Saturday, March 11
Concord, CA
2:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
at
Regional Semifinals
Photo by: Justin Pacheco
Five Falcons Claim NCBA Regional Titles
3/11/2023 6:59:00 PM | Boxing
CONCORD, Calif. – Five members of the Air Force boxing team captured regional titles this afternoon (March 11) during the second day of competition at the National Collegiate Boxing Association Western Regional in Concord, California. Overall, during the combined competition that featured semifinal and championship fights, the Falcons posted a 7-4 record.
Juniors Jacob Mendoza and Angelo Ganac both claimed their second regional title before the final bell, as Mendoza – last year's 185-pound champion – claimed this year's 175-pound belt after taking down Santa Clara's Frank Tittinger in the opening round, and Ganac – last year's 195-pound champion – earned the 185-pound championship after forcing the referee to stop his contest with Santa Clara's Brandon Salgado in the third round. Classmate Victor Benitez successfully defended his heavyweight title with a decision over Rudy Hernandez of San Jose State, while fellow junior Madigan Starr and senior Allyah Marlett also claimed their first titles by decision over boxers from California. Starr earned the 119-pound title with a decision over Quin Witherspoon, while Marlett decisioned Michell Diaz-Flores in the 165-pound bout.
Two other Falcons – freshman Ale Tirado-Elias (125 pounds) and senior Hannah Schuster (156 pounds) – captured unopposed titles.
In addition to the championship bouts at the Community Youth Center on Friday, six Falcons competed in regional semifinals – with two advancing into tomorrow's championship bracket. Freshman Alexandra Waller easily advanced in the 112-pound division, after forcing the referee to halt her bout with Aishu Santosh of UC Davis in the opening round, while sophomore Luke Kohout earned the advancing decision in his 147-pound bout with Nevada's Victor Castro.
Waller and Kohout return to the ring tomorrow (March 12) for Championship Sunday at the NCBA Western Regional. Action, which is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. (PT), will include six teammates that automatically advanced into the final round of competition.
SEMIFINAL RESULTSJuniors Jacob Mendoza and Angelo Ganac both claimed their second regional title before the final bell, as Mendoza – last year's 185-pound champion – claimed this year's 175-pound belt after taking down Santa Clara's Frank Tittinger in the opening round, and Ganac – last year's 195-pound champion – earned the 185-pound championship after forcing the referee to stop his contest with Santa Clara's Brandon Salgado in the third round. Classmate Victor Benitez successfully defended his heavyweight title with a decision over Rudy Hernandez of San Jose State, while fellow junior Madigan Starr and senior Allyah Marlett also claimed their first titles by decision over boxers from California. Starr earned the 119-pound title with a decision over Quin Witherspoon, while Marlett decisioned Michell Diaz-Flores in the 165-pound bout.
Two other Falcons – freshman Ale Tirado-Elias (125 pounds) and senior Hannah Schuster (156 pounds) – captured unopposed titles.
In addition to the championship bouts at the Community Youth Center on Friday, six Falcons competed in regional semifinals – with two advancing into tomorrow's championship bracket. Freshman Alexandra Waller easily advanced in the 112-pound division, after forcing the referee to halt her bout with Aishu Santosh of UC Davis in the opening round, while sophomore Luke Kohout earned the advancing decision in his 147-pound bout with Nevada's Victor Castro.
Waller and Kohout return to the ring tomorrow (March 12) for Championship Sunday at the NCBA Western Regional. Action, which is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. (PT), will include six teammates that automatically advanced into the final round of competition.
(w) 112-lbs.: Alexandra Waller (Air Force) rsc-1 Aishu Santosh (UC Davis)
(m) 132-lbs.: Arturo Martinez (Santa Clara) dec. Garrett Kim (Air Force)
(m) 139-lbs.: Joey Azur (Nevada) rsc-3 Nile Owens (Air Force)
(w) 139-lbs.: Simona Winkler (Washington) rsc-2 Billie Botes (Air Force)
(m) 147-lbs.: Luke Kohout (Air Force) dec. Victor Castro (Nevada)
(m) 165-lbs.: Logan Jannick (Utah) dec. Canaan Ray (Air Force)
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
(w) 119-lbs.: Madigan Starr (Air Force) dec. Quin Witherspoon (California)
(w) 165-lbs.: Allyah Marlett (Air Force) dec. Michell Diaz-Flores (California)
(m) 175-lbs.: Jacob Mendoza (Air Force) rsc-1 Frank Tittinger (Santa Clara)
(m) 185-lbs.: Angelo Ganac (Air Force) rsc-3 Brandon Salgado (Santa Clara)
(m) Hywt.: Victor Benitez (Air Force) dec. Rudy Hernandez (San Jose State)
Players Mentioned
HYWT
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
/ Boxing
195 lbs.
/ Boxing
132 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
165 lbs.
/ Boxing
185 lbs.
/ Boxing
139 lbs.
/ Boxing
165 lbs.
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
/ Boxing
112 lbs.
/ Boxing
125 lbs.
/ Boxing
112 lbs.
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