Air Force Academy
Friday Night Fights
Falcons Shine During Friday Night Action
11/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Boxing
Nov. 14, 2008
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - After a month away from the Academy, the Air Force boxing team returned to the Upper Boxing Room tonight (Nov. 14) with 14 exciting bouts. The match featured some familiar faces, but also several newcomers. Action was intense, as only one contest ending before the final bell.
"With a ranking on the `Champs and Challengers' board at stake, all boxers showed a real sense of urgency in their approach to tonight's bouts," the coaching staff of Eddie Weichers and 1Lt Blake Baldi said following the match. "Excellent boxing skills were displayed by many and there were several throw-downs that decided some close decisions."
Senior Sean May opened the match with a 160-pound decision over sophomore Joseph Silvio. Senior Harvey White defeated classmate Dean Chuva in a 127-pound bout. In a rematch of the past two Wing Open finals, junior Alexander Shin decisioned senior David Simon at 137 pounds.
Sophomore Mike Chambers earned a decision over senior Joshua Henderson-Casteel in the night's heavyweight contest. Junior Bailey Ball decisioned sophomore Gavin Foley in the 145-pound bout, while freshman Ethan Salgado made his collegiate debut with a 140-pound victory over sophomore Michael Mizes.
Senior Austin Almand picked up a victory-by-decision in a 170-pound bout with freshman Nick Cataldo, while fellow senior Lucas Gagliardi won a 180-pound bout over classmate Jon Andresen. Sophomore Matthew DeMars decisioned newcomer Kevin Escobedo in the night's lightest bout at 125-pound bout.
Four of the final five bouts featured freshmen and sophomores. Freshman Daniel Starr decisioned sophomore Gabriel Valdeleon at 142 pounds, while sophomore Vincent Miranda earned the judges' nod over freshman Luke Dugger in a 165-pound bout. Freshman Frederick Johnson took a victory from sophomore Scott Lewis when the referee stopped their 195-pound bout in the third round and sophomore Dalton Hall decisioned freshman Casey Habluetzel in a 170-pound bout.
In the final bout of the night, a 180-pound contest that the coaches called a "classic battle of lefty versus righty where both boxers landed bombs with their power hands", freshman Michael McLain earned a standing ovation and victory by decision over senior Juan Perez.
Almand was named the program's Boxer of the Week following the match for his victory over Cataldo. He was awarded the coaches' selection after showing good strategy, ring generalship and conditioning en route to his victory in the 170-pound bout.
Air Force returns to action on Nov. 21 for another exciting round of Friday Night Fights in the Upper Boxing Room of the Cadet Gym.
Results from Friday Night Fights
160-lbs.: Sean May (CS-37) dec. Joseph Silvio (CS-21)
127-lbs.: Harvey White (CS-24) dec. Dean Chuva (CS-20)
137-lbs.: Alexander Shin (CS-40) dec. David Simon (CS-32)
Hywt.: Mike Chambers (CS-16) dec. Joshua Henderson-Casteel (CS-35)
145-lbs.: Bailey Ball (CS-11) dec. Gavin Foley (CS-04)
140-lbs.: Ethan Salgado (CS-11) dec. Michael Mizes (CS-16)
170-lbs.: Austin Almand (CS-31) dec. Nick Cataldo (CS-13)
180-lbs.: Lucas Gagliardi (CS-09) dec. Jon Andresen (CS-06)
125-lbs.: Matthew DeMars (CS-25) dec. Kevin Escobedo (CS-14)
142-lbs.: Daniel Starr (CS-19) dec. Gabriel Valdeleon (CS-30)
165-lbs.: Vincent Miranda (CS-19) dec. Luke Dugger (CS-06)
195-lbs.: Frederick Johnson (CS-16) rsc-3 Scott Lewis (CS-20)
170-lbs.: Dalton Hall (CS-12) dec. Casey Habluetzel (CS-38)
180-lbs.: Michael McLain (CS-28) dec. Juan Perez (CS-06)
Players Mentioned
