Saturday, March 9
Reno NV
2:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
at
Regional Championships
Air Force Boxing Sweeps Regional Team Titles
3/9/2024 6:18:00 PM | Boxing
RENO, Nev. – Headlined by 10 individual champions, the Air Force boxing team swept the men's and women's team titles at the National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA) Western Regionals, which wrapped up this afternoon (March 9) in Reno. It is the third-straight team title for the women – and the 40th championship for the men, who have dominated the top spot of the regional standings over the last 43 years.
The women captured a program-record seven regional titles on Friday, with senior Mack Lucas and sophomore Chinonye Mbanugo both claiming their championships before the final bell in referee-stopped wins over opponents from Santa Clara. Lucas successfully defended her 147-pound title with a third-round win over Alondra Valdez, while Mbanugo picked up her first regional title with a third-round victory over Brianca Martinez. Freshmen Naomi Brabham and Julianna Morris earned victories by decision during their first regional championship bouts. Brabham secured the 112-pound title with a win over Aishu Santosh of UC Davis, while Morris earned the judges' vote in her 125-pound bout with Washington's Jill Doucet.
With the additional walkover victories from junior Peyton Glenn (139 pounds), senior Katie Bush (156 pounds) and sophomore Malaika Ndifang (165 pounds), the women accounted for individual titles in seven of the eight weight divisions.
On the men's side, the Falcons posted a 5-3 record, enroute to their 40th team title. Senior Victor Benitez won his third-straight heavyweight title by walkover, while classmate Jacob Mendoza won his second consecutive 175-pound title (and third overall after winning the 185-pound belt as a sophomore) after forcing the referee to call his bout with Santa Clara's Frank Tittinger in the opening round. Junior Luke Kohout defended his 147-pound title with a decision over Utah's Joshua Strong, while the sophomore duo of Carson Watkins and KJ Johnson earned their first regional titles with decisional wins. Watkins defeated Santa Clara's Ethan Chung for the 119-pound title, while Johnson earned the 132-pound championship after claiming a split decision over Washington's Justin Wong.
Although three Falcons lost their championship bouts this afternoon at the Silver Legacy, they will advance to the NCBA Championships as regional finalists. Senior Leo Camacho suffered a 125-pound loss to Jordan King of USC, while classmates Angelo Ganac (185-pound retirement, Robert Zihuan Zhao) and Joe Wilson (195 pound split decision, Femi Chisom Okafor) both lost to opponents from Washington.
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
112-lbs. (w): Naomi Brabham (Air Force) dec. Aishu Santosh (UC Davis)
119-lbs.: Carson Watkins (Air Force) dec. Ethan Chung (Santa Clara)
125-lbs.: Jordan King (USC) dec. Leo Camacho (Air Force)
125-lbs. (w): Julianna Morris (Air Force) dec. Jill Doucet (Washington)
132-lbs.: KJ Johnson (Air Force) dec. Justin Wong (Washington)
132-lbs. (w): Chinonye Mbanugo (Air Force) RSC-3 Bianca Martinez (Santa Clara)
139-lbs. (w): Peyton Glenn (Air Force) walkover
147-lbs.: Luke Kohout (Air Force) dec. Joshua Strong (Utah)
147-lbs. (w): Mack Lucas (Air Force) RSC-3 Alondra Valdez (Santa Clara)
156-lbs. (w): Katie Bush (Air Force) walkover
165-lbs. (w): Malaika Ndifang (Air Force) walkover
175-lbs.: Jacob Mendoza (Air Force) RSC-1 Frank Tittinger (Santa Clara)
185-lbs.: Robert Zihuan Zhao (Washington) RET Angelo Ganac (Air Force)
195-lbs.: Femi Chisom Okafor (Washington) dec. Joe Wilson (Air Force)
Hywt.; Victor Benitez (Air Force) walkover
The Falcons also split a pair of third-place bouts, with sophomore Neo Takazawa claiming a 156-pound win by walkover and senior Andrew Ison falling in his 165-pound at-large contest with California's Ethan Ryder.
AT-LARGE RESULTS
156-lbs.: Neo Takazawa (Air force) walkover
165-lbs.: Ethan Ryder (California) dec. Andrew Ison (Air Force)
The Falcons are off from competition until April 11-13, when they head to Charlotte, N.C., for the 2024 NCBA National Championships at the Charlotte Convention Center. Air Force is the defending men's champion at the national meet.
