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Hohenfels' Jacob Benavides rides the back of Aviano's Mitchel Schaul during a 132-pound match at the Southern section qualifiers at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Benavides won by pin in 5 minutes,10 seconds.

Hohenfels' Jacob Benavides rides the back of Aviano's Mitchel Schaul during a 132-pound match at the Southern section qualifiers at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Benavides won by pin in 5 minutes,10 seconds. (Jason Duhr/Stars and Stripes)

Hohenfels' Jacob Benavides rides the back of Aviano's Mitchel Schaul during a 132-pound match at the Southern section qualifiers at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Benavides won by pin in 5 minutes,10 seconds.

Hohenfels' Jacob Benavides rides the back of Aviano's Mitchel Schaul during a 132-pound match at the Southern section qualifiers at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Benavides won by pin in 5 minutes,10 seconds. (Jason Duhr/Stars and Stripes)

Aviano's Samir Safford is lifted off the ground by Vilseck's Chase Richardson on Saturday during a 106-pound match at the Southern sectional qualifiers at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Richardson won 8-2.

Aviano's Samir Safford is lifted off the ground by Vilseck's Chase Richardson on Saturday during a 106-pound match at the Southern sectional qualifiers at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Richardson won 8-2. (Jason Duhr/Stars and Stripes)

Vicenza's Torin Dennison tries to control Naples' Santos Figueroa on Saturday during a 160-pound match at the Southern sectional qualifiers at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Figueroa pinned Dennison in 2 minutes, 26 seconds.

Vicenza's Torin Dennison tries to control Naples' Santos Figueroa on Saturday during a 160-pound match at the Southern sectional qualifiers at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Figueroa pinned Dennison in 2 minutes, 26 seconds. (Jason Duhr/Stars and Stripes)

Ansbach's Kelly McCaskill secures a hold on Hohenfels' Jacob Benavides on Saturday during a 132-pound match at Aviano Air Base, Italy. McCaskill won 15-14.

Ansbach's Kelly McCaskill secures a hold on Hohenfels' Jacob Benavides on Saturday during a 132-pound match at Aviano Air Base, Italy. McCaskill won 15-14. (Jason Duhr/Stars and Stripes)

Vilseck's Aydan Huezo works for control over Naples' Matthew Williams during a 113-pound match Saturday at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Huezo pinned Williams in 4 minutes, 50 seconds.

Vilseck's Aydan Huezo works for control over Naples' Matthew Williams during a 113-pound match Saturday at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Huezo pinned Williams in 4 minutes, 50 seconds. (Jason Duhr/Stars and Stripes)

Hohenfels' Jacob Nantz secures a hold on Vicenza's Josh Badillo on Saturday during a 132-pound match at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Nantz pinned Badillo in 2 minutes, 28 seconds.

Hohenfels' Jacob Nantz secures a hold on Vicenza's Josh Badillo on Saturday during a 132-pound match at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Nantz pinned Badillo in 2 minutes, 28 seconds. (Jason Duhr/Stars and Stripes)

Naples' Santos Figueroa releases his hold from Hohenfels' Malik Jefferson after the referee stopped the clock Saturday during a 160-pound match at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Figueroa beat Jefferson 8-1.

Naples' Santos Figueroa releases his hold from Hohenfels' Malik Jefferson after the referee stopped the clock Saturday during a 160-pound match at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Figueroa beat Jefferson 8-1. (Jason Duhr/Stars and Stripes)

Aviano's Joseph Rivera celebrates after beating Naples' JeLin Mims for first in the 285-pound weight class match at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Rivera pinned Mims in 15 seconds.

Aviano's Joseph Rivera celebrates after beating Naples' JeLin Mims for first in the 285-pound weight class match at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Rivera pinned Mims in 15 seconds. (Jason Duhr/Stars and Stripes)

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy – Ansbach, Hohenfels and Vilseck traveled south of the Alps with the goal of getting a chance to wrestle again next week closer to home.

Saturday was “mission accomplished” for 16 wrestlers from those schools who qualified automatically for berths in next week’s European championships in Wiesbaden.

