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3 LHU Boxers to compete in Eastern Regional Boxing Championship Tournament

LHU boxer Leah Hartzell spars a teammate in preparation for tonight’s tournament at LHU. (The Express/Shareik Flowers)

LOCK HAVEN — For spectators, boxing is a brutal sport where the sight of body-piercing knockout blows has everyone frantic. But for its participants, it’s a sweet science, where an educated jab and a high ring IQ often reign supreme over concussive-punching power.

For three LHU boxers, this weekend’s Eastern Collegiate Boxing Championship Tournament, hosted by LHU, will be the yard stick to measure their talent against seven other schools in the northeastern region.

Lacing up the gloves for LHU are Leah Hartzell, Shaheim Mitchell and Anthony Proctor. LHU Boxing coach Ken Cooper narrowed down his 25-person roster to the three most complete fighters for the tournament, which will pit LHU students against other athletes from the likes of the U.S. Military Academy and U.S Coast Guard Academy.

“I felt that they were the ones that could compete, and do well in the tournament,” LHU boxing coach Ken Cooper said. “The other ones are freshmen or first-year [boxers] and I’m not just gonna throw somebody in there, not at this point.”

Hartzell, hailing from Danville, PA, began boxing in 2015 after a friend suggested her to attend a practice. She soon joined the team, but found it challenging to balance her boxing responsibilities with her commitment to the LHU track and field team. She managed both before dropping track and field to invest her time in the sweet science.

Her family and friends were bemused when she informed them that she wanted to be a fighter. Her mother questioned why she would enlist in a brutal sport– and her friends voiced she was too pretty to fight. But by fighting, she’s erased gender stereotypes, something she’s done since her youth.

“People don’t think of it as a feminine sport, and it’s not, which I love,” Hartzell explained. “I’ve never been a girly-girl.”

Her family has since grown accustomed to her being a boxer, and will watch her fight for the first time in-person this weekend.

“They were supportive when they realized I was serious about it, and following through with it,” Hartzell said.

For Hartzell, it’s her second collegiate tournament, and her first time in regionals. Originally a southpaw fighter, she recently switched to an orthodox stance and has seen improvement with her technique. Her signature combination is her two-three, which is throwing the right hand and following it up with a left hook.

“That to me is like my powerhouse,” Hartzell said. “That’s my favorite.”

Also representing LHU is Anthony Proctor, hailing from Harrisburg.

Proctor took up the sport just seven months ago over the summer after a desire to get into shape before beginning his freshman year at LHU. He continued his interest in the sport and signed up for the school team after being recommended by longtime friend and current teammate, Avery Drake.

Proctor is a littler taller and leaner than the other fighters in the185 pound division– but his athleticism compensates for that.

“My speed and length counteracts that, so I feel like I fit in pretty well,” Proctor said.

Like other the athletes, he experiences pre-game jitters. But unlike other sports, the simplest mistake for him could result in a severe injury. He remedies this with a heavy dose of tranquility.

“Honestly, it’s extremely nerve-racking,” Proctor explained. “But what you need to do is just calm your mind, calm down and think of what you need to do. If you let the emotions get to you, you’re not going to know what’s going on in the ring.”

For Proctor, it’s his first collegiate tournament after a series of exhibition bouts against fighters from other schools. His level of competition has seen consistent outliers. Some nights he squares up against top-notch opponents, and in others he’s cruised to easy victories over novices just cutting their teeth on the sport. Tonight, he expects the former, and is hopeful to win Lock Haven’s first regional championship in 10 years, both for the school and his hometown, Harrisburg.

“Lock Haven hasn’t had a regional championship since 2008,” Proctor said. “I just had a pretty good home-show, so I’m hoping people just come out and see me again. I’m hoping to just bring back that regional championship to the city.”

LHU’s final competing member is Shaheim Mitchell, hailing from Philadelphia. With three years boxing experience, he’s the veteran of the three fighters.

“I always wanted to box,” Mitchell said. “And when I got to [LHU], it was an opportunity so I took it and started boxing ever since.”

He’s always been attracted to the art of boxing– and it shows in his fighting style. He’s a defensive-minded fighter with a strong emphasis on counter punching.

At over 6-feet-tall, Mitchell is lengthy for the 147 pound division– but uses his reach to his advantage. This weekend he plans on committing to the jab and using it to control the distance and momentum of the fight.

“As long as I control the fight, the fight will be easy, and I’ll go right through all three rounds,” Mitchell said.

LHU coach Ken Cooper believes Mitchell has the skill set to succeed this weekend if he utilizes his reach.

“He’s worked very hard since he’s come into the gym, and this is actually his third year,” Cooper said. “Shaheim has made tremendous improvements, and hopefully we can get him to use his range.”

LHU coach Ken Cooper is the head trainer for the three athletes. Cooper was a boxer at LHU from 1980-84 before graduating in ’85. He began his career as a student coach, before taking over the head coaching gig in 2009.

Cooper trains his squad usually four times a week, with practices lasting around 1 1/2 hours each. He puts a strong focus on fighter safety by dismissing rigorous sparring.

“I hate to spar too much because of concussions,” Cooper said. “I’m always concerned and safety conscious with concussions.”

The NCAA officially discontinued boxing in 1960 after University of Wisconsin boxer Charlie Mohr collapsed in the ring and later died of a brain hemorrhage after a NCAA bout. After its dismissal, the National Collegiate Boxing Association was formed in 1976– and boasts 36 teams split into three regions across the country.

Collegiate boxing both mirrors and displays differences with professional boxing. Both levels employ a 10- point scoring system. But collegiate athletes wear padded helmets, fight in 12 ounce gloves (professional varies from 8-10 ounces) and bouts last for three two-minute rounds instead of 12 three minute rounds in championship boxing. And fighters are not penalized for suffering a knockdown.

LHU will compete against the U.S Military Academy, U.S Coastal Academy, Uconn, UMass, Trinity College, Shippensburg University and Penn State University, led by head coach Os Omo-Osagie– a former LHU boxer and national champion.

The top two fighters in each division automatically qualify for the National Tournament held April 5-7, hosted by the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, NY.

The event begins tonight at LHU’s East Campus gym at 5 p.m. with quarterfinal and semifinal matches continuing tomorrow at 1 p.m. with semifinal and championship fights and concludes Sunday beginning at 10 a.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the door.

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