AMES, Iowa -- Four boxers from Iowa State University Boxing Club will advance to the nationals competition in Reno, Nev., this weekend, April 12-14, as a result of a strong showing at the regionals competition in Lexington, Ky.
The fighters are Ryan Allan, senior in health and human performance from Cedar Rapids; Nick Nelson, senior in advertising and management from Sioux City; Mike Bal, sophomore in advertising from Gilbert; and Tony Sims, junior in architecture from Davenport.
Allan (156 pound weight class), Sims (165), and Nelson (185) all won their respective weight classes to automatically advance to Nationals. Bal (195) placed third and was given a wild card bid to Reno.
In college boxing, there are 12 weight classes.
While the ISU boxers will face the best college fighters in the country, the team has high hopes of performing well.
"We've been training for three or four years in a lot of cases, and we just continue to improve," said Ryan Allan. "And this year is our year."
Nelson placed third last year. Allan placed third in the competition two years ago and didn't compete last year.
Quarterfinal matches, through finals will air live on cable channel, CSTV, which is available from most Central Iowa cable television providers.
The club has about 60 members, including four women, who train in the State Gym on campus from 5:30-6:30 every weeknight.