ROCHESTER, N.Y. — It’s been referred to as the sweet science. The golden days of boxing, in many places, are long past. But at one Rochester high school, many students still possess pugilistic prowess. It’s shown off at one yearly boxing event that draws big crowds at one of just a handful of high schools in the nation where boxing is still a thing.

Building a tradition takes a lot of history. At Aquinas Institute, tradition packs the school gym every year, the same as it has for the past 90 years.

“It reminds me of like the good old days,” said Dr. Anthony Ricci, a 1976 Aquinas graduate. “I mean, there's gonna be a ton of people that would come to watch in our little gym, and they couldn't get everybody in.”

Aquinas is one of the only two high schools in the nation with a boxing program. As legend has it, the Mission Bouts date back to 1932, when two students laced up the gloves to settle a dispute. It took off from there.

On a recent Friday, the Aquinas gym was packed once again as both boys and girls squared off in the squared circle.

“I always loved the physical sports,” said freshman Priya Reece. “And in a not weird way, I've always wanted to like punch someone.”

Reece took up boxing this year. 

“So I figured I'd try it out,” she said. “And that turned out to be a lot of fun.”

This year also marked a return to the ring, after COVID-19 wiped out last year’s boxing cards for students. The bouts are fast-paced, sometimes bloody, but steeped in tradition.

“You learn commitment, discipline, hard work, loyalty and enthusiasm,” said Anthony Bianchi, Aquinas athletic director. “There’s just a long line of boxers that this program means a lot to.”

That includes the athletes in the ring this year.

“It’s so much more than just boxing,” said Olindo DiFrancesco, a senior. “It's a lot more. You get discipline, you get everything. It’s like your family.”

“You’re out there by yourself,” said Ricci, a Pittsford dentist who went on to an undefeated boxing career at Notre Dame after graduating from Aquinas. “It takes a lot of guts for these kids.”

It's something a nervous Reece quickly found out during her bout. 

“It doesn't hurt as much you think with the headgear on,” she said of taking punches. “It’s actually not that bad. I think body shots to your stomach hurt the most.”

Success sometimes takes a little pain. Reece won her match.

“It’s just such a great thing to be a part of,” she said.