Thursday, March 2
USAFA
7:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
vs
Wing Open Championships
Photo by: Justin Pacheco
Boxing Heads to Clune for Wing Open Championships
2/28/2023 3:27:00 PM | Boxing
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – The Air Force boxing team heads under the lights of Clune Arena this Thursday (March 2), when it hosts the finals of the 66th Wing Open Tournament, presented by USAA, at 7:00 p.m. (MT).
The 2023 lineup features six defending champions, including a three-time Wing Open winner and the reigning 185-pound NCBA champion in senior Walker Morris. After capturing Wing Open titles at 195 pounds (2022) and 185 pounds (2021, 2020) during each of his first three seasons, Morris will face off against freshman Seth Misukanis in the 195-pound final. Classmate Tyler Dalzell, a two-time Wing Open champion at 147 pounds (2022, 2021), moved up to the 156-pound division this year and will face freshman Neo Takazawa in the final, while junior Leo Camacho, last year's 119-pound champion, will face freshman Duong Tran in the 125-pound final.
Defending champion and senior Hannah Schuster will face sophomore Shelby Paul in a rematch of last year's 156-pound final, while junior Mack Lucas and senior Allyah Marlett will look to defend their titles against a pair of newcomers, as Lucas will face classmate Lexi Lee in the 147-pound championship and Marlett will take on freshman Malaika Ndifang in the 165-pound final.
In addition to Paul in the 156-pound rematch, the card includes three more boxers who are looking for their first title after claiming runner-up honors in previous championships. Junior Joe Wilson, a two-time Wing Open finalist (185 pounds as a sophomore, 175 pounds as a freshman), will face off against classmate Angelo Ganac in the 185-pound final, while sophomore Luke Kohout and senior Jordan Dutcher will also return to the ring in Clune Arena after changing weight classes. Kohout, the 156-pound finalist one year ago, will toe the line with freshman Jake Edwards in a 147-pound bout, while Dutcher will take on classmate Garrett Kim in the 132-pound final after being a finalist at 125 pounds last year.
Freshmen Alexandra Waller and Charlotte McPhee-Gillum will face off at 112 pounds, while classmate Emma Teo will corner up with fellow newcomer Ale Tirado-Elias at 125 pounds. Junior Andrew Ison and sophomore Canaan Ray are scheduled to round out the card with a 165-pound championship.
Tickets, which can be purchased online at AFTickets.com, start at $8 for military and groups of 10+, with $10 seats available in Zone 2 and $15 seats available in Zone 1. Admission is free for all cadets. The 12-card competition will also be streamed live on the Mountain West Network.
Seven other boxers have already secured their Wing Open titles, either as unopposed contenders or having won their championship bout earlier in the tournament. Junior Victor Benitez, the reigning NCBA heavyweight champion, successfully defended his Wing Open title in that weight division, while classmate Jacob Mendoza claimed the men's 175-pound championship after winning the 185-pound fight last year. Five Falcons – junior Madigan Starr (women's 119 pounds), sophomore Andrew Lu (men's 119 pounds), freshman Chinonye Mbanugo (women's 132 pounds), sophomore Billie Botes (women's 139 pounds) and junior Nile Owens (men's 139 pounds) – claimed their first Wing Open awards.
The winners of the Wing Open will form the core of the Air Force squad that will represent the Academy at the National Collegiate Boxing Association events this spring, where the Falcons look to bring home their 20th NCBA team title. The Falcons kick off the postseason at the NCBA Western Regionals in Concord, Calif., on March 9-11, while the national championships will be held in Charlotte, N.C., on April 13-15.
ORDER OF BOUTS | RED CORNER LISTED FIRSTThe 2023 lineup features six defending champions, including a three-time Wing Open winner and the reigning 185-pound NCBA champion in senior Walker Morris. After capturing Wing Open titles at 195 pounds (2022) and 185 pounds (2021, 2020) during each of his first three seasons, Morris will face off against freshman Seth Misukanis in the 195-pound final. Classmate Tyler Dalzell, a two-time Wing Open champion at 147 pounds (2022, 2021), moved up to the 156-pound division this year and will face freshman Neo Takazawa in the final, while junior Leo Camacho, last year's 119-pound champion, will face freshman Duong Tran in the 125-pound final.
Defending champion and senior Hannah Schuster will face sophomore Shelby Paul in a rematch of last year's 156-pound final, while junior Mack Lucas and senior Allyah Marlett will look to defend their titles against a pair of newcomers, as Lucas will face classmate Lexi Lee in the 147-pound championship and Marlett will take on freshman Malaika Ndifang in the 165-pound final.
