Okinawa spring team capsules

Kadena Panthers

Baseball

Head coach — Frank Macias, third season.

Key performers — Ty Lujan, Sr., C-P-SS; Hajime Reed, Sr., P-SS; Kai Redden, Jr., 2B-P; Adam Santana, Jr., 1B.

Outlook — Reloading-contending. A junior-heavy roster, with good leadership in Lujan and Reed, who have a combined seven years on the team. Kadena doesn’t have a home field this season; the base’s Four Diamonds complex is being renovated.

Softball

Three-time defending Far East D-I tournament champion.

Head coach — Daniel Lynn, second season.

Key performers — Aubree Leidig, Jr., P-IF; Jazlene Vergara, Sr., P-IF; Genesis Afaisen, So., P-IF; Madison Lovelace, So., SS.

Outlook — Rebuilding for the first time in a while, but Lynn remains confident despite losing six starters including Far East D-I MVP Jada Wolfgang. Rotation needs a rebuild, with former ace Julia Petruff graduated, but Leidig has had some experience as a starter. Could still play their way into contention.

Boys soccer

2025 season record — 18-1-2. Two-time defending Far East D-I champion.

Head coach — Abe Summers, seventh season.

Key performers — Elijah Whipp, Sr., striker (38 goals, 9 assists); Rylan Swanson, Sr., GK; Gabriel Cedeno, Sr., MF.

Outlook — Reloading-contending. Kadena’s core returners are each in their fourth seasons with the team. Panthers did graduate several starters and Summers says he knows that they’re a target for other teams vying to knock them off.

Girls soccer

2025 season record — 4-7.

Head coach — Colin Urquilla, first season

Key performers — Brooke Brewer, Sr., D-MF; Allie Sims, Jr., MF; Cyla Donovan, Sr., GK; Emery Love, Fr., GK; Sophia Fineman, Sr., def.; Rylee Gilliland, Jr., MF.

Outlook — Reloading. Urquilla takes the reins and is the team’s third coach in three seasons. Panthers are capable in the middle and the backline, with two steady keepers. Sims is quick and can find the net.

Kubasaki Dragons

Baseball

Head coach — Charles Redden, first season

Key performers — Bryant Lokey, Sr., P-SS-1B (transferred from Kaiserslautern, Germany); Dyler Mercado, So., 1B-P (transferred from Rota, Spain); Camden Fisk, Jr., 1B-OF; Skylar Waltz, Sr., P-OF-C; Mason Ramos, Sr., C; Rey Koja, So., 2B-P; Marcus Williams, Fr., C (transferred from Yokosuka, Japan).

Outlook — Rebuilding-reloading. Dragons graduated their two ace pitchers and lost another to transfer. Still, they return a goodly amount of experienced veterans. Need to clean up a few things, but they could get back into contention.

Softball

Head coach — Michael Cottrell, first season (was assistant for several years prior).

Key performers — Samantha Diaz, Sr., OF-C; Hailey Brassard, Sr., 1B; Una Freeman, Sr., P; Zoe Caranaza, Jr.

Outlook — Rebuilding. A work in progress. Kubasaki lost its starting shortstop to graduation and starting pitcher to transfer. Freeman will likely take the starting pitcher reins. Diaz remains a solid presence behind the plate.

Boys soccer

2025 season record — 0-7-2.

Head coach — Robert Barrett, first season.

Key performers — Mateo Solano, Jr., def.-MF; Dominic Bias, Fr., striker; Adam Hart, So.; Tom Ulloa, So.; Antonio Mendoza, So., MF; Kai Swan, So., MF; Roman McLeod, Jr.; Aidan Ridriguez, Jr.

Outlook — Rebuilding. Again, mostly freshmen and sophomores, but who are not new to soccer. Only one senior. Talented, but young.

Girls soccer

2025 season record — 17-1-3.

Head coach — Chris Eastman, seventh season. Defending Far East D-I champion.

Key performers — Alexa Welsh, Fr., MF-wing-striker (transferred from North Carolina); Chloe Sanders, So., MF (transferred from Virginia); Josephine Zwierzynski, Jr., MF-wing (transferred from California); Julianne Zwierzynski, So., def.-MF (transferred from California); Ainsle Schielke, So., def.-MF (transferred from Matthew C. Perry); Victoria Facchini, So., MF; Charlene Darsan, Jr., GK; Nicole Yulee, Sr., MF.

Outlook — Contending. While rebounding from the loss of six starting seniors and Amaya Schaffeld (torn right ACL) and graduating a ton of goals, the PCS Plane was quite generous to the Dragons, bestowing five players who can all contribute immediately.