By Debbie Adams
Conley Serreno is a rising freshman at William Byrd High School. In May, at the William Byrd
Middle School Awards Assembly for eighth graders, he was recognized with the President’s
Award for Educational Excellence for maintaining a 3.5 GPA in middle school from sixth grade
through the first semester of eighth grade, and for being on the A/B Honor Roll through the third
nine weeks of the eighth grade.
He was also chosen by his peers as “Most Likely to Become an Olympian.” That’s probably
because of his talent and success in the sport of boxing. His coaches at Gator Boxing in Vinton
predict a bright future for Conley.
wins 2024 Carolina Gloves Championship. (photos courtesy of Gator Boxing)
Gator Boxing is a volunteer-run boxing organization, part of USA Boxing. It is located on
the third floor of the Lancerlot Sports Complex.
Conley’s mother, Lindsay, says he has been boxing for four years, all with Gator Boxing. He
became interested in the sport when he was just 6 years old and asked for a punching bag for
Christmas. As he got older, he asked if he could start boxing after watching it more on TV. (The
minimum age for boxers at Gator Boxing is 8.)
He has a 3-0 record in his boxing matches so far in Greensboro, Charlottesville, and Charlotte,
and most recently brought home the 2024 Carolina Gloves Championship. He is preparing for
match No. 4, most likely in Maryland or North Carolina.
Everett Sawin is his main coach with Gator Boxing and says that his last match was a “hard-
fought victory against his toughest opponent yet. Keep an eye out for this young man to continue
to grow and succeed in the sport of boxing. He has national potential.” Conley is the youngest
boxer currently with Gator Boxing.
Conley is 14 and participates in other sports. He took a couple of years off from boxing to
concentrate on football, but then chose to participate in both sports.
He has played tackle football since he was 5, and plays linebacker, running back, and
quarterback for William Byrd. This past season he was injured in the last 22 seconds of the
second game of the season and broke his collar bone. He still received the leadership award from
his coach because he never missed a practice or a game, and he cheered the team on the whole season. Even with his injury, he was brought up to JV. He is currently working out with the JV
team this summer.
Those are the characteristics Coach Sawin has seen in Conley that make him believe the “Con
Man” has a future in boxing— determination, perseverance, responsibility, discipline,
commitment, and hard work.
(center) faces an opponent his most recent bout.
“He is willing to do whatever he needs to do to win,” Sawin says. “He is one of the best boxers I
have seen in a long time— he has heart, will, and an incredible attitude for someone 14 years
old, and in boxing, attitude goes a long way.”
Sawin says that it’s not always the most athletic or fastest boxer who wins, but “the one who
wants it more— who finds a way to win.”
Early on, being in good shape helps. Boxers work out with punching bags, do mitt work, spar,
jab, practice in the ring, lift weights, and work on technique. They learn to keep moving, and,
most importantly, “not to get hit.” But their coaches also teach mental toughness.
Boxers who are Conley’s age, up until about 17 years of age, generally compete against others
close to them in age (within two years) and weight (within seven pounds). Conley currently
boxes in the 119-pound weight class.
Coach Sawin says that it has been very important to his father, Nathan, that Conley maintain
good grades in school while pursuing sports. In fact, Conley’s family as a whole is very
supportive of his goals and “are great assets.”
His mother says that Conley’s grandfather, Mike Hastings, and cousin boxed in West Virginia,
and that her son is usually at the Lancerlot every evening boxing, aside from weekends.
Although Gator Boxing is located at the Lancerlot, it is not affiliated with the facility other than
renting the space. Coach Maynard Quesenberry founded the organization in another location
several years ago. All of their coaches are volunteering their time, not only to promote the sport
of boxing in the Roanoke Valley, but to teach life skills in the ring.
Gator Boxing coaches are USA Boxing certified. Sawin himself has won 37 amateur fights and
three state championships and has advanced to Nationals twice. When he took up boxing and
then coaching boxing, it gave his life purpose.
He says he volunteers with Gator Boxing, like most of the coaches, to “help boys become men.
Boxing teaches young men not to quit, to build strength in your mind, and physical endurance.”
That’s why he “likes working with kids.”
Gator Boxing is open from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Ages 8 to 100+ are welcome
to join. For more information, call Coach Maynard Quesenberry at 540-320-9898 or visit the
Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/GatorBoxing/.
