Air Force Academy

April 5, 2002

Annapolis, MD - Air Force advanced six boxers into the finals of the National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA) Championships Friday night and are on the brink of winning their fourth consecutive national team title.

The Falcons go into Saturday's finals at the U.S. Naval Academy's Halsey Auditorium with 18 team points. Host Navy is second with 15 followed by a three-way tie for third with Army, Lock Haven and UNLV with nine.

Navy has just five boxers in the finals to give the Falcons a slim edge. "I think we really have a realistic shot at successfully defending the national title," said head coach Eddie Weichers. "We got off to a great start Friday when Darren Smith defeated Ahmad Ghaffar from Navy who was a senior."

Both of the Falcons defending national champions, Ulysses Linares and Dustin Brown advanced to the finals. Linares, fighting in the 147-pound division, won a decision of VMI's Tony Peters while Brown, who drew a bye in the quarterfinals defeated Michigan's Brian Levenberg in the 195-pound weight class.

For the second night in the row, Justin Pendry won his heavyweight bout by stopping his opponent in the first round. In Friday's semis, he defeated Luke Runion from Penn State. The victory sets up a re-match against UNLV's Louis O'Hiaeri who won a hard-fought decision over Pendry in the NCBA regionals two weeks ago in Reno, NV.

119-lb. Weight Division -- Darren Smith, Air Force dec. Ahmad Ghaffar, Navy
125-lb. Weight Division -- John Stout, Lock Haven dec. Eamon Murray, Air Force
132-lb. Weight Division -- Masamich Matsumoto, Nevada dec. Dathan Salgado, Air Force
139-lb. Weight Division -- Steve Cobos, Navy dec. Vaughn Brazil, Air Force
147 lb. Weight Division -- Ulysses Linares, Air force dec. Tony Peters, VMI
156-lb. Weight Division -- Tom Cisar, Air Force dec. Patrick Norwood, Citadel
165-lb. Weight Division -- Joe Harding, Air Force dec. Nick Sidiropoulos, Navy
175-lb. Weight Division -- Chuck Mussachio, Lock Haven dec. Rodney Ellison, Air Force
185-lb. Weight Division -- Duane Mantel, Army dec. Chris Hart, Air Force
195-lb. Weight Division -- Dustin Brown, Air Force dec. Brian Levenberg, Michigan
Hwt-lb. Weight Division -- Justin Pendry, Air Force dec. Luke Runion, Penn State