Ansbach

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.

In a 145-pound match on the first day of action at the DODEA-Europe wrestling championships in Wiesbaden, Germany, Ankara's Roberts Swart beat Wiesbaden's Zion Shaw on a technical fall.

<br>MICHAEL ABRAMS/STARS AND STRIPES

Europe wrestling - Day 1

Wrestlers give it their all for a shot at medaling

Competitors battle to stay alive or earn top qualifying spots for Saturday's final matches.

SHAPE wrestler Sean Kilrain tries to pin Kaiserslautern's Christian Torres-Forkn during a high school meet hosted by the Lancers at RAF Lakenheath, England, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018. Kilrain won the match 11-3 against Torres-Forkn.<br>William Howard/Stars and Stripes

Ramstein, Stuttgart poised to renew annual battle for mat supremacy

The Royals saw 28 wrestlers included in the final brackets for the two-day European championship meet, while the five-time defending champion Panthers checked in with 22.

Vilseck's Jada Llamido attempts to take down Rota's Kaden Rodriguezl. Llamido won the 126-pound match and took first at the Southern wrestling sectional at Vicenza, Italy.<br>Norman Llamas/Stars and Stripes

Top wrestlers advance in varying fashions to finals

For the most part, coaches and wrestlers had a pretty good idea who the top wrestler in each of the 14 weight brackets was going into the Southern Section Qualifier on Saturday.

Roberts Swart, a junior from Ankara, works on pinning Blake Fluck from Aviano during a wrestling tournament held at Aviano Air Base on Saturday, January 12, 2019. Swart will be the only wrestler from Ankara participating in a sectional tournament this weekend in the hopes of qualifying for the season-ending championships Feb. 22-23.<br>Norman Llamas/Stars and Stripes

Favorable draw could make Rota bigger player at finals

Sectional qualifying meets Saturday at Brussels, Stuttgart and Vicenza will determine the bulk of the field for the European championship meet.

Boys basketball roundup

Ramstein, Ansbach remain unbeaten

Royals hold off Vilseck to stay atop Division I, while Cougars earn a couple of easy victories over Hohenfels to stay perfect in Division III.

Maria Tortorelli adjusts the sight on her air rifle while preparing to shoot during the 2019 European Championships, in Wiesbaden, Germany, Saturday, Feb 2, 2019.<br>AARON KNOWLES/STARS AND STRIPES

European marksmanship finals

Stuttgart shooters on target again

The more things change, the more they stay the same in DODEA-Europe marksmanship.

Ansbach school info

Location: Katterbach, Germany
Mascot: Cougars
Colors: Blue and gold
Enrollment: 89
Website: http://www.ansb-hs.eu.dodea.edu/

Principal:
Athletic director:

Coaches:
Football:
Tennis:
Cross country:
Girls volleyball:
Boys basketball:
Girls basketball:
Marksmanship:
Boys soccer:
Girls soccer:
Baseball:
Track:

Wrestlers' focus narrows as season approaches conclusion

This weekend brings a set of three regular-season finale meets, headlined by a massive nine-school gathering at Kaiserslautern that includes all of last season’s top-five finishers in the Division I team points race.

Girls basketball roundup

There's good news and bad news for several squads

Weather has an impact on schedule, but most teams return to action from winter break with at least one game during the weekend.

Stuttgart's Logan Crouch tries to beat Naples' Biniam Stefanos and Ashton Jeanty, left, down the court in the Wildcats' 46-44 victory in December. DODEA-Europe sports gets underway again this weekend after the Christmas break.<br>Norman Llamas/Stars and Stripes

High school sports jump into deep end as winter season resumes

Return to action includes full slate of events in boys and girls basketball, wrestling and marksmanship, and marks the beginning of the regular season’s stretch run to the fast-approaching European championships.