Vilseck’s Christopher Wissemann tries to pin Ramstein’s Liberty Snyder during the third-place match for 113 pounds at a tournament at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

The Ramstein wrestling team splits the season into two parts.

The first is the regular season. That plays out as a trial run for the second part, sectionals and the European championships – meets that matter most.

“It’s like another part of the season,” Royal coach Thomas Wright said. “So, we talk about these events just being practice for the big show at the end of the year.

“We’re looking forward to it.”

The DODEA European wrestling scene has turned the page from the first part to the second part this week, with the sectional tournaments happening Saturday at Ramstein, Stuttgart and Naples high schools.

Ramstein will see most of the western schools come to town in Lakenheath, Alconbury, AFNORTH, Wiesbaden and SHAPE. Hosting a sectional tournament for the first time since 2020, Stuttgart will have Kaiserslautern, Vilseck, Hohenfels, Spangdahlem and Baumholder in its gym, while Sigonella, Rota, Aviano, Vicenza and Ankara will compete at Naples.

The top three wrestlers in each weight class at each section will qualify automatically for the European championships at Wiesbaden’s Clay Kaserne on Feb. 9- 10 unless three or fewer wrestlers are entered. In that case, then only one or two wrestlers will qualify automatically.

Ideally, 12 individuals grapple at each weight at Euros. The rest of the bracket will be filled out Sunday, according to DODEA European athletic director Kathy Clemmons.

Both Wright and Stuttgart coach Frederick King said their teams are focusing less on live wrestling and more on stamina.

“We’re doing what we started the season with, which is stepping up our conditioning. Our conditioning is nonstop,” King said. “Who’s conditioned best for the third period will tend to win it.”

Technically, the season has a third chapter as well in the European championships, if you ask Wright. With coaches keeping their eyes toward that final meet, they know success might depend on how many wrestlers they can advance out of sectionals.

And with how tight Division I looks this season, that mentality will be crucial.

“If all 14 of our varsity wrestlers place in the top six, it equals the European championship,” Wright said. “It’s going to come down to a battle at the end, and I’m sure like every year it’s going to be close with all the D-I schools.”

Those unable to go in person can view Stuttgart’s mat one here and mat two here. For Ramstein, viewers can watch here.