Last night at Halsey Field House, the Naval Academy boxing community got into a serious fight at its annual get-together. The brawling meant that things went according to plan at the 57 th annual Brigade Boxing Championships. All six defending champions repeated and 1997 national champion Jason Lavarias won the Spike Webb Outstanding Boxer Award.

Lavarias used a hard-charging style and vicious bolo punch(an overhand right setup with a jab), to eventually overwhelm Daniel Nieves in one of several highly entertaining bouts before a crowd of about 750. “This means a lot because we’re all here with the (Navy) boys,” said Lavarias, a Teaneck, NJ senior. “It’s kind of an alumni weekend for Navy boxing and it’s nice to win an (Webb) award that’s been earned by so many great people in the past.”

Other repeat chamions included Ty Biggs(139 pounds), Mike Francis(156 pounds), Nic Wisecarver(165), Cy Mellet(185) and Jarrod Donaldson(195). While most winners had an easy time in the finals, Mellet fought through a punchout with Andy Haffele to earn his Renard Boxing Award plaque, which is given to all Brigade champions.

Heavyweights Andt Fortmann and Mark Hermanson ended the night with a slugfest, with Fortmann finally surviving in an often-brutal bout.

Other Brigade champions included Aaron Burciaga(119), Mark Kirkland(132), Daryl Horton(147) and Chad Gary(175). Kirkland was staggered in the opening minute of his match with Mark O’Connell, and almost knocked out of the ring in the second round, but rebounded in the third to win.

The Brigade Championships began a busy weekend for the Midshipment, who host the Navy Invitational at Halsey tonight at 7:30. Other competing dquads include nemesis Army, Lock Haven, Shippensburg, and Penn State. “This season starts now for me,” Navy coach Jim McNally said. “As a coach it’s tough to see Midshipmen pounding on Midshipmen. Now that the Brigade is behind us, its time to look ahead to more tournament in Kentucky and then the (Eastern Collegiate Boxing Association South Championships) in three week.”