Friday, February 20
USAFA
4:30 pm MT
Air Force Academy
vs
Wing Open Semifinals
Photo by: Gary DeVore, Cadet Wing Media
Falcons Crown First Champions, Finalize Wing Open Lineup
2/20/2026 9:53:00 PM | Boxing
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. -- The first four Wing Open champions of 2026 were crowned this evening [Feb. 20], as the Air Force boxing team held the third night of tournament action in the Cadet Gym Boxing Room. In addition to naming the newest members of a Champions' list that spans 68 years, the Falcons also finalized the brackets in seven additional weight classes.
Junior Sierra Dace became the Academy's first-ever Wing Open champion at 106 pounds, as she decisioned newcomer Lizette Mendoza in the inaugural championship at that weight class. On the men's side, junior Ellison Taylor successfully defended his 165-pound title after forcing the referee to stop his bout with freshman Ayo Aweh in the second round, while classmate Christian Hughes defended his 195-pound championship with a decision over freshman Bryce Spiller in a thrilling conclusion to the night. In between the two repeat winners, sophomore Oude Owino captured his first Wing Open title after forcing his opponent, junior Zion Martley, to retire in the third round.
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
106-lbs. [w]: Sierra Dace [CS-02] dec. Lizette Mendoza [CS-10]
165-lbs.: Ellison Taylor [CS-34] RSC-2 Ayo Aweh [CS-39]
185-lbs.: Oude Owino [CS-08] RET-3 Zion Martley [CS-26]
195-lbs.: Christian Hughes [CS-27] dec. Bryce Spiller [CS-08]
Eleven more boxers secured a spot in their championship bout with semifinal victories on Friday night.
Both sides of the 119-pound and 125-pound brackets were decided for the women, while junior Allyson Keel earned her second trip to Clune Arena with a 139-pound victory over freshman Amiya Farias. Junior Samantha Villa defeated classmate Olivia Fess in the first 119-pound semifinal for her second appearance in the championship, where she will face senior Charlotte McPhee-Gillum, who earned her second bid to Clune after decisioning sophomore Naomi Nunez. Sophomores Madei Soluren and Mikayla Gangadeen secured their first trips to the championships with semifinal wins at 125 pounds, as Soluren earned a referee-stopped win [second round] over freshman Alexa Chaves and Gangadeen earned a decision in her bout with freshman Addison Eldridge.
On the men's side, sophomore Russell Klug – last year's 139-pound champion, advanced to the final at 132 pounds with a win over senior Dominic Feliz, while sophomore Alan He secured his spot in the 139-pound bracket after forcing the referee to stop his bout with freshman Landon Tsang in the third round.
The remaining four bouts determined the final pairings for the 147-pound and 156-pound championships. Junior Noah Gilley, who claimed the 156-pound title last year, will compete at 147 pounds this year after decisioning sophomore Hayden Boone for a spot in the final – where he will face sophomore Nick Lightell, who earned his first trip to the final with a decision over junior Sam Banduah. Two-time Wing Open champion Neo Takazawa [2025: 165 pounds; 2024: 156 pounds] secured his fourth appearance in the championship round – and third at 156 pounds – after forcing classmate Steve Rasizzi into retirement during the third round. Takazawa will toe the line with Niko Phelps in the final, as the junior decisioned freshman Garrett Ford in the other 156-pound bout.
SEMIFINAL RESULTS
119-lbs. [w]: Samantha Villa [CS-27] dec. Olivia Fess [CS-03]
119-lbs. [w]: Charlotte McPhee-Gillum [CS-38] dec. Naomi Nunez [CS-25]
125-lbs. [w] Madei Soluren [CS-11] RSC-2 Alexa Chaves [CS-20]
125-lbs. [w]: Mikayla Gangadeen [CS-31] dec. Addison Eldridge [CS-25]
132-lbs.: Russell Klug [CS-40] dec. Dominic Feliz [CS-02]
139-lbs.: Alan He [CS-24] RSC-3. Landon Tsang [CS-29]
139-lbs. [w]: Allyson Keel [CS-18] dec. Amiya Farias [CS-24]
147-lbs.: Noah Gilley [CS-39] dec. Hayden Boone [CS-17]
147-lbs.: Nick Lightell [CS-37] dec. Sam Banduah [CS-32]
156-lbs.: Neo Takazawa [CS-25] RET-3 Steve Rasizzi [CS-03]
156-lbs.: Niko Phelps [CS-38] dec. Garrett Ford [CS-24]
With the lineups set, the Falcons will head under the lights of Clune Arena for the 2026 Wing Open Championships next Friday [Feb. 27]. Action is slated to begin at 6:00 p.m. [MT]. Tickets can be purchased online at AFTickets.com and the championships will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network.
