Sanctuary Boxing's Makya Wade claims gold at national boxing competition

For the third summer in a row, Sanctuary Boxing Club in New Kensington took boxers to USA Boxing’s national competition in Wichita, Kan.

This time around, the group returned with gold and bronze medals.

Makya Wade, 10, joined Sanctuary Boxing Club one year ago and quickly became a national champion after she defeated Rikki Lopez, 5-0, by unanimous decision.

Rich Cantolina, head coach and owner of Sanctuary Boxing Club, was impressed with how Wade used her reach to her advantage.

“She gives her distance really well, and it’s frustrating,” Cantolina said. “By the time they figured it out, it’s too late. Her opponent from Texas, Rikki Lopez, it looked like they were in different weight classes. That’s how big Makya is compared to her height-wise. She was out there all day and made it tough to fight and to have to find your way in.”

Wade’s hard work and dedication, along with her natural ability, led to gold, her coach said.

“She’s been here just over slightly a year, and she picked it up really quick,” Cantolina said. “She’s a natural. I think her cheerleading background helps her with her rhythm and stuff and just her build. She kind of reminds me of (Thomas) Hearns. Tall, lanky, and she uses her range, really, really well.”

Wade said she came in with one goal — to become a national champion.

“I was confident and expecting myself to win, so I kept thinking that,” Wade said. “I thought that I was going to win, and I was having confidence. (Lopez) was not my size, so I really tried to stay back for her.”

Wade’s friend, Natalie Griggle, wanted Wade to join the gym, and she was a quick study. Wade won the state championship against a two-time national champion.

She said her favorite moment in boxing so far was winning in Dubois against a boxer she lost to a few months ago at regionals. It showed her that she learned from her last fight and got better.

Katie Kerecz, 12, who won bronze at nationals, has become a leader of the gym and was excited for Wade.

“I was really proud of her,” Kerecz said. “She helped the gym in a lot of ways, and it was just cool to see her win against an opponent. She’s a cool girl, she’s really nice, and it’s just fun to have her in there to laugh and train with her. She helps us get better every day.”

Kerecz continued to inch closer to a title. She entered the tournament ranked eighth nationally and took home the bronze medal.

“It was cool, and it was a great experience,” Kerecz said. “It was an experience that many people don’t get to experience, and it was just cool, even if I won or lost, as an experience.”

Kerecz said she is progressing and has gotten better since her first appearance at nationals in 2022. Kerecz won state and regional titles to have a chance at National Silver Gloves this year.

“Something I noticed in both of them is that they’re very coachable,” Cantolina said. “It’s almost like controlling a PlayStation game. While each of them are out there sitting in the corner and I’ll say to throw a jab and in a millisecond, that jab is coming out. They listen very well. While they’re out there, they’re very focused, and in the gym, they’re so coachable.”

Cantolina said he lets them help lead the class. He said it helps slow things down for them by teaching boxing and their strategy to others.

Kerecz has been boxing with Sanctuary for more than three years. She was once the “silent assassin,” but is now a vocal leader and is seen as another coach.

“She’s come a long way, not just as a fighter, but as a person,” Cantolina said. “She’s really come a long way helping little kids. She’s the definition of a role model. These little girls look up to her when they come into the gym. They’re always watching what she’s doing. They’re following what she’s doing. She stays after, gives them hugs, gives them high fives.”

Cantolina said Kerecz has shown improvement, and he’s never seen such a balance of life, talent and work ethic. He believes a national title is close.

“The way I put it is the line in front of us is a lot shorter than the line behind us now, and she’s going to get hers real soon,” Cantolina said. “I don’t think she’s just going to get one. I think she’s going to get a lot of them. Her goal is to be an Olympic champion. I think she’s going to. I really, truly believe that she’s gonna be the first kid from Pittsburgh in the Olympics.”