Boxing Set to Host Wing Open Championships
3/7/2016 12:00:00 AM | Boxing
March 7, 2016
FalconVision Interview with Coach Baldi
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – After several weeks of hard-hitting preliminary action, 26 members of the Air Force boxing team will compete in the finals of the 58th Wing Open Championships, which will be held this Wednesday (March 9) under the lights of Clune Arena. Admission is free to the 6:00 p.m., event.
This year's card features eight returning Wing Open champions, including three multi-year champions.
Senior Mateus Arcano, a two-time champion at 112 pounds, will move up to the 119-pound weight division this year, where he will face junior Adam Sumait, winner of the last two 119-pound titles. Senior Gytenis Borusas, who won the 185-pound title in 2014 and the 175-pound title in 2015, will look to defend his current title against classmate Chad Turney, the defending champion at 185 pounds. Other returning Wing Open champions include senior Yohance Salimu (heavyweight), classmate Kassie Prusko (112 pounds), junior Heather Parcasio (125 pounds) and sophomore Aubrey Lowe, who won the 150-pound title last year, but is boxing in the 139-pound bracket this year.
The lineup also features six Wing Open finalists – sophomore Osama Farqaleet (125 pounds), junior Landon Tomcho (139 pounds, now boxing at 147 pounds), junior Pedro Barrientes (147 pounds), junior Johnny Wells (156 pounds), senior Sean Richards (195 pounds), and senior Sarenna Ortiz (150 pounds, now boxing at 147 pounds).
In all, 13 contests (nine men's bouts, four women's bouts) will be contested.
As a part of the boxing program's annual Fighting for a Cause event, this year's Wing Open Championships will benefit Honor Flight of Southern Colorado, a non-profit organization that was created to honor America's World War II Veterans for all of their sacrifices.
The winners of the Wing Open Championships will form the core of the Air Force squad that will represent the Academy at the upcoming National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA) tournaments this spring. The 2016 regional meet will take place on March 24-26 in Reno, Nev., while the NCBA National Championships will be held in Seattle, Wash., on April 7-9.
ORDER OF BOUTS | RED CORNER LISTED FIRST
112-lbs.W: Kassie Prusko vs Mai-Lin Quinto
119-lbs.: Mateus Arcano vs Adam Sumait
125-lbs.W: Alexandra Reveles vs Heather Parcasio
125-lbs.: Gunther Prussing vs Osama Farqaleet
132-lbs.: DaRon Fanniel vs Antonio Garza
139-lbs.W: Liza Patenko vs Aubrey Lowe
147-lbs.W: Sarenna Ortiz vs Josie Epps
147-lbs.: Landon Tomcho vs Pedro Barrientes
156-lbs.: Isaiah Honable vs Johnny Wells
165-lbs.: Noah Eppinger vs Naji Bseiso
175-lbs.: Chad Turney vs Gytenis Borusas
195-lbs.: Den Tati-Mackaya vs Sean Richards
Hywt.: Justin Johnson vs Yohance Salimu
The 2016 Wing Open Championships will be streamed live on GoAirForceFalcons.com.
