Air Force Academy

April 8, 2008

RENO, Nev. - Training has officially come to an end, as the Air Force boxing team begins competition this weekend (April 10-12) at the National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA) Championships. The Falcons, who have won 18 of the last 28 national titles and never finished lower than second, will take part in the three-day event at the Downtown Ballroom in Reno, Nev.

The Falcons' individual schedules and opponents will be determined at the annual "draw" late following the boxers' weigh-ins on Thursday morning.

Air Force will be represented in 10 weight classes, ranging from 112-pounds to the heavyweight division. The Falcons' roster will be highlighted by eight champions from the recent NCBA Western Regional Championships. (Junior Boyce Loomis, who won the regional title in the 185-pound weight class, was forced to withdraw from the competition yesterday due to illness.)

Juniors Dean Chuva (112-pounds), Jesse Horton (119-pounds) and Harvey White (125-pounds) open the competition as the top seeds from the Western region. Horton is the defending national champion in his weight class, while Chuva and White are both making their first appearance at the national meet.

Senior Brain Navin, who earned NCBA All-America accolades at 132 pounds as a freshman, will close out his career as the top 139-pound seed from the West. Junior Nathan Liptak will represent the Falcons in the 147-pound weight class, while senior Daryn Nelson will make his first appearance in the 156-pound final.

Senior Clifford Moore, the 156-pound bronze medalist from two years ago, will return to the national stage as the West's top seed at 165 pounds. Junior Lucas Gagliardi will represent the Academy in the 175-pound weight division, while senior Chris Johnson and sophomore Cory Tintzman highlight the squad's chances at the 195-pound and heavyweight divisions, respectively.

Army leads all programs with 12 boxers in the finals. Air Force and Navy claim 10 finalists apiece, while Kentucky and Lock Haven each have six.

It is the 12th time since 1976 that Reno has hosted the NCBA Championships. Action begins on Thursday, April 10, with the quarterfinal round of competition at 1 p.m. The semifinal (Friday, April 11) and championship (Saturday, April 12) rounds of action will begin at 6 p.m., in the Downtown Reno Ballroom.