Lieutenant Dave Swavey kept the rules simple when he started the kids’ boxing program at the 9th Street Gym in 1995 to give kids something constructive to do. Don’t break the law, misbehave, or disrespect others and keep grades at a passing level. A karate program, which is directed by Judge Robert Beasley, was added later and has brought in even more student athletes.
Last week, the student athletes gathered at The Atrium to celebrate their accomplishments with their parents and coaches. Several special guests also attended the banquet. Mewsette Baker, Cyndee Baker and Javier Solis from Garland ISD were there to celebrate with the students. In addition, John Nguyen and Albert Carrasco from Compass Bank were there to recognize the graduating seniors with a gift.
Several members of the Garland Police Department Gang Unit were also in attendance.
The number of awards and recognitions given at the gym’s annual banquet is proof of the gym’s success. More than 70 percent of the student athletes are on the A-B honor roll and many received awards for perfect school attendance. All beamed with confidence and a sense of accomplishment as they made their way to the stage as their names were called.
Swavey, a retired Garland police lieutenant, said that children from all walks of life participate in the boxing and karate programs. There are rich kids, poor ones, kids with good home lives and kids without parents, all training together and learning not just a sport, but important life lessons as well. They learn that discipline is the key to success in all their pursuits.
Swavey said that as a child with dyslexia, he had a hard time in school. He felt that education had failed him and that 
caused difficulties in his adult life. He is determined to see that none of these student athletes feel that way.
“I’ve got a lot of kids in here tonight that take that level of discipline to a whole new level with education and it’s very important to me,” he said.
Retired Garland ISD teacher Ann Noska provides academic help to any student who needs it. She is patient but firm and makes no exceptions to the rule that all students must be passing all their classes to participate. Noska spends countless hours tutoring the kids and ensuring that she is up to date on their academic status.
Everyone involved loves watching the kids excel in both academics and their sport.
“In the 23 years that I’ve run the program, there are 12 names on the wall at the gym of people that have become national or world champions and tonight we are going to add more,” Swavey said.