In addition to Paul in the 156-pound rematch, the card includes three more boxers who are looking for their first title after claiming runner-up honors in previous championships. Junior Joe Wilson, a two-time Wing Open finalist (185 pounds as a sophomore, 175 pounds as a freshman), will face off against classmate Angelo Ganac in the 185-pound final, while sophomore Luke Kohout and senior Jordan Dutcher will also return to the ring in Clune Arena after changing weight classes. Kohout, the 156-pound finalist one year ago, will toe the line with freshman Jake Edwards in a 147-pound bout, while Dutcher will take on classmate Garrett Kim in the 132-pound final after being a finalist at 125 pounds last year.
Freshmen Alexandra Waller and Charlotte McPhee-Gillum will face off at 112 pounds, while classmate Emma Teo will corner up with fellow newcomer Ale Tirado-Elias at 125 pounds. Junior Andrew Ison and sophomore Canaan Ray are scheduled to round out the card with a 165-pound championship.
Tickets, which can be purchased online at AFTickets.com, start at $8 for military and groups of 10+, with $10 seats available in Zone 2 and $15 seats available in Zone 1. Admission is free for all cadets. The 12-card competition will also be streamed live on the Mountain West Network.
Seven other boxers have already secured their Wing Open titles, either as unopposed contenders or having won their championship bout earlier in the tournament. Junior Victor Benitez, the reigning NCBA heavyweight champion, successfully defended his Wing Open title in that weight division, while classmate Jacob Mendoza claimed the men's 175-pound championship after winning the 185-pound fight last year. Five Falcons – junior Madigan Starr (women's 119 pounds), sophomore Andrew Lu (men's 119 pounds), freshman Chinonye Mbanugo (women's 132 pounds), sophomore Billie Botes (women's 139 pounds) and junior Nile Owens (men's 139 pounds) – claimed their first Wing Open awards.
The winners of the Wing Open will form the core of the Air Force squad that will represent the Academy at the National Collegiate Boxing Association events this spring, where the Falcons look to bring home their 20th NCBA team title. The Falcons kick off the postseason at the NCBA Western Regionals in Concord, Calif., on March 9-11, while the national championships will be held in Charlotte, N.C., on April 13-15.
(w) 112-lbs.: Alexandra Waller (CS-40) -vs- Charlotte McPhee-Gillum (CS-03)
(w) 125-lbs.: Emma Teo (CS-20) -vs- Ale Tirado-Elias (CS-38)
(m) 125-lbs.: Leo Camacho (CS-22) -vs- Duong Tran (CS-24)
(m) 132-lbs.: Jordan Dutcher (CS-32) -vs- Garrett Kim (CS-31)
(w) 147-lbs.: Lexi Lee (CS-01) -vs- Mack Lucas (CS-37)
(m) 147-lbs.: Jake Edwards (CS-11) -vs- Luke Kohout (CS-05)
(w) 156-lbs.: Shelby Paul (CS-28) -vs- Hannah Schuster (CS-15)
(m) 156-lbs.: Neo Takazawa (CS-03) -vs- Tyler Dalzell (CS-08)
(w) 165-lbs.: Malaika Ndifang (CS-38) -vs- Allyah Marlett (CS-07)
(m) 165-lbs.: Canaan Ray (CS-22) -vs- Andrew Ison (CS-05)
(m) 185-lbs.: Angelo Ganac (CS-11) -vs- Joe Wilson (CS-07)
(m) 195-lbs.: Seth Misukanis (CS-19) -vs- Walker Morris (CS-10)
About USAA
Founded in 1922 by a group of military officers, USAA is among the leading providers of insurance, banking and investment and retirement solutions to more than 13 million members of the U.S. military, veterans who have honorably served and their families. Headquartered in San Antonio, USAA has offices in seven U.S. cities and three overseas locations and employs approximately 36,000 people worldwide. Each year, the company contributes to national and local nonprofits in support of military families and communities where employees live and work. For more information about USAA, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@USAA), or visit usaa.com.
Players Mentioned
HYWT
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147 lbs.
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125 lbs.
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147 lbs.
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132 lbs.
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147 lbs.
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195 lbs.
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175 lbs.
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132 lbs.
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156 lbs.
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
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125 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
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165 lbs.
/ Boxing
132 lbs.
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112 lbs.
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185 lbs.
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HYWT
/ Boxing
185 lbs.
/ Boxing
165 lbs.
/ Boxing
139 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
165 lbs.
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
/ Boxing
112 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
125 lbs.
/ Boxing
125 lbs.
/ Boxing
125 lbs.
/ Boxing
112 lbs.
/ Boxing
175 lbs.
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