Bryan Kirk was on a mission all year. His goal was to win the National Collegiate Boxing Association Championship at the 132-pound weight class and he had arrived to that destination Saturday evening with a semifinal-round victory over California-Berkeley's D.Q. Thomas.

In the championship bout, however, Iowa State's Jason Gurwell tried his best to prevent the Penn State senior from claiming the national title. But Kirk prevailed, winning on a decision to bring Penn State its first national boxing champion since Kelly Cordes won at the same weight class in 1988.

"It was a tricky bout," Kirk said. "He was a very fast, slippery, strategic opponent. He tried to basically fight and not get hit."

Gurwell was bobbing and weaving, running from the punches. Noticing that Gurwell would charge to hit, Kirk used stepbacks and pivoted to his right and left to avoid being hit.

Then, early in the second round, Kirk used his jab to cut off the ring. He hit Gurwell with a strong right hand and the Iowa State boxer's knees buckled. Kirk knew a victory was near.

"I knew he didn't want to deal with my power," Kirk said.

Kirk was one of four Penn State Northeast Regional Champions who fought at the NCBA National Boxing Championships held on Friday and Saturday at the Radisson Penn Harris Hotel and Convention Center in Camp Hill.

"He controlled the bout," Coach Bill Wrable said. "He won, but he didn't like the way he boxed. That's why he's the champion. Bryan really deserved it. (He) was really focused."

Three other regional champions from Penn State were eliminated in Friday's semifinals. At 156, junior Vince Calio lost to Todd Alexander of the U.S. Naval Academy when the referee stopped the contest in the third round; freshman Scott Holsopple (180) lost a decision to the Air Force Academy's Jerry Sanchez; senior Nick Kent (190) lost a decision to the Naval Academy's Matt Reimann;.

After the bout, the crowd gave Kent and Reimann a standing ovation for approximately nine minutes.

"The bout was so exciting," Wrable said. "I've never seen a standing ovation like that."