After a strong start to the season, the Penn State boxing team struggled this weekend. The team finished with a 1-4 record at the Red Raider Invitational at Shippensburg Saturday.

156-pound Nathan Labuda lost a split decision to Dan Hawk from Army. It was Labuda's first fight of the semester after reaching nationals last season.

After winning his first two bouts ever, 165-pound Tom Shortledge lost to Army's Todd Nelson. The referee stopped the fight in the first round after Nelson came out very strong.

Despite looking rusty in his first fight of the year, 185-pound Briama Cooper defeated Todd Johnson from Navy. In a close bout, 147-pound Claton Tussey lost a decision to Brian Kelly of Shippensburg.

"We looked really sharp in warm-ups, but we didn't do it in the ring," said Penn State coach Bill Wrable. "They thought everyone was going to fold up for them because of how they've been boxing but that just doesn't happen."

"The biggest thing about the weekend was being mentally ready for the challenge," Labuda said. "That's probably the biggest thing we need to work on."

The team looks to rebound this weekend at the "Keydat" Collegiate Invitational at VMI.

— by Jeff Frantz