In a town known for snowmobile trails and muskie fishing, Eagle River has added something unexpected to its roster of winter activities: a boxing club that’s drawing locals off the couch and into the ring.
Teressa Gray opened Corvino’s Boxing Club in January 2025, bringing a piece of her family history back to the Northwoods. Her late father, Jack Corvino, coached boxers here in the 1940s and 50s — back when Eagle River was still shaking off its lumber town roots and finding its footing as a tourism destination.
Gray was just seven when her dad passed away. For years, boxing was just a faded memory and some old photos.
From Minnesota Gym to Northwoods Legacy
The spark didn’t hit until after college. Gray walked into a Minnesota gym on a whim, laced up some gloves, and something clicked.
“They saw some natural talent, technique and ability that I didn’t know I had,” Gray said. “And they trained me to have a couple amateur fights myself.”
That discovery led her back to Eagle River with a plan. Not to create the next generation of championship fighters, but to offer something the community didn’t have: a space where everyday people could learn the discipline and grit that boxing demands.
More Than 50 Members and Counting
Since opening its doors two months ago, the club has pulled in over 50 members. Most of them are women — a demographic shift that would’ve raised eyebrows in Jack Corvino’s era.
Mckenzie Rabenn and Rachel Milky, both club members, say the appeal goes beyond just throwing punches.
“For her to offer this service to the Northwoods and continue her dad’s legacy is so incredible. Especially in a space that’s so heavily dominated by males.” — Mckenzie Rabenn
Milky added that women are increasingly drawn to strength sports. “Typically a lot of women may shy away from the heavy weightlifting-type of sports, and now that we’re seeing more involvement in that, it’s just a great thing to carry on and continue.”
The club’s approach strips away the intimidation factor. Gray isn’t training fighters for the Golden Gloves. She’s teaching footwork, technique, and mental toughness — skills that translate well beyond the ring.
What Boxing Brings to Small-Town Life
Eagle River’s economy has long relied on seasonal tourism. Summers bring boaters to the Chain of Lakes. Winters pack the trails with sleds. But between seasons, options thin out.
Indoor fitness spaces like Corvino’s fill a gap, especially when the thermometer drops and outdoor recreation takes a back seat. Here’s what makes boxing particularly suited to the Northwoods mindset:
- Year-round accessibility: No ice-out dates or trail conditions to worry about
- Mental resilience: Winters up north test you — so does three minutes in the ring
- Community connection: In small towns, gyms become gathering spots as much as workout spaces
- Low barrier to entry: You don’t need a $5,000 snowmobile or a boat slip to participate
Gray’s philosophy reflects that practical Northwoods attitude. “I’m not training you to be a fighter,” she said. “I’m just training you to have overall strength and the mindset that I think boxing can bring to anyone’s life.”
The Symbolism That Sticks
For Gray, boxing offers more than cardio and combinations. It’s a framework for handling life’s harder moments.
“The symbolism of boxing is so applicable with life,” she explained. “We can’t quit when it’s difficult, we stop at the bell. And I use that mindset of like, whatever I’m struggling with in life, I can push through it.”
That resilience echoes through the Northwoods’ own history. This region transformed from timber extraction to recreation, adapting when the industry that built it faded. Eagle River found new purpose in its lakes and forests — much like Gray found hers in those Minnesota gym rounds.
Her father would’ve understood. Jack Corvino coached during an era when the town was still figuring out who it wanted to be. Now his daughter is helping current residents discover their own strength, one jab at a time.
Looking Ahead: Spring and Beyond
As March melts into April and ice-out approaches, Corvino’s Boxing Club isn’t slowing down. Gray’s already fielding interest from teenagers and retirees alike — proof that boxing’s appeal crosses generations.
The club sits amid a landscape that Jack Corvino would still recognize: the same Chain of Lakes, the same north woods stretching in every direction. But the town has grown around it, adding a Snowmobile Hall of Fame and countless resorts.
Now it has a boxing club, too. One that honors the past while punching forward into the future.
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