Friday, October 2
USAFA
5:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
vs
Navy
Photo by: Gary DeVore, Cadet Wing Media
Air Force Boxing Takes Down Navy, 8-2
10/2/2026 10:22:00 PM | Boxing
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. -- Backed by five-straight wins to start the night, the Air Force boxing team earned an impressive 8-2 victory over Navy this evening (Oct. 2), during the annual showdown between the two service academies. The women posted a perfect 4-0 record in the event, which was held at the Academy's Coach Eddie Weichers Boxing Gym, while the men went 4-2 to secure the team win.
At the conclusion of the competition, junior Naomi Nunez and senior Sam Banduah claimed the USAA Outstanding Boxer awards for their respective squads. Nunez captured a 122-pound decision over Faith Martin in the second bout of the night, while Banduah, who decisioned Patrick Panayides in a 154-pound matchup, guaranteed at least a tie for the Falcons, as the fifth Air Force champion of the night.
Nunez helped the women to an undefeated night in the ring, as they went 4-0 in a battle of the top two teams from last year's NCBA Championships (Air Force: first, Navy: second). Senior Sierra Dace opened the competition with a 112-pound victory over Kaitlyn Williams, while classmate Allyson Keel earned a 138-pound victory over Emma Darthford to give the Falcons a 3-0 start to the night. Junior Nebi Tsarni secured the Falcons' team title in the seventh bout, as she earned a 160-pound win over Niama Phillips.
Fellow junior Nick Lightell put the men on the board in their first bout of the night, as he won his 145-pound matchup with London Knight. Senior Justin Bonilla and junior Oude Owino capped the night with back-to-back wins for Air Force's 8-2 final, as Bonilla downed Jace Nelson in a 184-pound contest and Owino closed out the night with a 197-pound victory over Vince Rawls.
The Falcons are back in action next week, when they host a traditional round of Friday Night Fights on Oct. 9. Action is slated to begin at 4:30 p.m. (MT), inside the Weichers Boxing Gym.
At the conclusion of the competition, junior Naomi Nunez and senior Sam Banduah claimed the USAA Outstanding Boxer awards for their respective squads. Nunez captured a 122-pound decision over Faith Martin in the second bout of the night, while Banduah, who decisioned Patrick Panayides in a 154-pound matchup, guaranteed at least a tie for the Falcons, as the fifth Air Force champion of the night.
Nunez helped the women to an undefeated night in the ring, as they went 4-0 in a battle of the top two teams from last year's NCBA Championships (Air Force: first, Navy: second). Senior Sierra Dace opened the competition with a 112-pound victory over Kaitlyn Williams, while classmate Allyson Keel earned a 138-pound victory over Emma Darthford to give the Falcons a 3-0 start to the night. Junior Nebi Tsarni secured the Falcons' team title in the seventh bout, as she earned a 160-pound win over Niama Phillips.
Fellow junior Nick Lightell put the men on the board in their first bout of the night, as he won his 145-pound matchup with London Knight. Senior Justin Bonilla and junior Oude Owino capped the night with back-to-back wins for Air Force's 8-2 final, as Bonilla downed Jace Nelson in a 184-pound contest and Owino closed out the night with a 197-pound victory over Vince Rawls.
The Falcons are back in action next week, when they host a traditional round of Friday Night Fights on Oct. 9. Action is slated to begin at 4:30 p.m. (MT), inside the Weichers Boxing Gym.
RESULTS
112-lbs. [w]: Sierra Dace [Air Force] dec. Kaitlyn Williams [Navy]
122-lbs. [w]: Naomi Nunez [Air Force] dec. Faith Martin [Navy]
138-lbs. [w]: Allyson Keel [Air Force] dec. Emma Dartford [Navy]
145-lba.: Nick Lightell [Air Force] dec. London Knight [Navy]
154-lbs.: Sam Banduah [Air Force] dec. Patrick Panayides [Navy]
162-lbs.: Preton Eldred [Navy] dec. Ayo Aweh [Air Force]
178-lbs.: Jalen Ownbeyu [Navy] dec. Josh Gibb [Air Force]
160-lbs. [w]: Nebi Tsarni [Air Force] dec. Niama Phillips [Navy]
184-lbs.: Justin Bonilla [Air Force] dec. Jace Nelson [Navy]
197-lbs.: Oude Owino [Air Force] dec. Vince Rawls [Navy]
Players Mentioned
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
185 lbs.
/ Boxing
106 lbs.
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175 lbs.
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
119 lbs.
/ Boxing
195 lbs.
/ Boxing
165 lbs.
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