Boxers split twelve bouts

By JOSH DAECHE
Collegian Staff Writer

The Penn State boxing team came out swinging Saturday at its annual Nittany Lion Invitational at White Building.

With nine schools competing, Penn State showed it has a lot depth in all weight classes, as Penn State boxers went 6-6 in 12 bouts.

In front of a standing-room-only crowd, the boxers went to work with the opening bout at 112 pounds, as Penn State's Sean Maher faced UNLV's John Aprisu.

Maher, the crowd favorite, did not disappoint his peers by landing two quick punches to Aprisu's chin that sent him to his corner. After a standing eight count, Aprisu returned to the match. But 30 seconds later, Maher hit Aprisu across his chin and referee Gary Rosato stopped the match declaring Maher the winner by technical knockout.

"It was my first fight and it was his first fight," Maher said. "I was really nervous and it just happened to go my way. It could have easily gone the other way."

In the fourth match, Penn State's Alex Komleu battled UNLV's Dave Lamarca at 156 pounds. Komleu opened with a flurry of punches and held on to win by a decision.

At 175 pounds, Penn State suffered its first defeat when Karl Kinzler lost to Virginia Military Institute's Shane Stille. Stille wasted no time coming right at Kinzler, landing several combinations to win easily by a decision.

"He got a couple of good shots in and he caught me off balance," Kinzler said.

Penn State's luck worsened when Glenn Miller lost to Shippensburg's A.C. Harrison at 165 pounds.

Harrison landed hard right hands that appeared to slow down Miller. Miller came back with strong left jabs and a pair of combinations. It just wasn't enough, though, to hold off Harrison.

"That kid has been fighting for three years," said Penn State coach Bill Wrable. "It was a good fight and he deserved to win."

At 139 pounds, Penn State regained confidence when Misha Kirsanov took on Lock Haven's Jeff Chismar. Kirsanov landed a lot of strong rights and a devastating amount of combinations that bloodied Chismar's nose. Chismar held on until referee Homer Boone had seen enough and declared Kirsanov the winner by technical knockout.

In the heavyweight division a vocal crowd cheered on Penn State's Rick Slater who took on Army's Roger Baum. Slater, a walk-on football player for the Lions, used a lethal left hook that sent Baum stumbling as he went on to win by decision.

"I just listened to the coaches and they helped me out," Slater said.