Two ISU boxers had never before competed in a fight before this year and now they will compete on the biggest stage.

This weekend, sophomores Olivia Meyer and Lucas Hahn will represent Iowa State at the National Collegiate Boxing Association National Championships.

The event will take place April 3-5 in West Point, N.Y.

This is the first year that female boxers will have the opportunity to compete at Nationals, making Meyer the first ever female boxer to compete in the event.

“I want to go in there feeling like it’s just like another fight, you know it’s nothing special,” Meyer said. “I don’t want to get too hyped up about it. I’m trying to stay humble, and I’m just trying to put in as much work as I can in these couple days beforehand.”

There will be two other boxers fighting in Meyer’s weight class. Meyer has the opportunity to avoid the first fight of two if she receives the top seed among the three boxers. She will find out upon arrival in New York if she has received this honor.

“I actually expect her to win the championship this year,” said head coach Jon Swanson. “I think she’ll be the reigning champ for the next couple of years. She’ll be the girl to beat at 147. She started last year and she’s never missed a practice. She just works really hard and has a great attitude.”

Meyer has competed in three fights throughout the season, earning an undefeated record, along with first place honors in the Midwest Regionals.

“The only thing I’m worried about is if she gets too good, nobody will want to fight her,” Swanson said.

While Olivia has competed competitively all year, Hahn fought in his first match this spring. Hahn fell short in his two fights this spring, but earned a bid to nationals after competing in a close 29-28 defeat at regionals.

“I think I can win at least a couple fights,” Hahn said. “I was really close to getting second at regionals, since that fight was so close. There’s a chance I might meet that guy at nationals again. If I go against him a second time, I’m pretty confident I can beat him.”

Hahn said conditioning has been a major focus in practice leading up to Nationals.

“I take it day by day. I have to keep in shape — that’s probably the biggest thing,” Hahn said. “You don’t want to get in that fight, and then gas out in the 2 round or third round. You want to loose because you’re not as skilled, not because you’re not as conditioned.”

Both boxers expect to take a break after nationals, finish the semester, and begin training this summer in preparation for next year.