Last winter, DODEA-Europe made history with its first girls wrestling campaign.

After a successful inaugural season, the teams are back for more.

Expectations are high, as many programs see increased numbers and veterans try to make the next steps in their progression on the mats.

Many of last year’s dominant forces are gone, leaving voids into which others can step. The schools are chasing defending Divisions I and II champions Ramstein and Rota, while Division III schools Hohenfels, AFNORTH, Ansbach and Baumholder will attempt to usurp Alconbury.

All will be decided during the European championships at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness on Feb. 5-7.

Here’s a team-by-team breakdown based off responses from coaches across Europe:

Alconbury

The Dragons are building the foundation for the future, according to coach Edison Vega.

The roster is brand new with four freshmen. Just two – Addison Culak at 145 pounds and Lily Quigly at 110 – have any experience in middle school. Teresa Martin at 130 and Juliet Thompson at 120 are true rookies in the sport.

AFNORTH

The Lions are small with just a roster of two.

Coach Donte Barco holds high expectations for returner Megane Pacquet. New to the team is Marcy Daniels.

Ansbach

The Cougars’ wrestling rebirth coincided with the advent of girls wrestling, and they managed to hold their own with first-year competitors, taking third in Division III and producing a pair of individual placers.

This year will be much of the same, as just one Ansbach wrestler is back. Khloe Valenzuela qualified for Euros at 115, finishing the campaign with a 9-4 record.

The sophomore will lead a group of five newcomers, including senior Connie Mundo, sophomores Zoey Stubbs, Cloe Sutherland and Lucy Parrish, and freshman Nyah Sanchez.

Aviano

Coach Rachel Schaul described the outlook for the Saints’ quartet as good.

Bella Parker is seeking to build off last season’s performance, in which she qualified for the season-ending tournament at 140. Jamie Smith also returns for Aviano.

New to the squad are Trinity Evans and Avery Haithcoat.

Baumholder

Mark Dube said he can’t wait to see how his athletes do this season after a solid showing at last year’s championships.

One Buccaneer brings Euros experience with her. Senior Alyssa Meas competed at 105.

Fellow senior Aaliyah Lott and sophomores Aryana Descartes and Kimber Morgan have joined this winter.

Hohenfels

First-year coach Shelby Baxter anticipates her small girls squad to be mighty.

Ileana Rodriguez leads the way. The senior placed third at 110 last campaign and put together a record of 12-3. Baxter said Rodriguez likely will move up to 120 and should be in the running for another podium finish, if not a title run.

Freshman Zia Rivera Fontanez joins her senior teammate, possibly at 120. This season isn’t Rivera Fontanez’s first rodeo, though, as she has club wrestling experience.

Kaiserslautern

Raider coach Duke Allen expects Kaelyn Ronnau to dominate once again. The senior didn’t lose a match all season, and not a single competitor scored a point against her in the 170-plus bracket at Euros.

Prior to her time in Germany, Ronnau qualified for the Wyoming state championships her first two seasons, with a runner-up finish her sophomore campaign.

Lakenheath

The Lancers are trying to build the girls program in their second year.

Lakenheath has just one veteran in senior Elizabeth Fleming. The wrestler went 6-7 at 140 in 2024-2025 before an injury around the sectional tournament ended her season.

The rest on the roster are wrestling novices. Senior Jeannette Bryant-Soto will grapple at 120, as will junior Lesley Maria Galbraith. Junior Kaleigh Nix and sophomore Mikayla Stephenson could see time at 130.

Ramstein

The Royals ran away with the inaugural Division I title, winning it by more than 100 points.

Chances are high they can repeat the feat this year.

Sure, many of last year’s squad has left, but Ramstein boasts a roster chalk full of European experience.

It starts with the formidable Lilianna Greene. Points came at a premium against her last year, as the senior lost just one match in the tournament and ended up winning the 105 bracket.

