Claire Anderson, left, was Humphreys’ second-leading goal scorer last season. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea – Reid Iverson pretty much hit the ground running, transitioning from one soccer season to another when he and his family arrived at Osan about a month ago.
The freshman defensive midfielder played soccer for Radford High School in Hawaii, whose season is in the early winter, and was immediately inserted into Osan’s lineup and even named a team captain.
“I’m trying to make the most of this opportunity,” Iverson said. “I’m super glad to be part of this team.”
Iverson also tries, he says, to take after his father, Lt. Gen. David R. Iverson, who came from Pacific Air Forces headquarters in Hawaii to take command of 7th Air Force, headquartered at Osan.
Reid Iverson says he’s focused on doing his best to help his Cougars get on a winning track. They went 0-13 last season, and half the players on the 2024 edition of the Cougars are new, Iverson included, though he is not new to the sport.
He played defense for Radford, scoring one goal as the Rams went 6-4-1 on the season.
“The team comes first in everything,” Iverson said, adding that he hopes the Cougars can bond in every aspect, on and off the pitch. “That’s what we have to be focused on, improving every game.”
The Cougars, Daegu and Humphreys all began their spring sports seasons, while still in mid-February. The first intra-DODEA-Korea matches took place Friday at Osan, with the Cougars and Warriors tying 1-1, on a day that saw gusts up to 35 mph and real-feel of 15 degrees.
Senior Robert Morales is one of two experienced Humphreys goalkeepers. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Freshman Reid Iverson has settled in to Osan’s boys soccer team after having played for Radford (Hawaii) as a defender in December and January. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Senior captain Dean Lentz, in red, is hoping that his Daegu boys soccer team can take things more seriously this season. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Boys soccer
Daegu is trying to revive its boys side after being forced to suspend operations last April due to an undisclosed disciplinary issue.
“We didn’t take (soccer) as seriously as we should have,” senior captain Dean Lentz said. “We slacked off. We didn’t show desire. That’s changed this year. There’s a lot more discipline.”
Iverson is joined on the Cougars roster by coach Michael Paul’s son, senior Timothy, a striker. Junior Chris Hinchliffe helps man the defense. Sophomore Aiden Machmer’s older sister led the Cougars girls team in scoring last season.
Humphreys’ boys team is also amid a rebuild phase. Junior Nathan Bahng and senior Tristan Michel are returning, while sophomore Mario Pascucci moves over from baseball.
Senior Ashley Kim returns in net for Osan. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Daegu's girls soccer team is mostly sophomores and is facing something of a rebuilding year. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Syra Soto, a junior, is back for her second season in Humphreys' midfield. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Girls soccer
Osan leads the Pacific with eight Far East Division II Tournament titles, but it’s going on 11 seasons since the Cougars won one. Only five players return and 12 are freshmen, which may bode well for the future if some of them stay.
Juniors Claire Anderson and Syra Soto, second and third on Humphreys in goals last season, welcome freshman Isabel Maloney up front; the hope for the Blackhawks is she can help replace leading scorer Nicole Donaldson.
Austin King returns to Daegu’s girls helm after a season off, and also gets in a freshman not new to the sport in Leilani Rice. She joins returners Gina Kim and Samantha Jones, both seniors.
Baseball
Daegu will not field a team this spring, due to a lack of players. Athletics director Kathryn Brashears said injuries and lack of numbers led to the decision last Monday to suspend operations.
That leaves only Osan and Humphreys to play each other, along with whatever Korean teams they can schedule.
Tyler Greve shifts from Humphreys to assume Osan’s helm. Left-hander Tim Davidson will man several positions, while Josh Low will see time in the infield as well as on the mound.
Former Blackhawks football and golf coach Steven Elliott takes over for Greve at Humphreys. It’s a team heavy in upperclassmen, including eight seniors. Junior Eric Ji will once more pitch. Two sophomores, Donovan Brown and Beckett Babb, played in the States and give the team depth.
Softball
Humphreys struggled last season but hopes to do better. Coach Ashley Gooch welcomes back seniors Joy Hayes and Alex Tabaquero to the lineup. “We’ll be competitive this season,” Gooch said.
Doug French and Victoria Montes take over Osan’s softball team, which has plenty of depth and experience, along with a freshman pitcher, Maddie Smith. “She can throw. The potential is there” for her to blossom into a star pitcher,” French said.
The learning curve may be steep at Daegu, where Oliver Herazo takes over as coach. Junior catcher Alissa Cruz returns, while Kadence Thomas, a freshman, will man a corner infield position.
Junior Maliik Davis will high jump for Osan. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Xavier Jones, a sophomore, will be one of Osan's throwers. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Senior Trinity Brown will run relays and sprints for Daegu. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Track and field
As usual, Humphreys is stocked with athletes and has balance up and down the lineup. Senior Reagan McGuire comes in from Junction City, Kansas, to help bolster the distance ranks. Freshman Derek Snyder departs after this season. Senior Anayah Reyes provides sprinting speed.
Trinity Brown, a senior, also returns as a sprinter and relay runner for Daegu; the Warriors are stocked with strong athletes in the sprinting events. Both Humphreys and Daegu welcome new head coaches, Misty Galamison and Susan Oltmer.
Osan has 20 high school athletes out for track this season and got a good find off the PCS plane in sprinter and relay runner Jayden Hightower from Edgren in Japan.
