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Myers graduates Army with 3 U.S. boxing titles

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Billy Myers of Forsyth is expected back at home this week after graduating from West Point on Saturday. But his diploma and uniform won't be the only cargo in his Jeep as he rolls south toward Georiga. He'll also bring home three national championship boxing trophies from his time at the U.S. Military Academy.

"I'm so glad I did it," Myers said of his boxing experience. "It gave me a huge confidence boost. I feel unstoppable."

Myers was commissioned as a second lieutenant on Saturday in West Point, N.Y. after hearing a commencement address from President Barack Obama. A 2004 graduate of Mary Persons, Myers said he and his MP soccer and football buddies, guys like Ben Granitz, Joshua Pritchett and Hunter King, used to play boxing. He recalls circling up their cars to make a ring during their senior year, putting on boxing gloves and sparring. But he said he had no idea what boxing required until he took a class in his freshman year at West Point. Then he was hooked.

"We used to watch boxing on HBO and I'd say 'it looks like they're just standing there'," said Myers. "But it's a lot of finesse and agility, it takes a lot more athleticism than people think."

Myers liked his required boxing class so much that he joined Army's club boxing team and went on to win three national titles. Myers personally finished as high as third place in the title tournament. Army competes against about 50 other college boxing teams for the championship, and Myers says the stiffest challenge usually comes from the other service academies like Navy and Air Force. This year the championships were held in West Point.

As a senior, he was named team captain and acted as a coach to the younger boxers.

The toughness and teamwork Myers has learned with the Army boxing team may come in handy as he heads to Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri next month for 17 weeks of officer training, and then to Ft. Hood, 'Texas in November to begin pursing an Army engineering career. And it already has helped.

While at West Point, Myers said he hung out with his boxing friends and nobody ever gave the fighters any trouble.

He'll need some of that tenacity as he begins about eight years of classes to get a masters in engineering management, while perhaps also going to Army Ranger school. And then? Well, then he'll probably serve his country wherever he's needed, said Myers.

Billy Myers is the oldest of three brothers. Nick Myers is a wrestler at North Georgia College and youngest brother Keith Myers is at Banks Stephens Middle School.

Billy said graduating from Army hasn't been as hard as he expected. But he said there have been a few cultural challenges. He said people in the northeast think he's rude because his southern manners prompt him to say "yes ma'am" and "no ma'am".

And then there's the weather. Winters last a lot longer and even last week the high was only 58 degrees. So does he plan on returning to the northeast anytime soon?

"Umm, no," he says.

Billy is the son of Bill and Marilou Myers of Forsyth.



Copyright 2010 The Monroe County Reporter, Forsyth, Georgia. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2011 The Monroe County Reporter Forsyth, Georgia. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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