Air Force Advances Eight to NCBA Finals

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Air Force boxing team advanced eight athletes to the finals of the National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA) National Championships following victories during the semifinal round on Friday, April 14, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Defending national champions senior Walker Morris and junior Victor Benitez moved one step closer to defending their titles as they posted qualifying victories during the semifinal round. Morris forced the referee into stopping his 195-pound bout with Penn State's Yassine Ayouchi in the second round, while Benitez earned a unanimous decision in his heavyweight bout with San Jose State's Rudy Hernandez.

Leo Camacho, Luke Kohout and Jacob Mendoza advanced to the finals on the men's side, while Madigan Starr, Mack Lucas and Allyah Marlett qualified on the women's side. Kohout and Lucas secured an Air Force finalist in both 147-pound championships, as the pair claimed unanimous victories in their respective semifinals (Kohout over Army West Point's Caleb Lagestee, Lucas over Penn State's Tiara Hernandez). Like Kohout, Camacho and Mendoza also took down contenders from Army West Point. Camacho earned a 5-0 victory over Dylan Sheriff in the 125-pound bracket, while Mendoza defeated Amadou Bah before the end of the first round in their 175-pound semifinal. Starr picked up a majority decision over Navy's Kenzie Moore at 119 pounds, while Marlett's 4-1 decision came over Iowa's McKenzie Stewart.

Six Falcons claimed bronze medals following their semifinal rounds, including Andrew Lu (men's 119 pounds), Ale Tirado-Elias (women's 125 pounds), Chinonye Mbanugo (women's 132 pounds), Tyler Dalzell (men's 156 pounds), Hannah Schuster (women's 156 pounds), and Angelo Ganac (men's 185 pounds).

The Falcons return to the ballroom at Le Meridien Charlotte for a pair of championship session. Eight bouts will be contested at 3:00 p.m., while the final 11 championships will take place at 6:00 p.m. (ET).

RING 1 RESULTS
(m) 119-lbs.: Hayden Eastmand (UConn) dec. Andrew Lu (Air Force), 4-1
(w) 119-lbs.: Madigan Starr (Air Force) dec. Kenzie Moore (Navy), 4-1
(m) 125-lbs.: Leo Camacho (Air Force) dec. Dylan Sheriff (Army West Point), 5-0
(w) 125-lbs.: Sophia Baguilod (Navy) dec. Ale Tirado-Elias (Air Force), 5-0
(m) 147-lbs.: Luke Kohout (Air Force) dec. Caleb Lagestee (Army West Point), 5-0
(w) 147-lbs.: Mack Lucas (Air Force) dec. Tiara Hernandez (Penn State), 5-0
(m) 156-lbs.: Aidan McNally (Navy) ret-3 Tyler Dalzell (Air Force)
(w) 156-lbs.: Erin Nicastro (Navy) dec. Hannah Schuster (Air Force), 5-0
(w) 165-lbs.: Allyah Marlett (Air Force) dec. McKenzie Stewart (Iowa), 4-1
(m) 175-lbs.: Jacob Mendoza (Air Force) rsc-1 Amadou Bah (Army West Point)
(m) 185-lbs.: Edward Son (Ohio State) rsc-3 Angelo Ganac (Air Force)
(m) 195-lbs.: Walker Morris (Air Force) rsc-2 Yassine Ayouchi (Penn State)

RING 2 RESULTS
(w) 132-lbs.: Lea Chambadal (Cal) rsc-3 Chinonye Mbanugo (Air Force)
(m) HYWT: Victor Benitez (Air Force) dec. Rudy Hernandez (San Jose State), 5-0

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Players Mentioned

Victor Benitez

Leo Camacho

Tyler Dalzell

Angelo Ganac

Luke Kohout

Andrew Lu

Mack Lucas

Allyah Marlett

Chinonye Mbanugo

Jacob Mendoza

Walker Morris

Hannah Schuster

Madigan Starr

Alejandra Tirado-Elias

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