Star-Bulletin Staff
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. >> Samson Guillermo is one boxing victory away from qualifying for the Pan-American Games. Guillermo
wins close boutThe opponent who stands in his way today at the U.S. Challenge is familiar.
Guillermo meets Rafael Valenzuela in the 119-pound weight division at the Olympic Training Center. Guillermo beat Valenzuela 22-7 last Friday to win the U.S. Amateur Championship.
Yesterday, the Waianae native beat Kevin Hudgins of Florida 15-14.
"He pulled it out in the fourth round," Guillermo's coach, Bruce Kawano, said. "He was down by a point after one (round), tied at 8 after two, and down by one after three.
"(Hudgins) was kind of awkward and he was running because he knew Samson could hit. Samson had to put the pressure on."
Today's winner will get to try to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team at the Pan-Am Games.
At 125 pounds, Hawaii's Dat Nguyen lost 6-4 to Jose Perez Jr. of California.
Hawaii's boxers had support from local athletes who are training at the Olympic center, including volleyball player Vernon Podlewski and wrestler Clarissa Chun.
UH's WAC opener rained out on road
FRESNO, Calif. >> Hawaii's Western Athletic Conference softball opener was postponed yesterday because of rain.The Rainbow Wahine (19-14) will play the Lady Bulldogs once today and twice tomorrow before heading back to Hawaii tomorrow night.
BYUH men, women win tennis matches
PENSACOLA, Fla. >> The Brigham Young-Hawaii men's and women's tennis teams won matches by 7-2 scores yesterday.The No. 1 women beat No. 6 Georgia College and State University to improve to 26-0.
The BYUH women have won 55 straight matches.
The No. 2 men (20-1) stopped No. 20 San Diego.