Navy Boxing Team Ready To Win At Championships

By Andrea Howry, Naval Base Ventura County Public Affairs

April 14, 2010 - PORT HUENEME, Calif. (NNS) -- The Navy Boxing Team is ready and the ring is set for the 2010 Armed Forces Boxing Championships at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) in Port Hueneme, Calif., April 23.

Eight Navy boxers are competing in the 2010 competition, down from the 12 who fought in the recent Navy box-off, also at NBVC, for the right to represent the Navy in the Armed Forces Championships.

The Navy's team captain is Seaman (SW) Justin Diaz from USS Pinckney (DDG 91). Diaz brought home a gold medal from the 2009 Armed Forces Championships at Fort Huarachuca, Ariz. At the 2009 championships, the Navy brought home two gold, two silver and a bronze medal. Most importantly, the team won the Team Challenge event, a first for the Navy in 15 years.

Teams are scheduled to arrive at NBVC April 18 and begin training at noon April 19. Opening ceremonies are set for the Warfield Gym at Port Hueneme at 5:30 p.m. April 20, with evening bouts beginning at 6 p.m. Boxing resumes at 6 p.m. April 21 with finals scheduled for 6 p.m. April 23.

Representing the Navy in the championships are Diaz; Special Warfare Boat Operator 2nd Class Angel Arauz, from Special Boat Team 20 in Norfolk; Hospital Corpsmen 2nd Class Antonel Cruz, from Naval Hospital Oak Harbor, Wash.; Aviation Machinist's Mate Airman Tyron Hunter, from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22 at Naval Air Station Lemoore in Fresno, Calif.; Hopsital Corpsmen Seaman Brandon Wicker, from Naval Hospital Camp Lejune, N.C.; Logistics Specialist Seaman Abdullah Johnson, from VFA 151 at Naval Air Station Lemoore; Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) Airman Anthony Aguirre, from USS Roosevelt (CVN 71); and Yeoman 2nd Class Jovan Wallace, from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

All of the Sailors won matches at the Navy box-off except for super heavyweight Wallace, who did not compete.

"This is always a great event," said Kent Blankenship, NBVC's athletic director. "It brings a lot of excitement to the base, and it gives our active duty personnel a chance to see possible future Olympians. It becomes a great community event."

The Pentagon Channel will be filming the bouts, which will be broadcasted over a seven- to 10-day period during summer 2010.

"It's a pretty intense event," said Steve Carbajal, who is coaching the Navy boxers, along with George Sylva.

The championships rotate among each branch of the military. NBVC hosted them in 1998, 2002 and 2006. The Army hosted the competition in 2009, and the Marine Corps hosted in 2008.

"When we travel to another branch, we're the underdog," said Carbajal. "We're not popular. But this year, it's our turn."

Carbajal, a Santa Barbara, Calif., resident, has coached at NBVC for five years. He was brought on board by Sylva, a longtime Ventura coach who has worked at NBVC for seven years.

Carbajal expressed confidence in his team's ability to be victorious at the championships.

"Last year we had a bigger team, with 19 athletes," said Carbajal. "This year's group is smaller, but the talent is better. We've seen them develop into a stronger team."

A boxing coach for 35 years, Carbajal enjoys the commitment he sees in the Sailors on the team.

"When you're training civilians, they're always involved in other things," said Carbajal. "The Sailors are more committed, more dedicated.

"It's a pleasure and an honor for me to coach at this level, to coach the military."