Saturday, April 13
Charlotte, NC
1:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
at
National Championships
Four Falcons Claim NCBA National Titles
4/13/2024 8:19:00 PM | Boxing
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A third-straight title for senior Victor Benitez, a repeat championship for junior Luke Kohout, and the first-ever title belts for sophomore Chinonye Mbanugo and senior Mack Lucas highlighted Championship Saturday for the Air Force boxing team, as it wrapped up competition at the National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA) Championships in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Benitez secured his third-straight-heavyweight title late in the second round of the night's finale, as he connected on several hard hits to force the referee to stop his bout with Navy's Lian McCarthy at the 0:10 mark. Kohout also defeated a competitor from Navy during the defense of his title, earning a majority decision over Nicholas Smith in the 147-pound championship.
Mbanugo captured the Falcons' first championships of the day – and the first title belt for the women since 2017 – during the 132-pound final, as she earned a unanimous decision over Navy's Gabrielle Shultz. The women, who had just one national title prior to Mbanugo, gained its third in the next fight, as Lucas swept the judges' decision in her 147-pound bout with Haley Shaw of Army West Point.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Benitez was named the Outstanding Boxer for the men's upper weight divisions, while Lucas captured the first-ever Outstanding Boxer honor for the women's program after capturing the award for the upper divisions.
Four other Falcons also competed in the finals, earning silver medals and NCBA All-America status in their respective weight divisions. Junior Peyton Glenn and sophomore Malaika Ndifang suffered setbacks to opponents from Navy in their championship bouts, as Glenn dropped a split decision to Erin Nicastro in the 139-pound final and Ndifang lost a 165-pound decision to Jordan Trantham. On the men's side, senior Jacob Mendoza also fell to a Midshipman, as Ethan Stern took a 4-0 decision over Mendoza in their 175-pound contest. Fellow senior Leo Camacho rounded out the Falcons' silver medalists, after falling to Jordan King of USC in the 125-pound championship.
Six additional Falcons were named NCBA All-Americans after earning bronze medals by competing in the semifinal round. Sophomore Carson Watkins (119 pounds) and senior Angelo Ganac (185 pounds) medaled on the men's side, while freshmen Naomi Brabham (112 pounds), sophomore Charlotte McPhee-Gillum (119 pounds), freshman Julianna Morris (125 pounds) and senior Katie Bush (156 pounds) helped the women to a program-record eight NCBA All-America awards.
The men took third in the overall team standings, while the women finished second for their highest team placement ever at the national meet. The women's record-setting number of NCBA All-Americans secured their second-place trophy, as that number gave Air Force the edge in a tie-break with Navy that went down to the third option.
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS, SESSION 1
139-lbs. (w): Erin Nicastro (Navy) dec. Peyton Glenn (Air Force)
165-lbs. (w): Jordan Trantham (Navy) dec. Malaika Ndifang (Air Force)
175-lbs.: Ethan Stern (Navy) dec. Jacob Mendoza (Air Force)
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS, SESSION 2
125-lbs.: Jordan King (USC) dec. Leo Camacho (Air Force) UNAN
132-lbs. (w): Chinonye Mbanugo (Air Force) dec. Gabrielle Shultz (Navy)
147-lbs. (w): Mack Lucas (Air Force) dec. Haley Shaw (Army West Point)
147-lbs.: Luke Kohout (Air Force) dec. Nicholas Smith (Navy)
Hywt.: Victor Benitez (Air Force) RSC-2 Liam McCarthy (Navy)
Benitez secured his third-straight-heavyweight title late in the second round of the night's finale, as he connected on several hard hits to force the referee to stop his bout with Navy's Lian McCarthy at the 0:10 mark. Kohout also defeated a competitor from Navy during the defense of his title, earning a majority decision over Nicholas Smith in the 147-pound championship.
Mbanugo captured the Falcons' first championships of the day – and the first title belt for the women since 2017 – during the 132-pound final, as she earned a unanimous decision over Navy's Gabrielle Shultz. The women, who had just one national title prior to Mbanugo, gained its third in the next fight, as Lucas swept the judges' decision in her 147-pound bout with Haley Shaw of Army West Point.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Benitez was named the Outstanding Boxer for the men's upper weight divisions, while Lucas captured the first-ever Outstanding Boxer honor for the women's program after capturing the award for the upper divisions.
Four other Falcons also competed in the finals, earning silver medals and NCBA All-America status in their respective weight divisions. Junior Peyton Glenn and sophomore Malaika Ndifang suffered setbacks to opponents from Navy in their championship bouts, as Glenn dropped a split decision to Erin Nicastro in the 139-pound final and Ndifang lost a 165-pound decision to Jordan Trantham. On the men's side, senior Jacob Mendoza also fell to a Midshipman, as Ethan Stern took a 4-0 decision over Mendoza in their 175-pound contest. Fellow senior Leo Camacho rounded out the Falcons' silver medalists, after falling to Jordan King of USC in the 125-pound championship.
Six additional Falcons were named NCBA All-Americans after earning bronze medals by competing in the semifinal round. Sophomore Carson Watkins (119 pounds) and senior Angelo Ganac (185 pounds) medaled on the men's side, while freshmen Naomi Brabham (112 pounds), sophomore Charlotte McPhee-Gillum (119 pounds), freshman Julianna Morris (125 pounds) and senior Katie Bush (156 pounds) helped the women to a program-record eight NCBA All-America awards.
The men took third in the overall team standings, while the women finished second for their highest team placement ever at the national meet. The women's record-setting number of NCBA All-Americans secured their second-place trophy, as that number gave Air Force the edge in a tie-break with Navy that went down to the third option.
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS, SESSION 1
139-lbs. (w): Erin Nicastro (Navy) dec. Peyton Glenn (Air Force)
165-lbs. (w): Jordan Trantham (Navy) dec. Malaika Ndifang (Air Force)
175-lbs.: Ethan Stern (Navy) dec. Jacob Mendoza (Air Force)
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS, SESSION 2
125-lbs.: Jordan King (USC) dec. Leo Camacho (Air Force) UNAN
132-lbs. (w): Chinonye Mbanugo (Air Force) dec. Gabrielle Shultz (Navy)
147-lbs. (w): Mack Lucas (Air Force) dec. Haley Shaw (Army West Point)
147-lbs.: Luke Kohout (Air Force) dec. Nicholas Smith (Navy)
Hywt.: Victor Benitez (Air Force) RSC-2 Liam McCarthy (Navy)
Players Mentioned
HYWT
/ Boxing
112 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
125 lbs.
/ Boxing
185 lbs.
/ Boxing
139 lbs.
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
/ Boxing
132 lbs.
/ Boxing
112 lbs.
/ Boxing
175 lbs.
/ Boxing
132 lbs.
/ Boxing
165 lbs.
/ Boxing
119 lbs.
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