Determined Wichita firefighter to represent Wichita in the ring on Saturday

Lifelong gymnast Carlye Anderson gave up the sport when she became a firefighter almost six years ago, but her new profession prompted her to try a new physical activity, and it’ll be on display this weekend.

Anderson is representing Wichita firefighters at the QuikTrip Smoke & Guns fight night, which is similar to Wichita’s Cuffs vs. Axes charity event, where firefighters and police officers square off with boxing and MMA fighting.

“I’m very competitive,” Anderson said.

She’s going for another win in the boxing ring on Saturday at the Tulsa event.

Between the Tulsa and Wichita events, Anderson has won four times and lost once.

She began boxing in 2021 as a different kind of workout.

“I just love learning something new.”

Also, she said, “I was always interested in boxing for some reason when I was younger.”

These days, she boxes five days a week and trains with cardio and weight lifting, too. One of the places Anderson trains, Villa Boxing Club in Planeview, is the sponsor of Cuffs vs. Axes.

“It takes a little bit to get used to,” Anderson said of boxing. “It’s not for everyone, either. It definitely is a different feeling once you get in there and start getting hit.”

However, she said she doesn’t usually feel the punches in the ring.

“Everything else goes away. You don’t feel it until after its all over.”

Anderson said she doesn’t exactly want to say that she’s built for this, but she said with the proper training and techniques, there shouldn’t be big injuries.

“Obviously, the goal is to not get hit.”

On fight nights, she said adrenalin gets her through.

“Maybe I’m just an adrenalin junkie.”

Anderson said she’s more concerned about getting injured in the ring and not being able to fight fires than she is getting injured on the job and not being able to box.

“Firefighting comes first — always.”

Anderson and her brother, Dylan, both followed their father into firefighting.

Milt Anderson was a firefighter in Newton for three decades.

“I kind of just always grew up in the brotherhood of the job,” Carlye Anderson said. “He loves that I’m a firefighter. It’s kind of a bonding point for us.”

She said one of the perks of firefighting is gaining an extra family.

“You build relationships you can’t really explain. . . . I could never leave this job. This is the best job in the world.”

She said she likes helping people.

“You show up on somebody’s worst day,” Anderson said of responding to 911 calls.

Being able to help is its own kind of rush.

“If that’s something I can do, I enjoy doing that.”

As much as she loves competition, Anderson said these charitable events are more than that.

“Win or lose, this event highlights just the dedication of all the first responders. . . . It represents the best type of rivalry. It pushes all of us to excel while serving the same communities.”

Whoever prevails gets 60% of the winnings for their charity of choice. For the firefighters, that’s the Firefighters Burn Camp. For the police, that’s the Special Olympics.

Tickets to the event are $30 plus fees, or it can be streamed live for $14.99.

“Whatever happens in the ring is just a small reflection of all the determination,” Anderson said.

Still, she can’t help but get in one more competitive jab.

“I’m ready to bring home that fifth belt.”

This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 11:24 AM.