Feb. 9, 2006

Tickets are now on sale for all four rounds of the 76th annual Bengal Mission Bouts, the University of Notre Dame’s club boxing tournament.

Preliminary bouts are set for 6:30 p.m. EST on both Tuesday, Feb. 21, and Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2006 — with quarterfinal bouts slated for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 28, semifinals at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 2, and the finals at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 5.

The preliminary, quarterfinal and semifinal bouts are scheduled for the Joyce Center Fieldhouse (enter Gate 3 of the north dome), while the finals will be held in the Joyce Center Arena (enter Gate 10 of the south dome).

CSTV Networks will produce a special “Bengal Bouts” edition of its monthly series “Total Access: Notre Dame” highlighting the best stories from the tournament, and the unique history of the event on Sunday evening, April 2 at 10:00 pm. “Total Access:Notre Dame” is devoted to Notre Dame athletics and campus life, and is available on CSTV: College Sports Television — available on cable and satellite — as well as streaming live via broadband at www.CSTV.com.

Approximately 170 boxers are currently training, including five returning champions — senior Johnny Griffin (won a Bengal Bouts championship in 2004 and lost by decision in the `05 final, both at light heavyweight) from Gold River, Calif., senior Mike Schmitt (won in 2004 at 140 pounds, but did not compete in ’05 while studying abroad) from West Islip, N.Y., senior Mark Basola (2005 champion at 160 pounds) from Lake Bluff, Ill., senior Mike McCann (’05 champion at 140 pounds) from Pittsburgh, Pa., and junior Dan Ward (’05 champion at 170) from Burke, Va.

There are 10 local boxers competing: Greg Schaefer (senior captain; graduated from Penn High School in ’02) from Granger, Ind., senior James Bent (graduated from Mishawaka High School in ’02; just finished his fourth year as member of the Irish football squad) from Mishawaka, junior Tim Rippinger (graduated from Marian High School in ’03) from Granger, Dillon Murphy (graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in ’96; currently a second-year MBA student) from South Bend, freshman Brian Kantor (graduated from Marian High School) from Granger, freshman Joey Leary (graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in 2005; his father previously was one of the ringside doctors) from South Bend, junior Tony Cunningham (graduated from Marian High School; he also is a Notre Dame cheerleader) from Mishawaka, sophomore Frank Ragukonis (went to Riley High School for two years of high school and finished at St. Joseph’s High School) from South Bend, Eric Delaporte (first-year law student who lives in Berrien Springs, Mich.) and sophomore Lawrence Sullivan (did not attend high school locally, but his family moved here after he graduated) from Granger.

Bengal Bout captains for 2006 are senior Nathan Schroeder (president of the club; fights heavyweight) from Jaffrey, N.H., Basola (president of the club; fights at 160 pounds), Griffin (fights light-heavyweight), senior Andrew Breslin (170 pounds) from Sugarloaf, Pa., Schaefer (fights at 155 or 160), junior Andrew McGill (fights at 145) from Erie, Pa., junior Dan Stypula (fights at 180) from Wexford, Pa., and junior Chris Calderone (fights at 155) from Floral Park, N.Y.

Ringside reserved seats are $8 for the quarterfinals and semifinals, and $20 and $15 for the finals. There’s a $2 discount on ringside seats for groups of 10 or more for the finals. Advance general admission seats are $5 for quarterfinals and semifinals, $7 for the finals. Three-session general admission season tickets are $10. General admission at the gate for students 16 and under is $3 for the quarterfinals and semifinals and $5 for the finals. There is no admission charge for the Feb. 21-22 preliminary bouts.

Tickets are available at the Joyce Center ticket window (on second floor, enter Gate 1 or 2) or by phone using VISA, MasterCard or American Express by calling 574-631-7356. General admission tickets are available online at www.und.com.

The Bengal Bouts, conducted since 1930 and now under the auspices of the Rec-Sports Department, benefit the Holy Cross Missions in Bangladesh.

For more information, contact Andrew McGill at amcgill@nd.edu — or contact the boxing room at (574) 631-9325 or bengals@nd.edu.