing title. (Kathryn S. Beck/Saddleburn Media)
Stephanie Simon’s second college boxing national title was satisfying and impressive.
On April 9, the Evergreen High School graduate made quick work of her bout at the National Collegiate Boxing Association national tournament. Her victory over an opponent from Army took only one round and earned the United States Naval Academy junior the outstanding female boxer award at the tournament.
“It was pretty cool.” Simon said.
It was also no surprise to Naval Academy boxing coach Jim McNally, who noted that several women chose to avoid Simon’s 165-pound weight class.
“When she started putting full time into boxing, her athleticism just took over,” McNally said. “She’s a good athlete, a tough person. In the ring she has good rhythm and toughness.”
Even more cool than a second national title was winning her first Brigade Championship in February. Simon beat Samantha Glaeser, a woman fighting for a rare fourth Brigade title. Glaeser beat Simon to win Brigade bragging rights in 2014 and in 2015. That bout, including an interview with Simon, is featured in the March episode of Showtime’s 60 Minutes Sports.
A 2012 Evergreen graduate, Simon’s goal is to become an officer in the Marines. She sees boxing — along with throwing for Navy’s track and field team and singing with the Navy glee club — as stepping stones toward that goal.
As a senior at Evergreen in 2012, she was the girls wrestling state champion at 145 pounds. She wanted to keep wrestling. During her year at the Naval Academy Preparatory School, Simon said she begged for a chance to wrestle but was denied.
All freshmen at the Naval Academy are required to take McNally’s boxing class. The coach saw a good athlete with boxing potential. Simon found she enjoyed the one-on-one challenge in the ring.
In 2015, Simon defeated Erin Reilley from West Virginia in a 156-pound match to win her first NCBA national title. This season her biggest challenge outside of Annapolis was a Penn State boxer who went three rounds with Simon at a regional event.
But at the national tournament — held at the University of Washington — only Ejakhain Obiomon of Army showed up to challenge Simon, who this year fought in the 165-pound weight class. Early in the second round, Obiomon took a knee.
Simon said she still has plenty to learn about boxing, which she said is not as natural as wrestling or throwing the discus and javelin, sports she has been doing for years.
“I improved in boxing mostly with footwork and head movement,” Simon said of her development this season. “I also fight more confidently and know how to pace myself.”
Recognizing that extracurricular activities are a path to becoming a Marine officer, Simon said she enjoys having a variety of activities outside of her classes. During the season, she trains about two hours a day for boxing, with morning workouts and time in the ring following track practice. Taking extra summer school classes has eased the academic load, she said.
Simon’s focus now is on the discus and javelin. In a dual meet at Army this season, Simon won the javelin and placed second in the discus with a personal-best mark of 146 feet, 6 inches. She is looking forward to competing this week at the Penn Relays.
“I’m really getting better at the discus, which is great,” she said, noting that in practice she has a mark of 153 feet.
Simon, who sings a bit during her 60 Minutes Sports interview, said she received a lot of positive reactions Showtime segment.
“That was awesome,” she said. “I was just being myself. It was quite entertaining.”
The Showtime piece was good exposure for the sport, Simon said.
“I’m excited for what’s next,” Simon said. “I feel like I’m starting to influence women, to show that boxing is something they can be successful at. Hopefully more girls will try boxing.”
McNally, in his 30th year coaching boxing at the Naval Academy, wants to see women’s boxing grow at Navy and that Simon’s success, leadership and personality can help.
“She’s just a fun person to hang out with,” McNally said.
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