Friday, February 27
USAFA
6:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
vs
Wing Open Championships
Photo by: Ray Bahner
Air Force Boxing Heads to Clune For Wing Open Championships
2/26/2026 9:55:00 AM | Boxing
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – The Air Force boxing team heads under the lights of Clune Arena for a special edition of Friday Night Fights tomorrow [Feb. 27] night, as 24 Academy boxers step into the ring for the final 12 bouts of an action-packed Wing Open Tournament.
The 68th-annual championship show, which will be broadcast live on the Mountain West Network, is slated to begin at 6:00 p.m. [MT] – although fans are encouraged to arrive early [approximately 5:40 p.m.] to celebrate the Falcons' senior class. Wing Open tickets can be purchased online at AFTickets.com.
The 2026 card features 11 former Wing Open winners, with the 132-pound final featuring champions in both corners, as junior Sebastyan Correa Rios, the reigning champion – and a two-time finalist – in that weight division will face off with sophomore Russell Klug, who claimed the 139-pound title last season. This year's 139-pound final also includes a former 132-pound champion, as senior KJ Jackson, who won at 132 pounds in 2024, returns to the ring for a 139-pound final against sophomore Alan He.
With two Wing Open titles under his belt, senior Neo Takazawa enters the night as the most decorated member of the men's boxing team on this year's card. Making his fourth-straight appearance in Clune, Takazawa – the 2025 champion at 175 pounds – will face off against sophomore Niko Phelps in an attempt to regain the 156-pound title he won in 2024.
Junior Justin Bonilla, the 2025 champion at 185 pounds and a heavyweight finalist in 2024, will compete in his third different weight division this year, as he toes the line with freshman Josh Gibb in the 175-pound final. Senior Noah Gilley also changed weight classes this year, as he will match up with sophomore Nick Lightell in the 147-pound championship after winning the 156-pound title last year.
Sophomore Juneau Kim will look to defend his 125-pound title in a meeting with junior James Burnias, while senior Thomas Kensinger will close out the night a heavyweight defense with junior Isaac Hubert.
The women's portion of Friday's card will feature two reigning national champions, as sophomores Maya Lee [147 pounds] and Sela Panuve [156 pounds] look to defend their Wing Open titles against classmates Camille Lujan and Aeriya Perusek, respectively. The 139-pound matchup will also feature a former Wing Open champion, as senior Alejandra Tirado-Elias, who claimed the 125-pound title as a freshman, returns to the ring to face off against junior – and 2024 finalist – Allyson Keel.
The remaining two bouts feature matchups between two returning finalists and a pair of newcomers. The Wing Open will begin with former finalists sophomores Samantha Villa [2025] and senior Charlotte McPhee-Gillum [2024] toeing the line at 119 pounds, while the women's 125-pound championship will feature sophomore newcomers Madei Soluren and Mikayla Gangadeen in their first Wing Open final.
Seven Falcons secured their Wing Open titles earlier in the tournament, either by going unopposed or winning their championship bout last week. Junior Naomi Brabham [112 pounds] and senior Elise Bell [132 pounds] – the reigning national champions in their respective weight divisions, retained their Wing Open titles by walkover, while junior Freddy Ceciliano Jr. went unopposed at 119 pounds. The remaining four champions earned their victories last Friday, with juniors Ellison Taylor [165 pounds] and Christian Hughes [195 pounds] defending their titles, sophomore Oude Owino claiming his first 185-pound title, and junior Sierra Dace earning the first 106-pound title in Air Force history.
One additional championship – the women's 165-pound final between sophomore Nebi Tsarni [the reigning Wing Open champion] and classmate Grace Fiaseu – will take place on Monday, March 2. Once the tournament is complete, a program-record 20 Wing Open champions will represent the Academy in the National Collegiate Boxing Association's postseason, which will begin for Air Force at the Western Regional in Reno on March 12-14.
BASE ACCESS: Anyone without a DoD ID card must obtain a visitor pass to enter the Air Force Academy for the Wing Open. Click HERE for more information and to apply for a visitor pass.
