There’s something about putting on his gloves and stepping inside the squared circle that makes West Point cadet Matthew Beason forget everything else around him.

“When I throw that first punch -- 'cause you know I always throw first --- when I land that first punch, I’m comfortable. I’m in a relaxed environment," the junior from the south side of Chicago said. "I rely on that practice and training so I’m always ready.”

Beason was interested in West Point’s boxing team when he enrolled, but it took a challenge from his company leader to get him hooked.

“They said he was mean, so they walked me to his room and he’s like, 'Yeah, I have a cadet here interested in boxing.' He was like, 'OK, let’s see how fast you are,' " Beason said. "And that night we went on a, like, five-mile run up all the hills of West Point. And I was tired, but I didn’t want to quit.”

He's one member of Army’s boxing team, a sport overseen not by the NCAA, but the National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA). About 40 colleges still offer boxing as a sport, mostly service schools and those with ROTC programs.

Ruby Romsland, a junior from Virginia Beach, Va., grew up with older brothers who were into combat sports.

“My parents figured if I was in the gym, I should get in on lessons and it’d be fun," Romsland said. "And I just fell in love with it. The competition, the drive that comes with it. It's awesome.”

She said it was a natural progression for her to join the team.

“I’m surrounded by great people who want the best for me," Romsland said.

She and her teammates haven’t competed in many matches. COVID-19 has limited their abilities to go up against other schools, and the NCBA only allows amateur fighters 10 total matches. But she’s proud of her 2-0 record, including a win over Navy.

Romsland knows she has a job to do once she has her last match with Army boxing, but being a member of this team has helped her prepare for a career of service.

“I think I’ve learned more about character and respect from this gym than anywhere else," she said. "Because, although when you’re fighting somebody, they’re your enemy in the ring, as soon as you get out, that’s your teammate. They need support and love ... We’re one team, one family. That really drives what the team does.”