Academy sports wrap: Boxers take title

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SAN ANTONIO (AFPN) --  Backed by five gold medalists, the Air Force Academy boxing team claimed its 26th consecutive regional title March 19 at the National Collegiate Boxing Association's West Regional Championships in Reno, Nev. With 64 team points, the Falcons easily won the team title to continue their winning streak. The Falcons also received four silver medals during the championship round. The winners from the East and Midwest Regionals will meet the Falcons at the Air Force Academy, Colo., on March 31 to April 2, for the 2005 NCBA National Championships.

With three golfers shooting 72 or better in the final round, the Air Force golf team fired a 287 on March 16 to finish 12th at the University of Denver's Pioneer Classic. Leading the way for the Falcons was Tyler Goulding, who shot a 70 in round three to finish in a tie for fifth. Goulding's three-round score of 211 marked a personal-best.

In wrestling, the 2004-05 season came to an end for the academy grapplers March 18 when the three Falcons who had made it past the first round were eliminated during the second round of the NCAA Championships, held in St. Louis. Brandon Strong, who finished the regular season ranked 19th in the country at 125 pounds, saw his season come to an abrupt end when he was eliminated in the consolation bracket with a medical forfeit to Drew Forshey of the University of North Carolina. Strong, a two-time NCAA qualifier, ended his season with a 26-8 overall record, despite struggling with injury for most of the season.

The academy baseball team got the broom after suffering a three-game sweep at the hands of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas in Mountain West Conference action. In the first game, played March 18, the Rebels cruised to an 11-2 win. In the second game, held the following afternoon, three UNLV pitchers combined to toss a two-hit shutout in a 10-0 win over the Falcons. In the third game, played March 20, UNLV completed the sweep over the Air Force baseball team with a 13-2 win. The Falcons fall to 4-16 on the season and 0-3 in conference play.