Saturday, April 12
Lawrenceburg, IN
11:00 am MT
Air Force Academy
at
National Championships
Air Force Women Claim First NCBA National Team Title
4/12/2025 9:11:00 PM | Boxing
LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. -- Headlined by a perfect, four-for-four night in the national finals, the Air Force women's boxing team secured the program's first-ever team title at the National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA) Championships this evening (April 12) in Indiana.
A pair of freshmen champions bookended the women's undefeated night at the Lawrenceburg Events Center, with the four champions doubling the women's previous single-meet record. Sela Panuve opened the Falcons' night in the first session, as she avenged last month's regional loss to California's Michell Diaz with a decisive, unanimous victory in tonight's 156-pound national championship bout. Classmate Maya Lee put the stamp on the women's victory during their final bout of the night, as she claimed a 3-2 decision in her 147-pound final with Sacramento State's Ayahna Gonzales to earn her first national title and complete the Falcons' sweep.
In between those two wins, Air Force saw sophomore Naomi Brabham and junior Elise Bell add their names to the program's record book with their first NCBA championship belts. Brabham opened the second session with a split decision 112-pound win over Ohio State's Nicoleta Durlesteanu, while Bell secured the team title with a 3-2 victory over Washington's Jill Doucet in the 132-pound championship.
The women, who finished the tournament with a program-record eight NCBA All-Americans (four gold medalists – Bell, Brabham, Lee, Panuve, four bronze medalists – senior Peyton Glenn, sophomore Julianna Morris, senior Cass Rosa, freshman Nebi Tsarni), paced the trio of service academy teams in the final team standings, as Army West Point (second) and Navy (third) rounded out the top three.
On the men's side, senior Luke Kohout captured his third-straight national title in the 147-pound weight class, as he earned a unanimous decision over Nevada's Joey Azar. Controlling the contest throughout, he forced Azar into one of the few standing eights on the night in the waning seconds of the match to secure his third NCBA championship belt. Junior Thomas Kensinger – competing in just his second boxing match of his career – captured a silver medal in the heavyweight division, as the referee stopped his bout with Navy's Liam McCarthy in the third round.
As a team, the men finished third in the national standings – tying with UConn overall, but edging the Huskies for third by the sixth NCBA tie-break procedure. Cincinnati finished second in the team standings, while Navy completed the top three with its second-straight team title.
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
156-lbs. (w): Sela Panuve (Air Force) dec. Michell Diaz (California)
112-lbs. (w): Naomi Brabham (Air Force) dec. Nicoleta Durlesteanu (Ohio State)
132-lbs. (w): Elise Bell (Air Force) dec. Jill Doucet (Washington)
147-lbs.: Luke Kohout (Air Force) dec. Joey Azar (Nevada)
147-lbs. (w): Maya Lee (Air Force) dec. Ayahna Gonzales (Sacramento State)
Hywt.: Liam McCarthy (Navy) RSC-3 Thomas Kensinger (Air Force)
A pair of freshmen champions bookended the women's undefeated night at the Lawrenceburg Events Center, with the four champions doubling the women's previous single-meet record. Sela Panuve opened the Falcons' night in the first session, as she avenged last month's regional loss to California's Michell Diaz with a decisive, unanimous victory in tonight's 156-pound national championship bout. Classmate Maya Lee put the stamp on the women's victory during their final bout of the night, as she claimed a 3-2 decision in her 147-pound final with Sacramento State's Ayahna Gonzales to earn her first national title and complete the Falcons' sweep.
In between those two wins, Air Force saw sophomore Naomi Brabham and junior Elise Bell add their names to the program's record book with their first NCBA championship belts. Brabham opened the second session with a split decision 112-pound win over Ohio State's Nicoleta Durlesteanu, while Bell secured the team title with a 3-2 victory over Washington's Jill Doucet in the 132-pound championship.
The women, who finished the tournament with a program-record eight NCBA All-Americans (four gold medalists – Bell, Brabham, Lee, Panuve, four bronze medalists – senior Peyton Glenn, sophomore Julianna Morris, senior Cass Rosa, freshman Nebi Tsarni), paced the trio of service academy teams in the final team standings, as Army West Point (second) and Navy (third) rounded out the top three.
On the men's side, senior Luke Kohout captured his third-straight national title in the 147-pound weight class, as he earned a unanimous decision over Nevada's Joey Azar. Controlling the contest throughout, he forced Azar into one of the few standing eights on the night in the waning seconds of the match to secure his third NCBA championship belt. Junior Thomas Kensinger – competing in just his second boxing match of his career – captured a silver medal in the heavyweight division, as the referee stopped his bout with Navy's Liam McCarthy in the third round.
As a team, the men finished third in the national standings – tying with UConn overall, but edging the Huskies for third by the sixth NCBA tie-break procedure. Cincinnati finished second in the team standings, while Navy completed the top three with its second-straight team title.
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
156-lbs. (w): Sela Panuve (Air Force) dec. Michell Diaz (California)
112-lbs. (w): Naomi Brabham (Air Force) dec. Nicoleta Durlesteanu (Ohio State)
132-lbs. (w): Elise Bell (Air Force) dec. Jill Doucet (Washington)
147-lbs.: Luke Kohout (Air Force) dec. Joey Azar (Nevada)
147-lbs. (w): Maya Lee (Air Force) dec. Ayahna Gonzales (Sacramento State)
Hywt.: Liam McCarthy (Navy) RSC-3 Thomas Kensinger (Air Force)
Players Mentioned
132 lbs.
/ Boxing
112 lbs.
/ Boxing
139 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
132 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
125 lbs.
/ Boxing
175 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