The women captured a program-record seven regional titles on Friday, with senior Mack Lucas and sophomore Chinonye Mbanugo both claiming their championships before the final bell in referee-stopped wins over opponents from Santa Clara. Lucas successfully defended her 147-pound title with a third-round win over Alondra Valdez, while Mbanugo picked up her first regional title with a third-round victory over Brianca Martinez. Freshmen Naomi Brabham and Julianna Morris earned victories by decision during their first regional championship bouts. Brabham secured the 112-pound title with a win over Aishu Santosh of UC Davis, while Morris earned the judges' vote in her 125-pound bout with Washington's Jill Doucet.
With the additional walkover victories from junior Peyton Glenn (139 pounds), senior Katie Bush (156 pounds) and sophomore Malaika Ndifang (165 pounds), the women accounted for individual titles in seven of the eight weight divisions.
On the men's side, the Falcons posted a 5-3 record, enroute to their 40th team title. Senior Victor Benitez won his third-straight heavyweight title by walkover, while classmate Jacob Mendoza won his second consecutive 175-pound title (and third overall after winning the 185-pound belt as a sophomore) after forcing the referee to call his bout with Santa Clara's Frank Tittinger in the opening round. Junior Luke Kohout defended his 147-pound title with a decision over Utah's Joshua Strong, while the sophomore duo of Carson Watkins and KJ Johnson earned their first regional titles with decisional wins. Watkins defeated Santa Clara's Ethan Chung for the 119-pound title, while Johnson earned the 132-pound championship after claiming a split decision over Washington's Justin Wong.
Although three Falcons lost their championship bouts this afternoon at the Silver Legacy, they will advance to the NCBA Championships as regional finalists. Senior Leo Camacho suffered a 125-pound loss to Jordan King of USC, while classmates Angelo Ganac (185-pound retirement, Robert Zihuan Zhao) and Joe Wilson (195 pound split decision, Femi Chisom Okafor) both lost to opponents from Washington.
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
112-lbs. (w): Naomi Brabham (Air Force) dec. Aishu Santosh (UC Davis)
119-lbs.: Carson Watkins (Air Force) dec. Ethan Chung (Santa Clara)
125-lbs.: Jordan King (USC) dec. Leo Camacho (Air Force)
125-lbs. (w): Julianna Morris (Air Force) dec. Jill Doucet (Washington)
132-lbs.: KJ Johnson (Air Force) dec. Justin Wong (Washington)
132-lbs. (w): Chinonye Mbanugo (Air Force) RSC-3 Bianca Martinez (Santa Clara)
139-lbs. (w): Peyton Glenn (Air Force) walkover
147-lbs.: Luke Kohout (Air Force) dec. Joshua Strong (Utah)
147-lbs. (w): Mack Lucas (Air Force) RSC-3 Alondra Valdez (Santa Clara)
156-lbs. (w): Katie Bush (Air Force) walkover
165-lbs. (w): Malaika Ndifang (Air Force) walkover
175-lbs.: Jacob Mendoza (Air Force) RSC-1 Frank Tittinger (Santa Clara)
185-lbs.: Robert Zihuan Zhao (Washington) RET Angelo Ganac (Air Force)
195-lbs.: Femi Chisom Okafor (Washington) dec. Joe Wilson (Air Force)
Hywt.; Victor Benitez (Air Force) walkover
The Falcons also split a pair of third-place bouts, with sophomore Neo Takazawa claiming a 156-pound win by walkover and senior Andrew Ison falling in his 165-pound at-large contest with California's Ethan Ryder.
AT-LARGE RESULTS
156-lbs.: Neo Takazawa (Air force) walkover
165-lbs.: Ethan Ryder (California) dec. Andrew Ison (Air Force)
The Falcons are off from competition until April 11-13, when they head to Charlotte, N.C., for the 2024 NCBA National Championships at the Charlotte Convention Center. Air Force is the defending men's champion at the national meet.
Players Mentioned
HYWT
/ Boxing
112 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
125 lbs.
/ Boxing
185 lbs.
/ Boxing
139 lbs.
/ Boxing
165 lbs.
/ Boxing
132 lbs.
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
/ Boxing
132 lbs.
/ Boxing
175 lbs.
/ Boxing
132 lbs.
/ Boxing
165 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
119 lbs.
/ Boxing
195 lbs.
/ BoxingMark Clifford Interview August 26, 2025
Tuesday, August 26
Dr. Mark Clifford Interview March 11, 2025
Tuesday, March 11
Dr. Mark Clifford Interview March 4, 2025
Tuesday, March 04
2025 Wing Open Semifinals Highlights
Tuesday, February 25
