Martin Schuh liked to stay busy when he was growing up.

His outlet was always athletics.

The 2009 Fort Dodge Senior High graduate enjoyed playing and trying different sports, but basketball and wrestling in the winter never seemed to fit.

One day, while flipping through The Messenger as a youngster, Schuh saw an advertisement for the Fort Dodge Boxing Club.

“A lot of my friends were out for wrestling and basketball, but those just weren’t my thing,'” Schuh said. “When I saw something about boxing, it caught my attention. It was unique, and I decided to try it and then stick with it.

“(Boxing) was looked at as a season – something to do between football in the fall and track in the spring. It would start in October and keep me busy. I didn’t get burned out and started to really enjoy it. Now, I’m training year round.”

Schuh had found his calling. Over a decade later, the former Dodger has won seven consecutive Golden Gloves titles at the state level and has competed six times in the national Golden Gloves tournament.

In 2013, Schuh grabbed his first medal at nationals, earning bronze. He will compete in his seventh national event May 9-17 in Las Vegas.

After graduating from FDSH, Schuh obtained his degree from Iowa Central Community College. He recently graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in Health and Human Physiology.

Schuh is happy to remain on the amateur side of the sport, where he currently owns a 50-17 career record. He never saw boxing as a career option.

“I love the competition,”‘ Schuh said. “I think there’s too much on the business side (to turn pro), and it takes away from the true intention of the sport.”

Schuh, who now lives in Iowa City, still remembers his roots developed under Bud Fair at the guidance of the Fort Dodge Boxing Club.

“First, I have to give a lot of credit to Bud Fair (Fort Dodge Boxing Club manager) and Ron Walstrom (manager),'” Schuh said. “Growing up I followed Ron, who won eight Golden Gloves. I also have a lot of influences in boxing from Fort Dodge guys like Denny Ivory and Tom Donney.

“Bud is like family to me. My dad and I would travel with him to tournaments in Nebraska, Minnesota and Illinois. Bud was always there in my corner.'”

Fair, who was recently inducted into the Iowa Amateur Boxing Association Hall of Fame, remembers the time Schuh first stepped through the door.

“He’s been coming here ever since he was 10 years old,” Fair said. “He’s a good kid and a great boxer.

“He fights out of Iowa City now, but he always comes up to our gym when he’s home.”

Schuh enjoys being back and keeping tabs on the younger fighters in the community.

“It’s great to see the new generation of fighters in Fort Dodge,” Schuh said. “It’s nice to see the guys still competing. Boxing isn’t a sport you hear as much about anymore. I like to help out as much as I can.

“Coming out of (the FDBC), you kind of have a chip on your shoulder. It’s not as big of a club as some of the other towns. You go out, compete with your friends, train, and it becomes your family.”