Saturday, March 12
Reno, NV
8:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
at
Regional Championships
Photo by: Justin Pacheco
Air Force Sweeps Western Regional Team Titles
3/13/2022 9:39:00 PM | Boxing
The women claimed their first regional title, while the men earned their 38th championship.
RENO, Nev. – The Air Force boxing team swept the men's and women's team titles at the National Collegiate Boxing Association Western Regional, which wrapped up on Saturday (March 12) night in Reno. It is the first-ever regional title for the women's program – and the 38th for the men, who have dominated the team standings of the regional field over the last 41 years.
Sophomore Jacob Mendoza was named the team's Boxer of the Week, as Air Force went 6-5 in the regional final – the first NCBA postseason event since 2019. Mendoza, competing in his first NCBA event, capped the Falcons' night with a decision over Nevada's Andy Shao in the 175-pound bout.
Classmates Leo Camacho and Cat Tak also picked up victories by decision for Air Force in their respective 119-pound bouts. Camacho defeated Washington's Aldrin Valdez to claim the men's regional title, while Tak earned the women's title following a decision over Liz Metzger of UC Davis.
The Falcons' other three victories came after the Falcons forced the referee to end their contests before the final bell. Senior Zach Phillips (139 pounds, vs Santa Clara's Dylan Gordon) and junior Tyler Dalzell (147 pounds, vs Nevada's Isaiah Rodriguez) both dispatched their opponent in the opening round, while junior Hannah Schuster earned her first regional title – and RSC win – by downing California's Caitlin Phen in the second round of the 156-pound final.
Five other Falcons were regional silver medalists on Saturday, with four – senior Lawrence Barrett (125 pounds, vs. Justin Wong), senior Sam Thompson (139 pounds, vs Karina Garcia), sophomore Mack Lucas (147 pounds, vs Simone Walker), and junior Alan Long (165 pounds, Adbirahman Omar) – dropping decisions to contenders from Washington. Senior Ayaz Mustafa, who was forced to withdraw from his 156-pound contest with Michael Pitts of UC Davis, rounded out the Falcons' list of regional finalists.
Air Force returns to action on April 7-9, when they head to Charlotte, N.C., for the NCBA Championships.
RESULTSSophomore Jacob Mendoza was named the team's Boxer of the Week, as Air Force went 6-5 in the regional final – the first NCBA postseason event since 2019. Mendoza, competing in his first NCBA event, capped the Falcons' night with a decision over Nevada's Andy Shao in the 175-pound bout.
Classmates Leo Camacho and Cat Tak also picked up victories by decision for Air Force in their respective 119-pound bouts. Camacho defeated Washington's Aldrin Valdez to claim the men's regional title, while Tak earned the women's title following a decision over Liz Metzger of UC Davis.
The Falcons' other three victories came after the Falcons forced the referee to end their contests before the final bell. Senior Zach Phillips (139 pounds, vs Santa Clara's Dylan Gordon) and junior Tyler Dalzell (147 pounds, vs Nevada's Isaiah Rodriguez) both dispatched their opponent in the opening round, while junior Hannah Schuster earned her first regional title – and RSC win – by downing California's Caitlin Phen in the second round of the 156-pound final.
Five other Falcons were regional silver medalists on Saturday, with four – senior Lawrence Barrett (125 pounds, vs. Justin Wong), senior Sam Thompson (139 pounds, vs Karina Garcia), sophomore Mack Lucas (147 pounds, vs Simone Walker), and junior Alan Long (165 pounds, Adbirahman Omar) – dropping decisions to contenders from Washington. Senior Ayaz Mustafa, who was forced to withdraw from his 156-pound contest with Michael Pitts of UC Davis, rounded out the Falcons' list of regional finalists.
Air Force returns to action on April 7-9, when they head to Charlotte, N.C., for the NCBA Championships.
119-lbs.: Leo Camacho (Air Force) dec. Aldrin Valdez (Washington)
119-lbs. (w): Cat Tak (Air Force) dec. Liz Metzger (UC Davis)
125-lbs.: Justin Wong (Washington) dec. Lawrence Barrett (Air Force)
139-lbs.: Zach Phillips (Air Force) rsc-1 Dylan Gordon (Santa Clara)
139-lbs. (w): Karina Garcia (Washington) dec. Sam Thompson (Air Force)
147-lbs.: Tyler Dalzell (Air Force) rsc-1 Isaiah Rodriguez (Nevada)
147-lbs. (w): Simone Walker (Washington) dec. Mack Lucas (Air Force)
156-lbs.: Michael Pitts (UC Davis) medical forfeit Ayaz Mustafa (Air Force)
156-lbs. (w): Hannah Schuster (Air Force) rsc-2 Caitlin Phen (California)
165-lbs.: Adbirahman Omar (Washington) dec. Alan Long (Air Force)
175-lbs.: Jacob Mendoza (Air Force) dec. Andy Shao (Nevada)
Players Mentioned
125
/ Boxing
125
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147
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165
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156
/ Boxing
156
/ Boxing
147
/ Boxing
147
/ Boxing
125
/ Boxing
156
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