Air Force Academy
Wing Open Championships
Roy Taylor Claims Fourth Straight Wing Open Title
2/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Boxing
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Senior Roy Taylor picked up his fourth consecutive title, as the Air Force boxing team wrapped up competition at the 57th-annual Wing Open Championships this evening (Feb. 19) at Clune Arena. The senior was one of five Falcons to repeat as champions, while the women made their Wing Open debut.
Taylor claimed his fourth consecutive Wing Open title quickly, forcing the referee to call his bout with freshman Osama Farqaleet 32 seconds before the bell sounded to end the opening round. With the victory, Taylor became just the 14th boxer in Academy history to win four consecutive Wing Open titles (125 pounds in 2012, 125 pounds in 2013, 132 pounds in 2014).
The first three bouts of the men's card saw boxers successfully return to the champions' board of the Wing Open Tournament.
Junior Mateus Arcano repeated as the 112-pound champion after earning a decision over sophomore Timothy Tyson. In the night's only rematch from last year, Arcano came out strong, forcing the first standing-eight count just 20 seconds into the contest. Sophomore Adam Sumait used a strong start in his 119-pound bout, en route to a unanimous decision over classmate Nick Fernandez.
Senior Brandon Pitts, the 2014 champion at 175 pounds, added the 165-pound title to his collection after taking a hard-hitting decision from sophomore Darnell Jones. Junior Gytenis Borusas, who claimed his title last year at 185 pounds, became the 175-pound champion tonight after earning a referee-stopped victory over freshman William McCollum. Borusas connected on several hard shots early in the match, forcing the referee to call the bout with 1:22 left in the first.
The victories by Taylor and Borusas were two of four contests that were called early by the referee, with all four ending in the first round.
Junior Yohance Salimu claimed the fastest victory of the night, as the official called his heavyweight bout with freshman Dan Neghina just 1:03 into the match. Sophomore Brett Hagen also earned a referee-stopped victory, as the official halted his 147-pound bout with freshman Shane Garcia at the 1:10 mark.
The judges decided the final five men's bouts, with junior Scott Wawrzyniak earning a unanimous decision in his 195-pound bout with classmate Sean Richards. Fellow junior Josh Key received the majority decision in his 139-pound bout with sophomore Landon Tomcho, as the both connected on several key, hard hits.
After a back-and-fourth six-minute span, junior Jamal Johnson earned a split decision victory in his 132-pound bout with classmate Peter Coote, while fellow junior Chad Turney claimed a split victory over classmate Max Zendali at 185 pounds. Sophomore Samuel Sheikh also earned a split decision in his 156-pound bout with classmate Johnny Wells. Coming out of the deepest division, Sheikh was able to record enough scoring shots in the opening round to overcome a flurry of punches from Wells in the third.
In the first women's bout ever contested at the Wing Open Championships, junior Kassie Prusko earned a decision over senior Hope Stremcha in a hard-hitting 119-pound bout that saw both contenders connect on punches. Freshman Aubrey Lowe claimed the Wing Open title at 150 pounds, after receiving the judges' decision over junior Sarenna Ortiz, and freshman Victoria Rodriguez tallied a split decision win over classmate Bridgett Wall.
Sophomore Heather Parcasio claimed her first Wing Open title, earning the 128-pound title via walkover.
At the conclusion of the match, Hagen was named the Men's Outstanding Boxer, while Lowe was awarded the first Women's Outstanding Boxer award.
The winners from tonight's bout will form the core of the Air Force squad that will represent the Academy at the regional and national championship meets. The Falcons return to action on March 12-14, when they open the championship season at the National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA) Western Regional Championships in Reno.
RESULTS
112-lbs.: Mateus Arcano (CS-20) dec. Timothy Tyson (CS-03)
119-lbs.: Kassie Prusko (CS-22) dec. Hope Stremcha (CS-37)
119-lbs.: Adam Sumait (CS-16) dec. Nick Fernandez (CS-40)
125-lbs.: Roy Taylor (CS-14) rsc-1 (1:28) Osama Farqaleet (CS-16)
128-lbs.: Heather Parcasio (CS-16) unopposed
132-lbs.: Jamal Johnson (CS-25) dec. Peter Coote (CS-21)
139-lbs.: Josh Key (CS-21) dec. Landon Tomcho (CS-39)
145-lbs.: Brett Hagen (CS-15) rsc-1 (1:10) Shane Garcia (CS-19)
150-lbs: Aubrey Lowe (CS-23) dec. Sarenna Ortiz (CS-25)
156-lbs.: Samuel Sheikh (CS-31) dec. Johnny Wells (CS-39)
165-lbs.: Victoria Rodriguez (CS-15) dec. Bridgett Wall (CS-18)
165-lbs.: Brandon Pitts (CS-11) dec. Darnell Jones (CS-32)
175-lbs.: Gytenis Borusas (CS-14) rsc-1 (1:22) William McCollum (CS-22)
185-lbs.: Chad Turney (CS-21) dec. Max Zendali (CS-26)
195-lbs.: Scott Wawrzyniak (CS-30) dec. Sean Richards (CS-06)
Heavyweight: Yohance Salimu (CS-08) rsc-1 (1:03) Dan Neghina (CS-07)
Women's Outstanding Boxer: Aubrey Lowe
Men's Outstanding Boxer: Brett Hagen
Players Mentioned
