Boxing beauty.

Published in The Post-Star (G1)
9/28/06

A visitor to an evening workout session at the Saratoga Youth Boxing Association’s gym could be forgiven for doing a double-take.

Some sights seem typical: Sweat-drenched guys smacking the speed bags. Eager kids learning to shadow box. A couple of coaches, pacing the concrete floor and barking out encouragement.

And then there’s the gorgeous blonde pummeling a heavy bag with hot pink gloves, ignoring the sweaty smears of mascara and eye shadow forming on her flawless face.

That’s 17-year-old Astrid Strydon — beauty school student by day, boxer by night.

"I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the way I look, yeah," she said with a shrug. "I usually come straight from school or work and I just don’t have time to wash my makeup off. And I wear pink because I like the color and just because I’m boxing doesn’t mean I have to stop."

Her trainer, Dave Wojcicki, has been involved with boxing for more than 30 years. He’s used to wiping blood and sweat off boxers between bouts — but mascara? That’s a new one, he said.

"I told her, ‘I’ve been a cut-man in the corner, but never a makeup man!’ " he said, beaming like a proud parent as Strydon practiced her punches.

"She trains pretty good. She’s one of the ones who you can tell her to do anything, and she’ll do it — run through a wall, climb a mountain, whatever," he said. "If we had a whole gym full of hers, we’d have a heck of a gym."

Strydon grew up far upstate, in rural Chateaugay, where a combination of boredom and curiosity got her hooked on boxing soon after her birthday last November. She received a CD by one of her favorite punk bands, Dropkick Murphys, and noticed that the album was dedicated to a Massachusetts boxing legend named Mickey Ward. She did some research, discovered that "he was cool; a real fighter," and was inspired to try the sport herself.

"I thought it looked like fun, despite getting punched in the face," she said. "And I never really had anything to do growing up."

So she joined the Uncle Sam Boxing Club in Altona, where she trained with Bob Miller through her senior year of high school. When Strydon moved downstate this fall to attend the Orlo School of Hair Design in Albany, she joined the Saratoga boxing gym on Miller’s recommendation.

"He told me he wanted me here because it’s clean, and full of nice people," she said.

Wojcicki said he doesn’t expect any more or less from her than he does from the other boxers at the gym, male or female.

"I always tell them it’s not about winning; it’s a learning experience," he said. "And we might not have any champions of the world here, but if we can get one kid on the straight road in the world, I think we’re champions."

Strydon is preparing to make her amateur debut next month in Amsterdam at a benefit match for slain State Trooper Joseph Longobardo. Wojcicki is still searching to find her a suitable female partner; if he does, Strydon isn’t necessarily expecting to win.

"My goal? Not to die, I guess," she said, laughing.

She practices sparring at the Saratoga gym with Rocky Carey, a wiry young woman almost twice her age who has nearly four years of boxing experience. Carey will compete in the "open" category — a few levels above Strydon’s "sub-novice" status — at the upcoming Amsterdam fight.

"I love boxing, it keeps me sane," Carey commented as she and Strydon strapped on protective headgear for a practice bout.

For the next several minutes in the ring, the two looked like boxers — throwing uppercuts, dodging jabs and delivering some heavy hooks.

But when the bell rang, they did something that would terrify most male boxers.

They hugged.

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IF YOU GO
The 21st Century Boxing Club Tournament will take place at 7 p.m. Oct. 21, at the Elks Lodge on Fourth Avenue in Amsterdam. Twelve bouts are scheduled, featuring local boxers from many experience levels. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the family of Joseph Longobardo, an Amsterdam native who was recently killed on duty as a New York State Trooper.
Admission is $10 in advance or $15 at the door. For tickets or more information, contact Dave Wojcicki at 577-6945.