Staff photo / Dan Hiner Karter Rudzik, right, dodges a punch from Louisville’s Logan Lowe during the heavyweight bout at Fight Night 6 at Struthers Fieldhouse on Saturday.

STRUTHERS — Karter Rudzik stepped into the ring inside Struthers Fieldhouse on Saturday. The crowd sitting at tables on the court and fans in the stands cheered for the hometown kid as everyone turned their attention to the heavyweight fight.

It was Rudzik’s first amateur boxing match, a sport that he’s been familiar with since he was a child. And almost everything went the rising senior’s way, beating fellow first-timer Logan Lowe of Louisville in a unanimous decision.

“Coming into your first fight, not a lot of people expect to win or really think in their head that they’re gonna win,” Rudzik said. “They say they’re gonna win, they’re gonna win, but in reality, there’s doubt there in their mind. I had no doubt, I was gonna come in and do what I do.

“I came out, won the bout — which is an awesome feeling, awesome being in front of all these people that supported me and cheered me on.”

The debut bout capped a summer of memories for the Ursuline defensive lineman.

Rudzik has known trainer Keith Burnside since he was a 5-year-old. He’s trained at Burnside’s old gym by the Elmton in Struthers for years as a way of staying in shape while not on the field.

As soon as the Irish baseball season came to a close, Rudzik returned to Burnside’s in Struthers to prepare for his first fight.

“My dad came over to me and said, ‘You’re boxing.’ I was like, well OK,” Rudzik said. “I’ve known Keith my entire life. It’s a great honor to be a part of his card, be on the poster.”

There was some travel in between his training and his boxing debut.

Rudzik joined 40 teammates on a trip through the south while participating in college camps.

In between his football camps, he made a trip to North Carolina. He picked up a weightlifting championship after competing in the Strongman competition. He took first in the 18U 220-pound division before returning home.

“I became a national champion and went to Brown for their (football) camp,” Rudzik said. “Came back and have been training nonstop for this match. Got in, got it done.”

During his preparation for the fight, Ursuline head coach Dan Reardon saw the promotional poster. Although there is a risk of injury when stepping into the ring, the Ursuline football coaches were supportive.

“He said it was awesome,” Rudzik said. “The other coaches thought it was a funny idea. My one coach made a joke and said, “Can’t you just stick to football?'”

After several memorable experiences, it’s back to a regular schedule for Rudzik. He and the rest of the Irish began formal practices recently, with the goal of making another playoff run.

Rudzik was the man in the middle for one of the top defenses in northeast Ohio last season. He’ll be back along that defensive line, looking to add more memories over the course of the fall.

“People might think it’s big going from boxing to football. For me, it’s not that big of a change considering the weightlifting is going to get me stronger, the boxing is going to get my cardio up even more,” Rudzik said. “Everybody knows Ursuline plays at a fast pace. They’re one of the teams well known for how good their cardio is and how fast they can keep going throughout a football game, all four quarters.

“The boxing’s just helping me … even the punching. I’m a D-lineman. I’m on the line, I’m punching the offensive line. Get to the quarterback, get to the running back. Everything I’ve done this summer is going to help me this fall.”