Failauga Failauga with his light welterweight belt. Photo / Supplied
The four juniors and one cadet in the Hawke's Bay Boxing Association team all fought last Friday, picking up three national titles between them.
Jett Varcoe defeated Central North Island boxer Kalai Proctor to win the junior male 54kg title and his second straight national championship gold medal.
"He epitomises that courageous attitude," said McDougall.
"He really wants to win, more than the other person."
Renee Doole put together a calm, collected performance to defeat her more experienced opponent Tyla Parkinson of East Coast Boxing and win the junior female 57kg title.
Youngster Harvey Madden defeated Canterbury's Bobby Brown to win the cadet male 56kg title.
McDougall said Madden had to readjust his approach after Brown changed his strategy to win the second round.
"There was some really good listening for a 14-year-old, it was impressive," the coach said.
Craig's son Hadley McDougall had to settle for silver in the junior male 80kg grade after losing to Josh Tonga from Boxing Canterbury Metro.
The team's least experienced boxer Maggie Grimshaw finished second in the junior female 66kg division having lost a 4-1 split decision to Bay of Plenty's Saskia Elliot.
Craig McDougall said the results are a testament to the collective effort of everyone involved in boxing in Hawke's Bay.
"People working together, having a passion for people, that's what makes it successful," he said.
McDougall is hoping to take up to a dozen boxers to the 2022 national championships in October.
