MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan – After coming away with team and individual championships and records on the Far East cross country courses, what can Jane Williams and Tyler Gaines do for an encore in track and field?

The two Matthew C. Perry seniors say they’re looking forward to finding out as the DODEA-Japan season begins and come early May when the Far East meet takes place at Yokota.

“We’ve worked out hard in the offseason and we both want to see how fast we can run and beat as many people as possible,” said Williams, who won the Division II and overall Far East cross country races and set Pacific records in the process last October.

“We’ve put in a lot of work over the last two years,” said Gaines, who teamed with Williams to win the Far East cross country relay race. “This will be our last chance to make a statement.

The two opened the season last Saturday with victories in both the 1,600 and 3,200. Williams’ time of 11 minutes, 22.65 seconds was 18 seconds shy of the Far East meet and Pacific records of 11:04.

“They performed really well in cross country and from what I’ve see, they’ll have no problem meeting or exceeding their (best times) of last year,” Samurai cross country coach Michael Kelley said.

As for the rest of the DODEA-Japan field, faces old and new have appeared in various places to chase both league and Far East titles.

Defending Far East Division II champion welcomes back 2016 graduate Daniel Galvin, who ran for Yokota in the 2010s, then for Iona and is now back at Yokota as a language instructor for DODEA’s virtual school.

“It feels kind of weird being back,” Galvin said. Senior Trinity Stegall is one of a handful of returners for the Panthers, and will do long jump and run the 200, relays and hurdles.

Reigning Far East Division I champion Nile C. Kinnick returns a strong girls contingent, featuring junior distance runners Mia Bartram and Avrie Farrington. Sophomore Talan Farrington showed good promise for the boys in Saturday’s season-opening meet at Yokota.

Baseball

At least one Division II team faces a struggle just getting enough players on the field. Robert D. Edgren began its season Saturday at Kinnick with just eight players.

“It’s tough being at a small school,” coach Brett Lehner said. “Many athletes have PCSed and the core group of those who play sports is getting smaller.”

Defending Far East D-II champion Zama lost a handful of contributors to graduation, but still returns a large portion of the core that won both the regional and DODEA-Japan titles.

“Winning is going to be a little more challenging for us this year, but that remains the goal,” coach Dirk Schmiedel said.

E.J. King, with senior Colin Schrader on the hill, opened strongly last weekend, winning its first three games at Iwakuni. Matthew C. Perry elevated last year’s assistant A.J. Edwards to head coach.

Last year’s team MVP Casey Bumpers returns to help lead Yokota. After taking last season off, Chad Stark is back at Kinnick’s helm.

Softball

This season could be a tug-of-war between three or four teams, all of which look prepared to make solid runs at both league and Far East D-II honors. Defending champion Yokota again has its veteran core of juniors Kayla Bogdan, Zaylee Gubler and Erica Haas.

Gubler said last spring’s trip to Okinawa, where the Panthers lost four games to Kubasaki and Kadena, actually benefitted the team in the long run, particularly when the Panthers came from behind to beat Perry in the D-II final.

“It helped show us the game is never over until it’s over,” Gubler said.

Perry returns a large part of the team that lost the final to Yokota after being ahead in the early innings. “We’re driven to get that title,” senior shortstop Julie Apperson said. “It’s our time.”

It could also be time for Edgren, which finished third in Far East with just nine players. The Eagles return two senior pitchers both named Alyssa, Marrero and Singletary. “This is the first time we’re not rebuilding,” coach David Carrano said.

Another team with a core group of veterans is E.J. King, which also benefits from the transfer round, getting sophomore pitcher Julia Hunt from Kadena.

PCS also hurt Zama, but the Trojans welcome a couple of freshmen who are not new to the game. Kinnick returns a core group of four, but faces something of a rebuild after graduating some of its key players.

Boys soccer

Kinnick returns many members of the group that won its second Far East D-I title five years apart due to the coronavirus pandemic. Despite having lost 60 goals to graduation and transfers, longtime coach Tim Rippeth feels the future is bright for the Red Devils.

“We’re continuing to build on the team culture that’s been here for several years,” he said. “They’ve put in the work. Our seniors have mentored the younger players and we’re two deep at every position.”

One team that could challenge at the D-II level is King. The Cobras remain strong especially in the middle with goalkeeper Kent Monto, midfielders Kai Sperl and Amin Alipourkashi and striker Damian Perez.

Mark Lange returns for his 20th season as Perry’s coach, and faces a rebuild with just four upperclassmen, but some of the newcomers aren’t new to the game. Senior Billy Hill and sophomore Ren Spinosi lead the way for the Samurai.

Edgren returns Cole Donnelly in goal and welcomes freshmen Aidan and Luke Lehner, the baseball coach’s sons, who have played Japanese club ball. William Kay is the team’s third coach in three seasons.

Yokota has to replace Senna Solberg and his 34 graduated goals, but the core of the team remains and could contend by season’s end. Jadyn Parker and his 12 goals return to Zama’s lineup; the Trojans could also make some noise down the stretch.

Girls soccer

Maliwan Schinker and E.J. King have become accustomed to winning or coming close in Far East D-II tournaments; the senior and the Cobras won D-II basketball after finishing second in volleyball last fall.

Schinker says she and the Cobras are hopeful of repeating the Far East championship they won last April at Misawa. “I want to end it all strong, and I know our team does, too,” she said.

The Cobras welcome Jesse Dare as their new coach. Junior Miu Best returns up front and Alex Bottorff in the net. It’s a team with 10 freshmen. Replacing stars Mady O’Neill (transfer) and Aileen FitzGerald (graduation) could be a chore.

Nico Hindie returns for his 20th season coaching Kinnick, which also remains strong in the middle. The Red Devils borrowed from basketball, bringing senior Kotone Turner in as goalkeeper. Seniors Julia Angelinas and Bree Withers are two of the returning veterans.

“We have some key players back,” Hindie said of a team with 10 returners. “But we lost 60 goals. That’s going to be tough.”

Yokota has a small core of veterans including senior Hailey Riddels (24 goals), and welcomes freshman Aubrey Oh.

Seniors Avery Pilsch and Lindsey So are among a handful of returners for Zama. Edgren welcomes Ashley Sosa as its new coach; sophomore Nia Tyler and senior Charisse Reyes return along with Saige Whitmore, a sophomore who takes over in goal for her graduated sister, Samara.

The PCS plane hasn’t been good to Matthew C. Perry, who for the second straight year lost its top scorer. Junior Sasha Malone and senior McKenzie Mitchell are among a small group of returners.

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