NCBA Eastern Regional Qualifier Coming to Bristol, Connecticut

The Eastern Region National Qualifier for the 2020 National Collegiate Boxing Association’s (NCBA) National Tournament will be held in Bristol, Conn. on Friday, March 13 with the first bouts at 5 p.m. and on Saturday, March 14 starting at 1 p.m. The newly renovated Bristol Sports Armory at 61 Center St. will host the event with the University of Connecticut, and the event will feature approximately 100 male and female college boxing athletes. Those who Qualify will compete at the NCBA National Tournament to be held several weeks after on April 2-4 in Lafayette, La.

“There is a total of 19 male and female weight classes, and between 15 and 20 bouts per day, each consisting of three (3) two-minute rounds,” explains the Tournament Coordinator Mike Campisano, who also is Head Boxing Coach at the University of Connecticut. “Our NCBA Qualifier Awards Ceremony will begin at approximately 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, and the Champion and Runner-Up of each bout will qualify for the next month’s NCBA National Tournament.” In addition, Campisano notes that four (4) Willie Pep Outstanding Boxer Awards will be presented at that ceremony: to one upper weight male and one upper weight female boxer, and to one lower weight male and one lower weight female boxer.

“This is only the second time this regional Qualifier will be held in Connecticut and boxers are coming from all of the NCBA’s Eastern Region schools,” says Campisano. “The athletes are from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania State University; Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania; Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania; Trinity College in Hartford; The U.S. Military Academy at West Point in New York; the University of Connecticut; the University of Hartford; and the University of Massachusetts.”

Last year’s NCBA Eastern Region qualifier, held at the Boys & Girls Club of Bristol Family Center,sent 38 athletes on to the 2019 Nationals in Reno, Nev., including three from Connecticut who all were students at the University of Connecticut. Weeks later, then-Sophomore Gina Rossetti brought home a Bronze Medal from the National Tournament, becoming UConn’s third All-American in just four years.

“We are pleased that this collegiate boxing event will be held in Northcentral Connecticut and wish the athletes and their families, the officials and the spectators a terrific experience here,” explains Robert Murdock, President of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau (CTCSB), the State’s official meetings and sports event sales and marketing organization. “The event will be great for the Bristol and Southington area economy as, while here, visitors will stay local hotels, dine in local restaurants, shop, and enjoy nearby attractions.”

Daily spectator admission for the March 13-14 Eastern Region National Qualifieris: $10 adults; $7 student of any age with student I.D.; free for kids age 5 and under. Free parking at Armory. Refreshments will be available for purchase. All information is on Facebook - at UCONN Boxing Team Fanpage.

The NCBA was formed in 1976 after a 16-year hiatus from college boxing (boxing previously was an NCAA-sanctioned event). The organization has three U.S. regions: East, Midwest and Southwest. Visit www.ncbaboxing.org