The room where the ISU boxing club practices is not glamorous.

Heavy bags dangle and swing from the ceiling like meat carcasses in a butcher shop; the cold and unforgiving cement floor is covered with black marks from the bottoms of swift-moving shoes.

The rhythmic “pop, pop, pop” of fists hitting the speed bag in the corner floods the air. In the center of the room is the ring, weathered from sweat and countless fights.

Sophomore Josue Avila and junior captain David Glenn spar in the old ring, trading blows and encouraging one another, setting the fast-pace tempo for the rest of the team.

It is a high-intensity environment with no room for a half-hearted effort. Even when boxers are not in the ring, they are continuously moving.

Whether they are on the heavy bag, speed bag or lightly sparring outside of the ring, the boxers never stop moving or motivating.

Among the grunts and pants of the boxers, the only audible voice is that of coach Jon Swanson, who is constantly keeping his veteran eyes on his boxers. The only time the action is stopped is when Swanson tunes up a minute flaw in a boxer’s technique, after which the tempo is resumed.

Swanson wants his boxers to be successful, but that is not the focal point of his coaching.

“Developing a sense of community is big here — I want them to be able to carry this on once they are out of school,” Swanson said. “That’s what makes it fun and why people want to come here. It’s why I want to come here.”

Swanson splits his practice into two sections. The first hour is composed of lessons for beginners and club members. The second hour is team practice, consisting of more-experienced boxers that are able to effectively drill and spar with each other.

For these athletes, there are no scholarships to be given. Whether it is boredom, curiosity, escape from the worries of school or the pure love of competition, every boxer has his or her reason for joining.

They agree on why they come back: family.

“We’re a tight-knit community, more than just teammates,” Glenn said. “I trust these dudes and being able to come here and work out with them is amazing.”

As captain, Glenn is constantly helping and pushing the younger boxers, finding ways to make them better by holding the bag, encouraging them through conditioning drills or giving advice as he walks by.

Freshman Keegan Dwyer has only been boxing for two months and credits Glenn and other experienced boxers with his progress.

“It’s not just coach Swanson and [assistant] coach Will; it’s the older guys too,” Dwyer said. “If you’re doing something wrong or need help … they will come over and work with you.”

Leadership and peer assistance are qualities Swanson instills in his older boxers.

“We’re not here to embarrass or beat up on anyone,” Swanson said. “The number one thing here is to learn from each other and have fun.”

This week, the sparring and intensity are even higher as the boxers prepare for the upcoming Midwest Regional Tournament.

Last year, Glenn and Avila both competed at nationals. This year, Swanson expects them both to return to nationals, along with 175-pound junior Cody Campbell, who began boxing last September.

“I love being here boxing,” Campbell said. “It’s a great workout with good guys.”

For all the boxing team’s recent success, talk about the team has been relatively quiet.

“I think sometimes boxing gets a bad rap, for whatever reason; whether people think it’s too violent or it’s a brute sport,” Swanson said. “But it’s like I … say: Gossip can be more violent.”

The National Collegiate Boxing Association Midwest Regional Championships will go from March 15-17 in Morgantown, W.Va.

Nationals will take place April 4-6 at Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, Conn.