Wiesbaden's Dan Garin pins fellow Warrior Matthew Deich during a 285-pound semifinal at the 2026 DODEA European wrestling championships on Feb. 6, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
WIESBADEN, Germany — For Lakenheath’s Wesson Roney, a loss at the right time was exactly what he needed.
The Lancer senior had entered the postseason unbeaten, but his defeat in the West sectional on Jan. 31 dropped him down to a third seed in the 190-pound weight class heading into the DODEA European wrestling championships at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center.
Instead of being down about it, though, he took it as a blessing.
“To be able to experience the kind of stress and the pain of a loss when it really mattered in sectionals, it helped break my ice to really get me ready and not have as much pressure on my heart to come out here and wrestle my best,” Roney said.
He produced his best at the right moment against that same opponent that gave him his first blemish this season.
During the European tournament’s semifinal round on Friday afternoon, Roney flipped the script with a pin of Ramstein’s Sawyer Nelson at 4 minutes, 36 seconds to punch his ticket into Saturday’s title round.
Nelson pinned Roney early in their meeting six days prior, and the Royal had control of the match through two periods. Desperate to get himself back into it, Roney turned things around at the start of the third before hearing the slap on the mat signaling he had won.
“I felt pretty ecstatic about the win,” Roney said. “This was my grudge match. I wanted it bad. I knew I was down on points. I knew my only chance was to stick him to the mat, and I was able to come out on top.”
Roney advanced to Saturday’s final, where he will face another foe that defeated him: Aviano’s Tyler Mellon. The Saint pinned the Lancer at 4:46 in pool play earlier Friday.
If Roney’s mindset heading into the semifinals is any indication, he could get a double dose of revenge.
“I knew this was going to be my one shot to take it all the way,” Roney said. “I had to grab it with both hands and not let go of it.”
Aviano’s Tyler Mellon prepares to throw Lakenheath’s Wesson Roney to the mat during a 190-pound round-robin match at the 2026 DODEA European wrestling championships on Feb. 6, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. The two will meet again in Saturday’s finals. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein's Nate Greene stretches the arm of Stuttgart's Sammy Johnson during a 132-pound semifinal at the 2026 DODEA European wrestling championships on Feb. 6, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Stuttgart's Kai Lewis pulls the arm of Lakenheath's Matthew Mihalyi while keeping his head pinned to the ground during a 165-pound semifinal at the 2026 DODEA European wrestling championships on Feb. 6, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Kaiserslautern’s Joshua Kim slams Ramstein’s Julian Paucar to the mat during a 126-pound semifinal at the 2026 DODEA European wrestling championships on Feb. 6, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Kaiserslautern’s Jaden Dean and SHAPE’s Devin McGlothlin twist around each other during a 106-pound semifinal at the 2026 DODEA European wrestling championships on Feb. 6, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Stuttgart's James Chen pins Wiesbaden's Wyatt Massey during a 157-pound semifinal at the 2026 DODEA European wrestling championships on Feb. 6, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Roney wasn’t the only one Friday to get a boost from a loss.
Ramstein’s Nate Greene dropped a major decision against Vicenza’s Liam Dokos in his final match of pool play.
That lit a fire underneath him when he stepped up against Stuttgart’s Sammy Johnson a 132 semifinal. The Royal pulled away late to earn a 12-6 decision over the Panther.
“I was a little upset that I lost the last match,” Greene said. “I came in wanting it.”
The hard-fought match saw Greene take the lead early, but Johnson managed to claw his way back within a couple of points. He couldn’t get over the hump, though, as Greene scored late to seal the deal.
Up next for Greene is Dokos, who earned his spot in the final by pinning Lakenheath’s Christian Dey at 3:49 in the other semifinal. Greene won at 120 as a freshman, and Dokos placed second at 126 last year.
Greene admitted his loss early Friday to the Vicenza wrestler will be on his mind.
“It’s going to drive me,” he said. “I’m looking forward to wrestling him and go out there and put it all on the mat.”
For the girls, SHAPE’s Andrea Kontri didn’t anticipate making a deep run into this year’s European tournament.
Yet with a pin of Ramstein’s Ava Fontaine at the 4:11 of her semifinal at 138 on Friday, the Spartan junior is one step away from earning European glory.
“I didn’t expect this at all,” Kontri said. “The other girls, they’re really strong and tough, but I worked really hard this season. So, I’m really happy about this.”
Up next for the Croatian wrestler is Ramstein’s Shayla Hill. The Royal pinned Kontri in their last pool-play match at 1:51.
The Spartan said she’s looking forward to the rematch.
“I know it’s going to be really tough, but I’m really excited for it,” Kontri said.
Ramstein's Lilianna Greene lifts SHAPE's Ella Guerrero into the air during a 105-pound semifinal match at the 2026 DODEA European wrestling championships on Feb. 6, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Stuttgart's Kanani Gonzalez holds onto Ramstein's Lucy Cox during a 132-pound semifinal at the 2026 DODEA European wrestling championships on Feb. 6, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Rota's Ariel Macias holds onto Hohenfels' Ileana Rodriguez during a 114-pound semifinal at the 2026 DODEA European wrestling championships on Feb. 6, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Wiesbaden's Jyllian Russell lunges at the legs of Naples' Audrey Addo during a 185-pound semifinal at the 2026 DODEA European wrestling championships on Feb. 6, 2026, at Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
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