It was March Madness of a different kind this weekend for the Penn State boxing team. The National Collegiate Boxing Association held its Northeast Regional Tournament at the White Building to decide who would go on to fight at the National Championships in three weeks.

Penn State had nine boxers competing in the three-day tournament with a trip to Annapolis, Md. and a chance at a national championship on the line. Other schools represented at the bouts were Army, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Shippensburg, Coast Guard and VMI.

In order for Penn State's defending regional champion Nathan Labuda to earn a gold medal he would have to fight twice in 17 hours.

Labuda made it easy on himself by using only two rounds to dismantle Jeff Raymond of Lock Haven on Saturday night.

The referee stopped the contest in the middle of second round after giving Raymond two standing eight counts. Labuda had smothered the Lock Haven battler for the entire fight and seemed to be extra aggressive. On the losing end of some very close decisions this year, Labuda wanted to get the stoppage to prevent the fight from even going to the judges' cards.

"I just told him to throw more power shots and use better footwork between rounds," Penn State boxing coach Bill Wrable said.

"He's just an animal. When he goes, he goes. He's gonna be tough to beat."

Coach Wrable proved to be a prophet, as Labuda was unbeatable on Sunday afternoon in his gold medal fight.

Taking on fellow southpaw from VMI, Anthony Peters, Labuda just overwhelmed his opponent with punches to take an easy decision and successfully defend his regional championship.

As the last round was winding down, the 147-pound champ buried a crippling body shot into Peter's abdomen that left the fighter helpless until the final bell.

"It was a little tricky because we are both southpaws," Labuda said. "Once I saw he was dropping his hand, I just came with some overhand lefts behind by jabs. Just fire and move."

Labuda's teammate and defending national champion Alex Komlev was already assured a spot at the national championships, but fought on Sunday to earn a regional championship at 156-pounds.

Going up against Derrick McGraw of Lock Haven who he had defeated at the last home show, Komlev went to the body to slow down his opponent and then took him apart with punishing flurries that resulted in two standing eight counts.

Komlev has had a solid season so far and would like nothing more than to cap it off with his second national championship. However, he knows that this year he will be wearing a bull's-eye on his chest.

"I think everybody has got me on their mind because I am the champ," Komlev said.

"I've gotta be up on my toes, I've gotta go back and do it again."

Fellow Penn State boxer Miles Rivas became just the second boxer ever to go the distance against Boyd Melson of Army. Despite losing a decision to Melson on Sunday, Rivas will travel Maryland and compete for a championship at 165 pounds.

In other action, Penn State's Matt Haley earned both a victory and a trip to nationals when he defeated Coast Guard's Christian Semple on Saturday. Nick Spinosa and Luke Runion will also be going to Annapolis to contend for a championship, with Runion going as a regional champ and Spinosa as a runner-up.

Christina Swasey picked up her second victory of the season against Shippensburg's Danylle Paulovich when her corner threw in the towel in the second. Unfortunately for Swasey, she will not be competing in Annapolis due to lack of competition in her weight class.