Boxing: Falcons win title, 10 qualify for nationals

  • Published
  • By Valerie Perkin
  • U.S. Air Force Academy
LAS VEGAS (AFNEWS) --  With five champions, the Air Force boxing team returned the National Collegiate Boxing Association Western Regional title to the academy for their 27th title in the last 28 years during at the regional meet held in Las Vegas.

The Falcons won the seven-team regional meet with 64 points, while Nevada finished second with 45 points and host the University of Nevada at Las Vegas finished third with 36 points. 

The University of California, San Francisco, Santa Clara and San Jose State rounded out the field.

Senior Willie Lloyd won his fourth regional title in as many years with a walkover at 112 pounds. Sophomore Jesse Horton won a referee-stopped contest over UNLV's Alex Nyakana at 119 pounds, while classmate Nicholas Goc defeated Jeff Watkins of UNLV when the referee stopped the contest in the third round of the 139-pound final. At 195 pounds, junior John Quinn decisioned Chris Roesch of UNLV, while senior Ian Tuznik defeated Nevada's John Lorman in the heavyweight division.

Air Force also claimed three second-place finishers, all of which automatically qualified for the national meet. Freshman Matt McPhail dropped a 125-pound decision to Nevada's Tristan Rivera, while senior Joe Conrad fell in a 165-pound referee-stopped contest with Nevada's Ryan Kotey. Sophomore Boyce Loomis fell in the 185-pound bout to Charles Blackwell of UNLV.

In addition to the night's final bouts, several box-offs were contested for the right to advance to the national meet. Freshman Alexander Shin (132 pounds) and junior Clifford Moore (156 pounds) won their respective third-place bouts, while seniors Jahmil Edwards (147 pounds) and Evin Negron (175 pounds) fell, but still have the opportunity to earn at-large bids to the national meet once all regional standings are determined.

Up next for the Falcons is the NCBA National Championships, which will be held April 12 to 14 in Reno.

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