Like Mike Tyson after one of his tune-ups against the likes of Clifford "Glass Jaw" Etienne, it is time for the Penn State Boxing team to finally step up and see what it has got.

The January sparring sessions, the weeks of practice, and the past two weeks at Shippensburg University and Lock Haven University have led to the weekend that the Lions would be able to send five healthy boxers with some semblance of in-ring experience to an invitational.

At the Mansfield University Invitational tomorrow, Penn State boxing coach Alex Komlev plans to send Chuck Pagana, Bret King, Vitaly Libman, Chaz Khan and Fred Schneider into the ring against fighters from Shippensburg, Mansfield, Army and Gettysburg University. Nittany Lions heavyweight Jason Winwood will be withheld from competing for a second straight week, still recovering from a shoulder injury suffered during practice early last week.

Building on in-ring strategy as well as overall team confidence was the objective of the last three practices.

"We just need to keep throwing [punches] over and over again," Komlev said. "I want to see us throw in more combos, more punches, actually use in the ring what we have been practicing."

King, a senior, has noticed a newfound calm and intensity following the team in and out of the ring; this weekend is not simply a mundane road trip to Northern Pennsylvania.

"I always expect five wins and nothing less," King said. "Everyone has improved, and this weekend I think we can make a big statement, show that not only do we have a team, we have a good team."