Seven other returning Royals placed at last year’s finals. Chanel Lantapon took fourth at 115, Alejandra Sanner finished runner-up and Ava Fountaine placed third at 130, Kyleigh Duboise and Talia Carlson went third and fourth at 140, Lydia Cox placed third at 155 and Rhianna Elliot took third at 170-plus.

Leona Smith also competed at last year’s European meet.

Rota

Coach Luke Spencer had hoped for a better turnout after the Admirals’ strong showing at last year’s Euros, which ended with a Division II title.

Despite the fewer athletes, Rota still has high hopes in Year 2.

The Admirals have six returners, including four who made the podium at Euros. Akira Terlaje earned runners-up honors at 110 last season and should be in the running to win her weight class this winter.

Athena Quiroz placed third at 120, and Ariel Macias placed sixth at 115. Gracey Graham grappled her way into fifth place at 170-plus. Jules Maruska also qualified for Euros at 110.

Brylee Reber rounds out the veterans.

New to the program are Rizza Bejar, Natalie Brooks, Jordan Lopez and Andrea Lozada.

SHAPE

Girls wrestling in Mons, Belgium, continues to grow under the tutelage of Bridget Clevinger.

Eighteen girls have come out for the team, a small rise from the program’s first year. Yet they have more experience this go around with seven veterans.

The top returner is Sofia Colalongo. The Italian sophomore had judo roots before switching to wrestling, and she went undefeated before the European tournament, at which she finished sixth in the 130 bracket.

Junior captain Freja Rasmussen made it to Wiesbaden in the 110 weight class, as did fellow junior Lene Schaumburger at 120. Fellow junior Andrea Kontri produced an 11-8 record as she qualified for Euros at 140.

Junior Luiza Chesaru and sophomores Elia Guerrero and Kennady Ruddell round out the returners.

Eleven newbies join the Spartans – seniors Kairi Hall and Dylan Hurd; juniors Elli Foti and Misha Stuhlmiller; sophomores Addysen Lafeber and Ionna Zygorri; and freshmen Vasilissa Stuhlmiller, Derin Camoglu, Madison Garner, Liuana Ioane and Kostantina Tzikopoulou.

Sigonella

Coach Sam Werlinich said his small squad has plenty of potential.

Three Jaguars return, hoping to take another step forward. Terra Love made Euros in the 170-plus class, while seniors Victoria Calleja and Arianna Duron each have two years of experience under their belts.

Cameo Doblack, Malwina Soja, Maeva Mackay and Amelia Harpel are new to the sport.

Stuttgart

First-year coach Shannon Soto praised Violet Tomko’s recruiting skills for rebuilding the Stuttgart roster.

The senior went to work in the offseason after winning the title at 140. Tomko netted 12 new Panthers ready to hit the mats this winter.

Of the newcomers, Natalia Trejosamador transferred from Ramstein. She, Tomko and Milly Mae Barnhart make up the team’s senior class.

Isabella Rodriguez is the squad’s lone other upperclassman. Sophomores Mako Conant, Kendall Cancel, Kanani Gonzalez and Julia Moran and freshmen Selah Baker, Janelle Tovar, Lilly Cohen and Temperance Mannin complete the squad.

Vicenza

The Cougars have a pair of returners this year to lead the way.

Allie Torgesen went 15-4 last season on her way to a runner-up finish at 140. Frances Morales also is back for Vicenza.

Vilseck

The Falcons are hoping to build off their fourth-place finish at last year’s European tournament.

Ayanna Tennial is the lone Vilseck wrestler with Euros experience, placing fifth at 130 last campaign. Farrah Dayley, Brinna Thomasson and Leah Yamachika are back as well.

Charidee Seymour is new to the Falcons.

Wiesbaden

The Warriors have a strong core of returners who are expected to build off their 2024-2025 season.

Carmen Lima will lead Wiesbaden. She qualified for Euros at 110 last season.

Others coming back are Gracianna Durst, Audrianna Vandiepenhuisen, Samia Calloway and Josephine Hurt.

New to the squad are freshman Elizabeth Wood and senior Jyllian Russel.

K-town Sports

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