GRAND BLANC, Mich. — After high school, 17-year-old Caitlin Williams wants to learn cosmetology and 18-year-old Tanjae Chairse wants to study music and medicine. What they want to do now is a lot more rough-and-tumble.
In the months leading up to graduation from Grand Blanc High School, the 5-foot, 3-inch Williams and the inch shorter Chairse want to start a boxing club.
"I just wanted to do it because it's something that girls don't really do. And it's something you just don't really get a chance to do," said Williams, of Flint Township.
The boxing club, open to both male and female students, was unanimously approved by the Grand Blanc School Board in February. Chairse and Williams are working to get it up and running as soon as possible.
Training will be in the high school's wrestling room. Fights will take place at Joe Byrd's Boxing Academy in Beecher.
Their initiative is rare, said David Packer, Michigan Golden Gloves president and Golden Gloves of America vice president.
"It used to happen all the time (in high schools) many years ago," Packer said. "I couldn't name another place that has it."
Neither Williams nor Chairse, of Grand Blanc, have boxed before and both said it was always something they wanted to try.
"We have over 100 likes on our Facebook page and when we were talking to people about it, they showed interest," Chairse said. "We have a lot of teachers that support us."
Joe Byrd, a former boxing coach and member of the governor's boxing commission, said he was surprised to see Chairse and Williams interested in a boxing club.
"It's good discipline for the kids," said the 75-year-old Byrd. "Every gym, if they do it like it's supposed to be done, the first thing we teach is discipline. If you don't have a disciplined young lady or man, they aren't going anywhere."
Boxing in schools used to be popular, but fizzled out in the late 1960s, he added.
"I would like to see anything to help the youngsters in the street or wherever," Byrd said. "Anytime a young lady comes up and wants to do something like this, it's an A-plus. You just don't see something like that."
Chairse and Williams hope to get much more than self-discipline from the sport.
A full-body workout and stress reliever is one benefit Chairse believes would come from students boxing.
"It doesn't just work out one part of your body. It works out all of your body," she said.
That was shared with the Grand Blanc school board "because obesity is kind of a problem," Chairse said. "I guess they saw that as a good point."
For Williams, it also is about self-defense. She's ready to toughen up.
"I've never even been in a ring," she said. "There's a first time for everything. I think it's just something most people want to try and are just scared to.
"I know I'm scared. But if you're going to start it at your school you're going to be starting with your best friend who's never done it, either."
School Board member James Avery is a big supporter of the students' efforts, knowing firsthand the benefits that come with a boxing club. The 1984 Grand Blanc High School graduate participated in the district's boxing club until about 1982.
"It's just an outlet of releasing any of those stress issues," Avery said.
Safety is a high priority. Students will wear sparring gloves, head gear and mouth guards and training will always be monitored, he added.
Williams and Chairse hope to get the first training session under way this month after Byrd helps them find a coach and final details are hashed out.
Information from: The Flint Journal, http://www.mlive.com/flint