Vilseck dominated in the lower weight classes and will have at least 10 of its wrestlers vying for places on the podium.

Blaise Markley, Aydan Huezo, Donovan Glasgow and Mikhael Raygay took first in the opening four weight classes. Austin Weatherspoon and Elijah Brown earned championships in the 145- and 170-pound classes, respectively.

Like many other schools around Europe, the Falcons also submitted wild-card entrees to the DODDS selection committee that will determine the field for next week’s meet. So their contingent could grow.

The same holds true for Hohenfels, which had six automatic qualifiers, including Connor Gibson, who won at 220.

Ansbach wasn’t as fortunate and didn’t qualify anyone. Coach Brad Jorgensen didn’t seem too downbeat about it, as the Cougars are largely rebuilding this season.

“They didn’t come rolling in with a mental block from the kids that beat them throughout the season,” he said of his wrestlers. Ansbach’s Daniel Claybaugh placed fourth in the 195-pound weight class for his team’s best showing.

While Ansbach wrestled about to expectations, the American Overseas School of Rome Falcons did better than expected.

“We were pleasantly surprised and stunned that a couple of our guys took fourth,” Falcons coach Mark Kibler said.

But that wasn’t the best finish by the Falcons. Emil Jurgens, who didn’t qualify last year, moved up a weight class and won at 182 pounds.

“His goal was to qualify for Europeans and be the Southern sectional champion and he did it,” Kibler said.

He’ll have plenty of company from familiar faces in Italy.

Aviano heavyweight Joseph Rivera, a first-year wrestler, remained unbeaten at 6-0. Three other Saints qualified.

Though coach Robin Clement said at least some of his wrestlers got a wakeup call.

“It was an eye-opener and let us know where we stand in the pecking order,” he said.

Clement expects that Rivera will have to adjust next week as well.

“Now he’ll be able to sample the high-octane wrestlers from the other side of the Alps.”

Naples accounted for three first-place finishers: Jordan Hoffman (132), AJ Fisher (138), and Nathan Cairns (195).

Wildcats coach Vito Vitulli was especially pleased with Fisher, who improved to 15-2 following the sectionals. He pinned Aviano’s Shawn McElwee in 3 minutes and 7 seconds, avenging two earlier defeats this season.

Cairns improved to 11-0, with two pins under 30 seconds at the meet.

Vicenza’s Robert Maldonado took first at 152, improving to 12-0, but he wasn’t the only one accomplishing the feat for the Cougars.

“Robert Maldonado and (Marshall) Perfetti went the whole season without a defeat,” Vicenza coach Kurt York said. “That’s a pretty big accomplishment.”

Vicenza, moved up to Division I this year along with Naples, is sending eight wrestlers to Europeans.

Patch, Lakenheath fare wellAt Saturday's two other DODDS-Europe sectionals, meanwhile, Division I powers registered healthy contingents for next week's final bracket.

Defending Division I team champion Patch took first place in exactly half of the 14 weight classes in play at Kaiserslautern.

The Panther winners included 2014 individual European champions Christopher Matzke (120 pounds), Matthew Bolduc (126) and Robert Call (138).

Wiesbaden and Kaiserslautern divvied up the other seven classes, with the Warriors claiming four and the Raiders three.

At Brussels, Lakenheath made good on its regular-season promise with a full eight weight-class victories, ranging from 106-pounder Brandon Lovett to heavyweight Casey Fairchild.

Ramstein, meanwhile, was well-represented among qualifiers but won just two classes.

Despite the Lancers' and Royals' considerable heft, small-school individual stars were able to elbow their way into the limelight and on to well-deserved European title shots.

AFNORTH's Anthony Doerfer (113 pounds), Bitburg's Brandon Beaumont (132) and Alconbury duo Nick Dufresne (182) and Chris Dufresne (195) perpetuated their regular-season dominance with first-place finishes in Saturday's postseason opener.

Staff writer Gregory Broome contributed this report.

Duhr.jason@stripes.com

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