Ankara

Kaiserslautern's Aiva Schmitz watches her return fly over the net in last year's girls final at the DODEA-Europe tennis championships in Wiesbaden, Germany, in October. Schmitz will be returning to defend her title when the 2019 season gets underway.
<br>MICHAEL ABRAMS/STARS AND STRIPES

Tennis preview

Champs as freshmen, duo will try to defend titles

Stuttgart’s Amar Tahirovic and Kaiserslautern’s Aiva Schmitz, each of whom seized singles titles last year in straight-set finals triumphs, return this fall as sophomores.

Ramstein's Jerrell Brevard and Naples' Wutthipong Khotsaeng crossed paths in the Division I boys championship game in May, but the schools won't be playing against each other any more under a realignment that starts with the next school year.<br>MICHAEL ABRAMS/STARS AND STRIPES

DODEA to shift to more regional alignment for upcoming school year

In essence, the move consolidates Division I in the north of Europe and Division II in the south, with small Division III schools still widely scattered.

AOSR's Amaya Vaquerizo shoots over Marymount's Anna Aboltina in a Division II game at the DODEA-Europe basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany. AOSR won 28-16 in a matchup of teams from Rome.<br>MICHAEL ABRAMS/STARS AND STRIPES

DODEA-Europe girls basketball - Day 2

Top seeds vie for right to play in finals

Defending champions Stuttgart, Black Forest Academy and Sigonella all still alive in quests to retain titles.

Alconbury's Thane Langley looks for a shot against Spangdalem's Deon Montgomery in a Division III game at the DODEA-Europe basketball championships in Wiesbaden, Germany. The Sentinels beat the Dragons 45-40.<br>MICHAEL ABRAMS/STARS AND STRIPES

DODEA-Europe boys basketball - Day 2

Contenders survive tie breaker, close games to advance

Marymount is biggest surprise in D-II final four, while Bahrain, Stuttgart and Brussels stage mild upsets to reach semifinals.

SHAPE's Maya Neal goes to the basket against Lakenheath's Catherine Oordt in a Division I game at the DODEA-Europe basketball finals. SHAPE won 42-31.<br>MICHAEL ABRAMS/STARS AND STRIPES

DODEA-Europe girls basketball - Day 1

Favorites run the table across the divisions

Stuttgart, Sigonella, Brussels move on, while other top seeds impressive in first day of action.

Wiesbaden's Keyon Allan gets past SHAPE's Jarod Gallegos in a Division I game at the DODEA-Europe basketball finals. Wiesbaden won 54-22.

<br>MICHAEL ABRAMS/STARS AND STRIPES

DODEA-Europe boys basketball - Day 1

Half of semifinal spots clinched on first day of action

Stuttgart stages minor upset on a day where most favored seeds played like it.

Ramstein's Theodore Ward puts the pressure on Naples' Augusto de Sousa Matos in the 220-pound championship match at the DODEA-Europe wrestling finals in Wiesbaden, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019.

<br>MICHAEL ABRAMS/STARS AND STRIPES

VIDEO

Stuttgart retains title as stars shine on mat

Rota, the only Division II team represented in the finals, claimed that division’s team title. Sigonella cruised to the Division III title with two champions and three finalists.