Five boxers head to Shippensburg

By DON STEWART
Collegian Staff Writer

For five members of the Penn State boxing team, tomorrow's meet at Shippensburg will be a chance to gain experience.

Why only five? The answer to that lies in the size of Penn State coach Bill Wrable's mini-van.

"Usually I take my mini-van," Wrable said, "so that pretty much determines our numbers."

At 7 p.m. tomorrow, part of Wrable's squad will square off at the Shippensburg Invitational. Piling into their coach's mini-van will be heavyweight Rick Slater, Briama Cooper, Kurt Decker, Misha Corsanov and Anthony Maritato.

Slater is scheduled to face Navy's Mark Harmanson in a heavyweight bout. In a 195-pound fight, Cooper will trade blows with Leon Wilkerson of Shippensburg. Corsanov is paired with Army's Daniel Aria in a 139-pound contest. Maritato will scrap with Jeff Kirby of Lock Haven at 125 pounds, while Decker will face Daryl Horton of Navy at 147 pounds.

For road trips such as tomorrow's, Wrable said he selects his boxers based on their experience -- or lack of. The Penn State coach wants to get his least-experienced members experience before he sends them off to compete at the regional tournament in March.

Of the Penn State boxers fighting tomorrow at Shippensburg, Slater, Corsanov and Maritato are rookies.

"Every one of them boxed last week, so I'd like to see more improvement in fundamentals," Wrable said.

Penn State has next weekend off. On Feb. 20, five Nittany Lions will hop in Wrable's mini-van and head to the Virginia Military Institute.