Junior Sierra Dace became the Academy's first-ever Wing Open champion at 106 pounds, as she decisioned newcomer Lizette Mendoza in the inaugural championship at that weight class. On the men's side, junior Ellison Taylor successfully defended his 165-pound title after forcing the referee to stop his bout with freshman Ayo Aweh in the second round, while classmate Christian Hughes defended his 195-pound championship with a decision over freshman Bryce Spiller in a thrilling conclusion to the night. In between the two repeat winners, sophomore Oude Owino captured his first Wing Open title after forcing his opponent, junior Zion Martley, to retire in the third round.
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
106-lbs. [w]: Sierra Dace [CS-02] dec. Lizette Mendoza [CS-10]
165-lbs.: Ellison Taylor [CS-34] RSC-2 Ayo Aweh [CS-39]
185-lbs.: Oude Owino [CS-08] RET-3 Zion Martley [CS-26]
195-lbs.: Christian Hughes [CS-27] dec. Bryce Spiller [CS-08]
Eleven more boxers secured a spot in their championship bout with semifinal victories on Friday night.
Both sides of the 119-pound and 125-pound brackets were decided for the women, while junior Allyson Keel earned her second trip to Clune Arena with a 139-pound victory over freshman Amiya Farias. Junior Samantha Villa defeated classmate Olivia Fess in the first 119-pound semifinal for her second appearance in the championship, where she will face senior Charlotte McPhee-Gillum, who earned her second bid to Clune after decisioning sophomore Naomi Nunez. Sophomores Madei Soluren and Mikayla Gangadeen secured their first trips to the championships with semifinal wins at 125 pounds, as Soluren earned a referee-stopped win [second round] over freshman Alexa Chaves and Gangadeen earned a decision in her bout with freshman Addison Eldridge.
On the men's side, sophomore Russell Klug – last year's 139-pound champion, advanced to the final at 132 pounds with a win over senior Dominic Feliz, while sophomore Alan He secured his spot in the 139-pound bracket after forcing the referee to stop his bout with freshman Landon Tsang in the third round.
The remaining four bouts determined the final pairings for the 147-pound and 156-pound championships. Junior Noah Gilley, who claimed the 156-pound title last year, will compete at 147 pounds this year after decisioning sophomore Hayden Boone for a spot in the final – where he will face sophomore Nick Lightell, who earned his first trip to the final with a decision over junior Sam Banduah. Two-time Wing Open champion Neo Takazawa [2025: 165 pounds; 2024: 156 pounds] secured his fourth appearance in the championship round – and third at 156 pounds – after forcing classmate Steve Rasizzi into retirement during the third round. Takazawa will toe the line with Niko Phelps in the final, as the junior decisioned freshman Garrett Ford in the other 156-pound bout.
SEMIFINAL RESULTS
119-lbs. [w]: Samantha Villa [CS-27] dec. Olivia Fess [CS-03]
119-lbs. [w]: Charlotte McPhee-Gillum [CS-38] dec. Naomi Nunez [CS-25]
125-lbs. [w] Madei Soluren [CS-11] RSC-2 Alexa Chaves [CS-20]
125-lbs. [w]: Mikayla Gangadeen [CS-31] dec. Addison Eldridge [CS-25]
132-lbs.: Russell Klug [CS-40] dec. Dominic Feliz [CS-02]
139-lbs.: Alan He [CS-24] RSC-3. Landon Tsang [CS-29]
139-lbs. [w]: Allyson Keel [CS-18] dec. Amiya Farias [CS-24]
147-lbs.: Noah Gilley [CS-39] dec. Hayden Boone [CS-17]
147-lbs.: Nick Lightell [CS-37] dec. Sam Banduah [CS-32]
156-lbs.: Neo Takazawa [CS-25] RET-3 Steve Rasizzi [CS-03]
156-lbs.: Niko Phelps [CS-38] dec. Garrett Ford [CS-24]
With the lineups set, the Falcons will head under the lights of Clune Arena for the 2026 Wing Open Championships next Friday [Feb. 27]. Action is slated to begin at 6:00 p.m. [MT]. Tickets can be purchased online at AFTickets.com and the championships will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network.
Players Mentioned
165 lbs.
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165 lbs.
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139 lbs.
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112 lbs.
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125 lbs.
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132 lbs.
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119 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
125 lbs.
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
/ Boxing
195 lbs.
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
/ Boxing
112 lbs.
/ Boxing
119 lbs.
/ Boxing
195 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
125 lbs.
/ Boxing
175 lbs.
/ Boxing
165 lbs.
/ Boxing
125 lbs.
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