The 68th-annual championship show, which will be broadcast live on the Mountain West Network, is slated to begin at 6:00 p.m. [MT] – although fans are encouraged to arrive early [approximately 5:40 p.m.] to celebrate the Falcons' senior class. Wing Open tickets can be purchased online at AFTickets.com.
| 2026 Bout Card |
The 2026 card features 11 former Wing Open winners, with the 132-pound final featuring champions in both corners, as junior Sebastyan Correa Rios, the reigning champion – and a two-time finalist – in that weight division will face off with sophomore Russell Klug, who claimed the 139-pound title last season. This year's 139-pound final also includes a former 132-pound champion, as senior KJ Jackson, who won at 132 pounds in 2024, returns to the ring for a 139-pound final against sophomore Alan He.
With two Wing Open titles under his belt, senior Neo Takazawa enters the night as the most decorated member of the men's boxing team on this year's card. Making his fourth-straight appearance in Clune, Takazawa – the 2025 champion at 175 pounds – will face off against sophomore Niko Phelps in an attempt to regain the 156-pound title he won in 2024.
Junior Justin Bonilla, the 2025 champion at 185 pounds and a heavyweight finalist in 2024, will compete in his third different weight division this year, as he toes the line with freshman Josh Gibb in the 175-pound final. Senior Noah Gilley also changed weight classes this year, as he will match up with sophomore Nick Lightell in the 147-pound championship after winning the 156-pound title last year.
Sophomore Juneau Kim will look to defend his 125-pound title in a meeting with junior James Burnias, while senior Thomas Kensinger will close out the night a heavyweight defense with junior Isaac Hubert.
The women's portion of Friday's card will feature two reigning national champions, as sophomores Maya Lee [147 pounds] and Sela Panuve [156 pounds] look to defend their Wing Open titles against classmates Camille Lujan and Aeriya Perusek, respectively. The 139-pound matchup will also feature a former Wing Open champion, as senior Alejandra Tirado-Elias, who claimed the 125-pound title as a freshman, returns to the ring to face off against junior – and 2024 finalist – Allyson Keel.
The remaining two bouts feature matchups between two returning finalists and a pair of newcomers. The Wing Open will begin with former finalists sophomores Samantha Villa [2025] and senior Charlotte McPhee-Gillum [2024] toeing the line at 119 pounds, while the women's 125-pound championship will feature sophomore newcomers Madei Soluren and Mikayla Gangadeen in their first Wing Open final.
Seven Falcons secured their Wing Open titles earlier in the tournament, either by going unopposed or winning their championship bout last week. Junior Naomi Brabham [112 pounds] and senior Elise Bell [132 pounds] – the reigning national champions in their respective weight divisions, retained their Wing Open titles by walkover, while junior Freddy Ceciliano Jr. went unopposed at 119 pounds. The remaining four champions earned their victories last Friday, with juniors Ellison Taylor [165 pounds] and Christian Hughes [195 pounds] defending their titles, sophomore Oude Owino claiming his first 185-pound title, and junior Sierra Dace earning the first 106-pound title in Air Force history.
One additional championship – the women's 165-pound final between sophomore Nebi Tsarni [the reigning Wing Open champion] and classmate Grace Fiaseu – will take place on Monday, March 2. Once the tournament is complete, a program-record 20 Wing Open champions will represent the Academy in the National Collegiate Boxing Association's postseason, which will begin for Air Force at the Western Regional in Reno on March 12-14.
BASE ACCESS: Anyone without a DoD ID card must obtain a visitor pass to enter the Air Force Academy for the Wing Open. Click HERE for more information and to apply for a visitor pass.
Players Mentioned
132 lbs.
/ Boxing
185 lbs.
/ Boxing
112 lbs.
/ Boxing
125 lbs.
/ Boxing
119 lbs.
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
/ Boxing
112 lbs.
/ Boxing
125 lbs.
/ Boxing
175 lbs.
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
/ Boxing
195 lbs.
/ Boxing
132 lbs.
/ Boxing
HWT
/ Boxing
119 lbs.
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
147 lbs.
/ Boxing
139 lbs.
/ Boxing
112 lbs.
/ Boxing
195 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
165 lbs.
/ Boxing
156 lbs.
/ Boxing
125 lbs.
/ Boxing
175 lbs.
/ Boxing
165 lbs.
/ Boxing
165 lbs.
/ Boxing
125 lbs.
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