Saturday, January 24
USAFA
2:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
vs
Falcon Invitational
Photo by: Gary DeVore, Cadet Wing Media
Boxing Claims Seven Victories at Falcon Invitational
1/24/2026 9:07:00 PM | Boxing
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Air Force boxing team picked up seven victories this evening [Jan. 24], as it hosted the third-annual Falcon Invitational in front of a packed house at the Cadet Gym Boxing Room. Overall, Air Force posted a 7-6 record against its National Collegiate Boxing Association foes from across the western region.
Junior Sam Banduah and sophomore Hayden Boone both captured victories before the final bell, as Banduah forced the referee to stop his 150-pound bout with Nevada's Walter Crawford in the third round and Boone closed out the first session with an RSC (third round) win over California's Ricky Yu.
The remainder of the night's fights went to the judges for decision.
The women went 2-0 on the night, as senior Alejandra Tirado-Elias earned a unanimous decision over Anastasias Bova from USC at 145 pounds and sophomore Naomi Nunez received the judges' votes in her 121-pound contest with Utah's Gena Van Der Wal. Newcomers accounted for the Falcons' final three victories, with freshman Ayo Aweh earning a unanimous decision over Utah's Jayden Dunn at 175 pounds, classmate Garrett Ford earning the votes in his 163-pound contest with Nevada's Graham Lemons, and newcomer Byrce Spiller decisioning Utah Kameron Jimenez at 197 pounds.
Six additional boxers represented the Academy against their NCBA foes. Three suffered split decision losses to contenders from Sacramento State, with sophomore Alan He falling at 142 pounds (Sebastian Perez), classmate Oude Owino suffering a controversial loss at 190 pounds (Austin Melendez) and newcomer Braxton Galat dropping his 154-pound contest with Javier Alejo. Junior James Burnias (139 pounds, Liam Gouve) and newcomer Steven Rasizzi (165 pounds, Murphy Rhea) dropped split decisions to opponents from Nevada, while junior Freddy Ceciliano Jr. lost his 119-pound bout to Miheer Tongaonkar of USC.
The Falcons head to Seattle next weekend [Jan. 30-31] for the WAC Main Event.
SESSION 1 RESULTSJunior Sam Banduah and sophomore Hayden Boone both captured victories before the final bell, as Banduah forced the referee to stop his 150-pound bout with Nevada's Walter Crawford in the third round and Boone closed out the first session with an RSC (third round) win over California's Ricky Yu.
The remainder of the night's fights went to the judges for decision.
The women went 2-0 on the night, as senior Alejandra Tirado-Elias earned a unanimous decision over Anastasias Bova from USC at 145 pounds and sophomore Naomi Nunez received the judges' votes in her 121-pound contest with Utah's Gena Van Der Wal. Newcomers accounted for the Falcons' final three victories, with freshman Ayo Aweh earning a unanimous decision over Utah's Jayden Dunn at 175 pounds, classmate Garrett Ford earning the votes in his 163-pound contest with Nevada's Graham Lemons, and newcomer Byrce Spiller decisioning Utah Kameron Jimenez at 197 pounds.
Six additional boxers represented the Academy against their NCBA foes. Three suffered split decision losses to contenders from Sacramento State, with sophomore Alan He falling at 142 pounds (Sebastian Perez), classmate Oude Owino suffering a controversial loss at 190 pounds (Austin Melendez) and newcomer Braxton Galat dropping his 154-pound contest with Javier Alejo. Junior James Burnias (139 pounds, Liam Gouve) and newcomer Steven Rasizzi (165 pounds, Murphy Rhea) dropped split decisions to opponents from Nevada, while junior Freddy Ceciliano Jr. lost his 119-pound bout to Miheer Tongaonkar of USC.
The Falcons head to Seattle next weekend [Jan. 30-31] for the WAC Main Event.
119-lbs.: Miheer Tongaonkar [USC] dec. Freddy Ceciliano Jr [Air Force] UNAN
121-lbs. [w]: Naomi Nunez [Air Force] dec. Gena Van Der Wal [Utah]
139-lbs.: Liam Gouveia [Nevada] dec. James Burnias [Air Force]
139-lbs.: Jacob Rivera [California] dec. Brady Severson [Utah] UNAN
150-lbs.: Sam Banduah [Air Force] RSC-3 Walter Crawford [Nevada]
142-lbs.: Sebastian Perez [Sacramento State] dec. Alan He [Air Force] UNAN
156-lbs.: Hayden Boone [Air Force] RSC-3 Ricky Yu [California]
SESSION 2 RESULTS
145-lbs. [w]: Alejandra Tirado-Elias [Air Force] dec. Anastasia Bova [USC] UNAN
163-lbs.: Garrett Ford [Air Force] dec. Graham Lemons [Nevada]
154-lbs.: Javier Alejo [Sacramento State] dec. Braxton Galat [Air Force]
175-lbs.: Ayo Aweh [Air Force] dec. Jayden Dunn [Utah] UNAN
165-lbs.: Murphy Rhea [Nevada] dec. Steven Rasizzi [Air Force]
197-lbs.: Bryce Spiller [Air Force] dec. Kameron Jimenez [Utah]
155-lbs.: Nate Nichols [Nevada] dec. Marcos Vasquez [Sacramento State] UNAN
190-lbs.: Austin Melendez [Sacramento State] dec. Oude Owino [Air Force]
Players Mentioned
165 lbs.
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165 lbs.
/ Boxing
139 lbs.
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125 lbs.
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119 lbs.
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156 lbs.
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147 lbs.
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119 lbs.
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195 lbs.
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