Saturday, January 25
USAFA
1:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
vs
Falcon Invitational
Photo by: Adalyn Greene
Boxing Wraps up Action at Falcon Invitational
1/25/2025 8:12:00 PM | Boxing
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – Backed by a strong outing in the second session of competition, a young contingent of the Air Force boxers posted a 10-6 record during the second-annual Falcon Invitational this afternoon (Jan. 25) in the familiar confines for the Cadet Gym Boxing Room.
The Falcons went 3-4 during the first session, with sophomore Freddy Ceciliano Jr., freshman Maya Lee and Neo Takazawa putting together three-straight victories. Ceciliano put Air Force on the board, but didn't leave the outcome up to the judges, as he took down Santa Clara's Max Kanter in the second round of their 135-pound bout. Lee followed up with a 147-pound decision over Sacramento State's Ayanha Gonzalez, while Takazawa controlled his 185-pound contest with Santa Clara's Frank Titting from the opening bell to claim the unanimous decision.
Four other Falcons competed in the opening session, but dropped their respective decisions. Freshmen Patrick Weaver (175 pounds) and Jaydan Douglas (147 pounds) fell to contenders from Sacramento State, as Joseph Lovett and Marcos Vasquez won those bouts, respectively. Sophomore Sebastyan Correa Rios dropped a 125-pound decision to Santa Clara's Arturo Alvarez, while junior Dominic Feliz was decisioned by Brendan Johnson-Corrington of USC.
The Falcons went 3-4 during the first session, with sophomore Freddy Ceciliano Jr., freshman Maya Lee and Neo Takazawa putting together three-straight victories. Ceciliano put Air Force on the board, but didn't leave the outcome up to the judges, as he took down Santa Clara's Max Kanter in the second round of their 135-pound bout. Lee followed up with a 147-pound decision over Sacramento State's Ayanha Gonzalez, while Takazawa controlled his 185-pound contest with Santa Clara's Frank Titting from the opening bell to claim the unanimous decision.
Four other Falcons competed in the opening session, but dropped their respective decisions. Freshmen Patrick Weaver (175 pounds) and Jaydan Douglas (147 pounds) fell to contenders from Sacramento State, as Joseph Lovett and Marcos Vasquez won those bouts, respectively. Sophomore Sebastyan Correa Rios dropped a 125-pound decision to Santa Clara's Arturo Alvarez, while junior Dominic Feliz was decisioned by Brendan Johnson-Corrington of USC.
RESULTS | SESSION 1
175-lbs.: Joseph Lovett (Sacramento State) dec. Patrick Weaver (Air Force)
135-lbs.: Arturo Alvarez (Santa Clara) dec. Sebastyan Correa Rios (Air Force)
190-lbs.: Austin Melendez (Sacramento State) dec. Robert Zhao (USC) =
135-lbs.: Freddy Ceciliano Jr. (Air Force) RSC-2 Max Kanter (Santa Clara)
147-lbs. (w): Maya Lee (Air Force) dec. Ayanha Gonzales (Sacramento State)
119-lbs.: Matt El Rassi (USC) dec. Yousuf Munir (Ohio State)
185-lbs.: Neo Takazawa (Air Force) dec. Frank Tittinger (Santa Clara)
142-lbs.: Brendan Johnson-Corrington (USC) dec. Dominic Feliz (Air Force)
147-lbs.: Marcos Vasquez (Sacramento State) dec. Jaydan Douglas (Air Force)
Air Force went 7-2 against a new crop of contenders in the second session – a record headlined by victories in the final six bouts. Sophomore Olivia Fess and freshman Naomi Nunez swept their counterparts from Utah, as Fess decisioned Jenna van de Wal in a 132-pound bout and Nunez earned the judges' decision in her 125-pound bout over Olivia Pax. The men picked up a pair of wins over Ohio State, as sophomore Sam Banduah decisioned Keon Oliver at 146 pounds and freshman Juneau Kim captured the judges' votes over Jar'shon Thompson at 128 pounds. The three remaining Air Force victories came by way of referee stoppages, as sophomore Ellison Taylor continued his strong season with a third-round, 170-pound win over California's Ethan Ryder, classmate Noah Gilley picked up a third-round win over UNLV's Terrell Joiner at 156 pounds, and freshman Ellis Williams earned the 185-pound victory after stopping Utah's Lamar Williams in the second round.
Freshman Russell Klug was decisioned by Ohio State's Liam Mackessy in the 139-pound contest, while classmate Djibril Curley rounded out the Falcons' lineup with a 170-pound loss to California's Jarek Escobar.
Freshman Russell Klug was decisioned by Ohio State's Liam Mackessy in the 139-pound contest, while classmate Djibril Curley rounded out the Falcons' lineup with a 170-pound loss to California's Jarek Escobar.
RESULTS | SESSION 2
139-lbs.: Liam Mackessy (Ohio State) dec. Russell Klug (Air Force)
132-lbs. (w): Olivia Fess (Air Force) dec. Jenna van de Wal (Utah)
170-lbs.: Jarek Escobar (California) dec. Djibril Curley (Air Force)
147-lbs.: Sam Banduah (Air Force) dec. Keon Oliver (Ohio State)
147-lbs.: Sean Sebal (Utah) dec. Carlos Castillas (UNLV)
170-lbs.: Ellison Taylor (Air Force) RSC-3 Ethan Ryder (California)
125-lbs. (w): Naomi Nunez (Air Force) dec. Olivia Pax (Utah)
115-lbs. (w): Starr Penrose (unattached) dec. Nicoleta Durlestaneau (Ohio State)
156-lbs.: Noah Gilley (Air Force) RSC-3 Terell Joiner (UNLV)
185-lbs.: Ellis Williams (Air Force) RSC-2 Lamar Williams (Utah)
128-lbs.: Juneau Kim (Air Force) dec. Jar'shon Thompson (Ohio State)
The Falcons head to Seattle next weekend (Jan. 31-Feb. 1) for the WAC Main Event.
Players Mentioned
165 lbs.
/ Boxing
125 lbs.
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
/ Boxing
132 lbs.
/ Boxing
119 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
119 lbs.
/ Boxing
132 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
119 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
175 lbs.
/ Boxing
175 lbs.
/ Boxing
185 lbs.
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