Lancaster boxers got no love in Lubbock, Texas, at the recent 2025 USA Boxing National Championships. While three of the four won their first fights, in the end, even making it to the quarterfinals eluded them.

Ethan Huertas, who competed in the 101-pound junior division, was the first to fight and fall. On Dec. 8 he faced Roman Castillo of Arizona. This was Huertas’ first Nationals, but his second national tournament. He competed two years ago in the Junior Olympics, according to coach Will Torres, of Lancaster City Boxing Academy, where Huertas trains.

The division was a tough one to compete in, Torres said, especially with Huertas — who is in his first year at McCaskey — being on the younger side of the division, with limited experience.

“Ethan started very slow, and you can’t start slow at the Nationals, especially as an unknown,” Torres said. But, he added that Huertas did “great” in rounds two and three.

Jerimiah Munoz and Jasiah Ortiz also train at Lancaster City. Both competed in the elite division at 132 pounds and 154 pounds, respectively. The two walked over on day one, fought on day two and went down on day three.

In his first fight of the tournament, Munoz soundly defeated Dexter Richardson Freedman of San Francisco in a 4-1 split decision, with three judges giving Munoz a full 30 points. Munoz then lost, also in a 4-1 split, to Colton Lowry, who is from Hawaii.

Pennsylvania did produce the 132-pound elite division champion in the fantastic form of South Philadelphia’s Selim Ellis-Bey, who is considered one of Team USA’s top Olympic prospects.

Meanwhile, Ortiz started strong, beating Chauntavious Davis of Columbus, Indiana. But a disappointing loss, via a 3-2 split to fourth-ranked Malik Johnson of Massachusetts was the end of the Nationals road for Ortiz this year.

“Jasiah had a great performance; we felt he was robbed,” Torres said.

The fourth boxer from Lancaster, Roel Carrasquillo, generally trains at Mellott Boxing Club. But for this tournament he worked with his father pro boxer, Doel Carrasquillo, a welterweight who fought from 2001-13 and compiled a record of 17-25.

Roel Carrasquillo fought in the 154-pound youth division and earned a unanimous win over Andres Mott, a Texas fighter who was No. 2 in the 154-pound junior division. (Juniors are younger than youths in USA Boxing’s divisions.)

The results of Carrasquillo’s second tournament bout had him in “total disbelief the whole night,” he said. He lost, via ref stoppage, against Asante Lamar of Ohio.

Stopping the fight was “extremely uncalled for,” Carrasquillo said. “I took this loss and went right back in the gym the same night to ensure I don’t leave any fights to the judges for my upcoming matches.”

Carrasquillo is scheduled to fight next weekend in the Pennsylvania Silver Gloves, which will take place at Lancaster City.

After besting Carrasquillo, Lamar went on to validate his No. 2 spot in the division, doing battle twice more to take the championship.

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