The boxing club enters tomorrow's scrimmage at Navy with many questions to answer.

Only five members with any experience remain from last semester, and the club is taking 12 new boxers to Annapolis for its first intercollegiate competition. Gettysburg and VMI will also compete.

Although the scrimmage will not differ greatly from the club's twice-a-week sparring sessions, club president Randy Pogue said it will be more than sparring for the new members.

"They might get nervous because of it, but it's better than stepping in the ring in front of 100 people for the first time," Pogue said. "This way, they get to work out some bugs."

At the scrimmage there will be no actual decisions, but there will be officials. First-year coach Bill Wrable will judge his newcomers by how well they perform.

"It will be real good experience for some of the new guys, and it will be a measuring stick for the season," Wrable said.

For the veterans, Wrable said, "It will be a tune-up. I expect they'll all do well."

Both the rookies and the veterans have their work cut out for them. Navy boasts a national champion (Demetrius Maxey at heavyweight) and a national runner-up (Marvin Reed at 165 pounds). Reed has moved up to 172 pounds this season.

"Navy guys, whether they're highly skilled or not, are going to be in good physical condition. You never have an easy time," Pogue said. "They can be beaten if you have superior skills, but you're not going to tattoo them all day long."

Although match-ups were not yet set, Pogue (172) may have to box Reed.

Wrable counts on the nucleus of his team -- Pogue, Jim Ustynoski, Chris Harner, Bob Schirf and Neil Goman -- to provide leadership for the rookies.

"They look to the five of us a lot for support," Pogue said. "It's good to have sparring time, us against them, because it builds them up."

This year's newcomers include Ben Lewis, Kevin Cull, Matt Marino, Mike Poletti, Jay Neville, Seth Lyter, Eric Haugh, John Kostik, Todd Foote, Jim Stewart, Jon Wood and Walter Blake.

The club's first official match of 1991 will take place Feb. 9 at home against VMI, Central Connecticut, Gettysburg, Lock Haven and possibly Xavier (Ohio) in the PSU Invitational.