Randy Pogue, with all of seven collegiate bouts under his belt, represents the boxing club's most experienced fighter as the club prepares for the PSU Invitational.

The vast majority of the boxing club will fight in the novice class, which includes boxers with 0-3 collegiate bouts. In fact, this marks the first official bout for most members.

Central Connecticut State, Lock Haven and Virginia Military Institute will compete in the invitational, which will be held tomorrow night in the White Building. Novice bouts begin at 6 p.m., and the open bouts commence at 8.

Pogue, Bob Schirf and Jim Ustynoski are the only boxers with any experience, and they will compete in the open bouts.

"I expect leadership from them," Coach Bill Wrable said. "For the rest of them, this is their first actual competition."

This bout will tell a great deal about the club's talent because of the added pressure of competing at home, Wrable added.

One of the athletes facing the most pressure is Schirf, who is scheduled to fight DeWayne Bryant of Lock Haven. Bryant finished second in regional competition last year at 180 pounds.

Schirf, who has fought only two times previously, will be asked to move up from his current weight of 172.

"He's not a brawler. He's real technical," Schirf said of Bryant. "It's going to be a real close match. From what I hear, he's pretty tough. Me knocking him out is not probable, and him knocking me out is not probable.

"I'm going to use my right hook and straight left a lot and take advantage of being left-handed, because there aren't a lot of southpaws in collegiate boxing."

Ustynoski (172) will face VMI's Sean Gilece, and Pogue (172) will fight Don Roberts, also of VMI.

"I'm not expecting an easy fight," said Ustynoski, who has one official bout to his credit. "I fought one other bout in the fall and I was really nervous. But I've been sparring and practicing more, and I have more confidence. I'm looking forward to this fight.

"I want to win this fight more than any other fight because my parents and a lot of friends are coming up from Hazleton."

After this meet, Wrable said he'd be able to tell which boxers on his "super, super young" club are improving. He said this squad is a team in transition, with competition amongst team members in virtually every weight class.

"I'd like to see all of them give 100 percent and be good sportsmen about it, but I'm not in the prediction business. As soon as you say someone's going to do well, the next match they'll be counting the lights," Wrable said.

Pogue felt Wrable was being too modest, and said that the newcomers were in very good shape for their skill level.

"I have more hopes for them than they do," Pogue said. "They're better than they think they are."