Courage and remembrance echoed through the arena as University Park elementary officer stepped into the ring. He fought not for victory, but to honor the children from his community who lost their lives, turning the match into a moment of tribute.
The Guadalalupe river had a catastrophic flood in July 2025. The floods claimed the lives of University Park Elementary School students, who were attending a summer camp in Kerr County. Afterwards, a local police officer decided to find a powerful way to honor their memory. Officer Salvador Sanchez, a school resource officer, found his answer in the boxing ring, and fighting in the Guns and Hoses boxing event.
The Guns and Hoses event provided a platform for Officer Sanchez’s tribute. Founded by a former Garland police officer to support the families of fallen first responders, the organization allows participants to dedicate their matches to a cause. Boxing event coordinator of Guns and Hoses foundation Tricia Swavey explains the foundation’s mission to provide immediate financial aid to first responders.
“We try to give them the money to help them until they can get their government benefits,” Swavey said, “Our mission is to get the money to the family within the first 72 hours.”
For Sanchez, the boxing match was a way to honor the flood victims by corroborating with a foundation looking to ease financial burdens placed on first responder’s families.
“They asked me what I wanted to fight for,” said Sanchez, “the flood was the only thing on my mind at that time.”
Sanchez had tried out for the boxing event before the flood, and was planning to participate. When the tragedy came, he wasn’t sure he could still participate. Boxing was the last thing on his mind, until he decided to fight for the students.
“The foundation said we understand you’re going through a lot,” Sanchez said. “But then, I thought, I can fight to honor them.”
Before the fight, Sanchez received an acknowledgement from a grieving parent. This moment showed just how much his decision meant to families he wanted to honor.
“Their dad was jogging by the school when he saw me,” Sanchez said, “[He said] ‘I just wanted to thank you for fighting for our kids,’ and that was really emotional.”
The flood’s impact was emotionally felt by the students, family and staff he works with everyday.
“We had kids from all the elementaries affected,” Sanchez explained. “Everyone was affected…you can’t not be affected.”
The boxing match gave the grieving community a place to unite. A group of dads showed up together, and a separate, larger group of moms came out too. They all went to show their support for Sanchez at his boxing match and show their appreciation to honor the students.
“It gave both staff and parents a venue, a place to come together,” UP Principal Kim Banuelos said. “It wasn’t just about honoring the girls, it was about us being together.”
In the days after the flooding of the river in July, several prayer vigils were held. In the summer there was a week where the kids came and made friendship bracelets for each other.
“I think that helped out students a lot, because since it happened in the summer, we weren’t in school everyday” Banuelos said, “kids need to be around each other, and have that sense of belonging.”
In the future, the community will carry on the unity that followed the tragedy, stressing how important it is to support one another through grief.
“It’s just so important that we consider that we don’t know what other people are going through,” Banuelos said, “people are hurting and grieving in very different ways, and we need to be mindful of that.”
Through his actions, Sanchez showed how one act of courage can inspire a whole community, boxing for unity and honor.
“Win or lose the fight, it’s just a unique experience,” Sanchez said. “I wanted to honor them.”
