Get in, score, then get out. Repeat that process until you are a state champion.

That was the agenda for Rob Colasante last night, and it was a plan that worked out masterfully.

The 119-pound Munhall native fought a brilliant tactical fight, scoring on the inside time and again.

And, with it, he earned a four-round decision against Philadelphia area boxer George Santana at the Pennsylvania Golden Gloves State Championship at the Downtown Hilton.

Colasante, along with the winners of all nine four-round bouts, advanced to the national tournament May 4-11 in Grand Rapids, Mich.

For Colasante, 23, being dubbed a state champion was something he never envisioned a short while ago.

He only began boxing three years ago and has rocketed to the pinnacle of the state's amateur ranks, validating his position at the top with the thrilling victory.

"This has all come really fast for me," said Colasante, a former football and basketball player at Steel Valley High School who graduated from Point Park University and now works in insurance.

"I didn't see myself getting to this point this quickly. It has been a lot of hard work and, yes, it is still sinking in that I'm a state champion."

Colasante, who fights out of the South Park Boxing Club, was one of two boxers from that gym to win titles.

Sam Vasquez, a Monessen resident, beat Philadelphia's Julian Williams at 152 pounds.

The fight that generated the biggest buzz, and brought most everyone in the ballroom to their feet, was the Vasquez-Williams clash.

It was a bout in which the combatants stood toe-to-toe and slugged away, neither one willing to give in as they landed numerous heavy shots.

Vasquez looked to lose the first two rounds, but battled back resiliently, connecting on power combinations to climb back in the bout in the third, and then taking the fight right to Williams in the final round as Vasquez's supporters roared him on.

"The first round, it was all emotions and I wasn't settled down at all, I played it all wrong," said Vasquez, 22. "It was my fault that I got down, but I came back strong. I just said, 'Let it all go, just get in there and try to knock his head off with power shots inside, but be smart about it.' "

Colasante and Vasquez were joined as champions by Freeport resident Jaque Lutz, who won a narrow decision at 178 pounds,.

Blaise Santoriello, a 132-pounder from Lincoln Place, and 132-pound female Katie Banks lost by decision and Baldwin High School senior Scott Bradley walked into a hammer-of-a-right hand from Tahree Carrol at 141-pounds, got floored, quickly rose to his feet, but lost by technical knockout.