Newswise — While the heat may be on for Oscar-nominated actress Hilary Swank for her role in "Million Dollar Baby," Gettysburg College has its own connections to the film: the fire inside the college's first female boxing student; and 1968 graduate Bruce Silverglade, owner of the gym that trained Swank.
Although junior Cjay Roughgarden's journey to become a boxer is different from the story of Swank's character, the two are alike in their quest for excellence. After training for a year, Roughgarden faced her first challenge a few weeks ago in Gettysburg College's Second Annual Boxing Invitational, which drew some 20 schools to Gettysburg. And although the match didn't end in victory as it does for Swank's character, Roughgarden is determined to continue the fight within herself.
"Being a boxer means putting everything on the line, win or lose," said Roughgarden, of Stormville, N.Y. "When you walk away from a fight and every physical and mental effort has been exhausted, that's when you become a boxer."
Roughgarden played softball her first year at Gettysburg College but now she is totally committed to boxing, training six days a week, which involves jumping rope, shadow boxing, running 25 to 40 miles a week and sparring with her four male teammates. When asked which hurts worse, getting hit with a ball or a fist, she answered the ball, but noted that the ball hits only once while the fist is continual.
The only child has also had a go-around with her parents, convincing them that she was safe and boxing was something she wanted to pursue.
"My parents didn't like the whole idea of me getting punched in the face," Roughgarden said. "I had to explain to them that this is something I am passionate about. I hope to fight at West Point in a few weeks and then they can come and see what it is all about."
Roughgarden hopes to continue training and boxing in Gettysburg this summer while completing a political science internship in Washington, D.C. Despite the routine that Roughgarden has established and will work to maintain, there is one thing that remains unexpected.
"It's how much more there is to learn about the sport, about yourself and starting over each time you step into the ring. Every fight, every practice is a new challenge."
But Roughgarden is not the only Gettysburgian with a connection to "Million Dollar Baby." Bruce Silverglade, a 1968 graduate of Gettysburg College, is the owner of Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn, N.Y., where Swank trained for the film. With an Oscar nomination for best film and best actress on the line, the gym, trainers and Silverglade have been making headlines and receiving national attention. Swank thanked her trainer and the gym during her acceptance speech at the Golden Globes in January. Silverglade was quoted in a Feb. 20 New York Times article saying, "This has been overwhelming: Us magazine, People magazine. We were on 'Ellen,' 'Access Hollywood,' 'E!'"
Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences. With approximately 2,500 students, it is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania. The college was founded in 1832.
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