Sparring against boxers other than their own teammates, 18 members of the boxing club participated in a scrimmage Saturday afternoon at Navy.

Although there were no actual decisions, the exhibition against clubs from Navy, Gettysburg, Virginia Military Institute and Shippensburg was important in giving the team some much needed competition against other boxers.

"The main purpose (of the competition) was to give the guys experience against someone they didn't know . . . someone that wasn't on their own team," club president Randy Pogue said.

Coach Bill Wrable said that the boxers worked primarily on jabs in the opening round, then worked with both hands in the second and third rounds.

However, with three bouts occurring simultaneously, Wrable was unable to gauge individual performances.

"I was running between three rings making sure everyone got in," Wrable said. "It was hard to see everybody."

Wrable relied on the help of his student assistants, Kelly Cordes and Craig Bernier, to supervise several of the bouts.

Since Navy and VMI practice year round, Saturday's exhibition provided a good measuring stick for the club's ability.

"I think all the boxers got something out of this sparring session," Cordes said. "A couple of guys need to iron out the basics . . . using (their) heads a little bit more in the ring."

In addition to addressing the basic fundamentals, the boxers also found out what kind of shape they were really in.

"(They) learned that they weren't in as good shape as they should be," Wrable said.

Since there were no individual decisions, Pogue gauged the team's performance in the exhibition on an overall basis.

"On the whole, I'd say everyone did a great job," Pogue said. "Relative to the other teams, our guys were equal or better. All of our guys were always in there. Nobody got blown out, other school's (boxers) did."

Pogue, who sparred with national runner-up Sean Turner (156) of VMI, said his own performance was "much better" against his foe this time around.

"Randy held his own against him," Wrable said of the bout with Turner.

Now, with an intercollegiate match finally under its belt, the boxing club will focus on its first official match of 1991, the PSU Invitational, to be held Feb. 9 in White Building.

"I think we really did well (at Navy) and I think we'll be ready for Feb. 9," Cordes said.