Air Force Academy
National Championships
Air Force Wins NCBA National Title
4/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Boxing
April 3, 2004
RENO, Nev. - The Air Force boxing team clinched its sixth consecutive National Collegiate Boxing Association title on Saturday, April 3, in Reno, Nev. Senior Clell Knight (Justiceburg, Texas) earned his second national title and was named the Outstanding Boxer of the Tournament.
Air Force won the national team title with 40 points, edging out Navy who finished second with 36 points. Army rounded out the top three teams with 21 points. The Falcons have now won 18 of the 25 national team titles sponsored by the National Collegiate Boxing Association.
At the 2004 national championships, the Falcons had 11 boxers earn All-American honors, with a collection medals that included one gold, seven silver and three bronze.
Knight defeated Army's Matt Pride in a 156-pound bout to win his second national title. He is the 90th Falcon to earn an individual championship. Knight also won the 165-pound title during the 2003 NCBA Championships.
Air Force recorded seven second-place finishes. One of six cadets making his first national championship appearance, freshman Willie Lloyd (Columbia, S.C.) was defeated by Moon Kim of UNLV at 112-pounds. Junior Darren Smith (Laurel, Md.) lost a 119-pound decision to Osahon Omo-Osagie of Lockhaven, while Blake Baldi (Peoria, Ill.) fell to Todd Wilson of VMI at 139-pounds.
Junior Ryan Dorsey-Spitz (Pueblo, Colo.) finished as a runner-up to Anthony Peters of VMI at 147-pounds, while Leif Nordhagen (Sun Prairie, Wis.) lost in a decision to Ryan Healey of Nevada-Reno at 165-pounds. Augustin Kamdem (Yaounde, Cameroon) earned silver medal honors at 175-pounds, losing a decision to Amir Shareef of Navy, while Ryan Coates (San Antonio, Texas) lost of Lockhaven's Miro Jelev when the referee stopped the contest in the third round.
"This meet shows why collegiate boxing is a total team effort," Air Force head coach Eddie Weichers said. "Everyone contributes to the point-total. Yes, it's gratifying to win an individual championship belt and receive a gold medal, but putting "National Champions" on your photo and hanging a team banner in the room means a lot to these cadet boxers."
Air Force continues to dominate the world of collegiate boxing. The Falcons have won 18 of 25 national team titles and all 25 of the regional titles, while crowning 90 individual champions.
AIR FORCE RESULTS FROM THE NCBA FINALS
112-lbs. - Moon Kim (UNLV) dec. Willie Lloyd (Air Force)
119-lbs. - Osahon Omo-Osagie (Lockhaven) dec. Darren Smith (Air Force)
139-lbs. - Todd Wilson (VMI) dec. Blake Baldi (Air Force)
147-lbs. - Anthony Peters (VMI) dec. Ryan Dorsey-Spitz (Air Force)
156-lbs. - Clell Knight (Air Force) dec. Matt Pride (Army)
165-lbs. - Ryan Healy (Nev.-Reno) dec. Leif Nordhagen (Air Force)
175-lbs. - Amir Shareef (Navy) dec. Augustin Kamdem (Air Force)
195-lbs. - Miro Jelev (Lockhaven) rsc-3 Ryan Coates (Air Force)
OUTSTANDING BOXER OF THE TOURNAMENT: Clell Knight
TOURNAMENT SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: Darren Smith
