While boxing has historically been a male-dominated sport, one Garland ISD student is making a name for herself in the ring. Garland High School junior Annalicia Sustaita won the women’s welterweight division title in the 2015 USA Boxing Junior Open and Youth National Championships Jan. 9, earning a chance to participate in the world competition.
“Because of this last fight, I won my spot on the national team, which got me ranked No. 1 in the United States,” she said. “It feels amazing just to see my dad and family proud of me.”
Starting her journey into boxing just three years ago, Sustaita’s experience has been short but life-changing. The 16-year-old picked up the sport to help adopt a healthier lifestyle.
“I used to be obese. I was about 5 feet 3 inches and weighed close to 200 pounds,” she explained. “I was a cheerleader and played soccer, but people bullied me. It got to the point to where I said, ‘I am done. I do not want to be bullied the rest of my life.’ I changed and started eating right, but every sport I tried was not really helping me keep my weight down. So I thought, ‘I have never tried boxing, I am going to try it.’”
Practicing a new, demanding activity proved to be a challenge—one Sustaita wanted to tackle.
“At first, I thought it was not the right sport for me,” she revealed. “But my godfather always told me you could do anything you set your mind to. I knew I had to do this for me and my family.”
After learning the intricacies of combat, Sustaita grew to love boxing. She now trains with her father, who is also new to the sport, more than 20 hours a week. That dedication has led to many victories, as well as local and national acclaim.
“I would never have guessed that I would be doing this right now. Going from a cheerleader to being ranked No. 1 in boxing, it is a big eye-opener. It is crazy,” she said.
The junior will soon take a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Colorado and Taipei, Taiwan.
“In May, I will train in Colorado’s Olympic center with Olympic coaches for two weeks. From there, I will travel to Taipei for another two weeks of training before the world championships,” Sustaita stated. “I will also have mandatory tutoring so I can still get my schoolwork done.”
Although a trip across the world and a national title are excellent rewards, Sustaita believes the ring has caused a significant transformation that she is proud to own.
“I gained a lot of respect, confidence and self-discipline. I am very grateful for that. I really hope that I can show others that anything is possible.”
Photos courtesy of Annalicia Sustaita.