Kadena coach Sergio Mendoza leads the Panthers through a team-building concept, using a tire weighed down by water and players each representing a different aspect of the team. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Christina Kehe’s 2024 volleyball season could not have ended much worse.

The then-Kadena junior setter fractured her right wrist during a practice two weeks before the DODEA-Pacific Far East Division I Tournament, sidelining one of the key players for a Panthers team expected to make a title run.

Ten months later, Kehe on Monday joined about 40 Kadena student-athletes at the first day of conditioning for the Panthers, whose season opens on Aug. 30 against a Japanese team.

“I’m excited. I’m ready to work hard,” Kehe said.

Monday was the official first day of fall sports practices for DODEA high schools in the Pacific and Europe.

Not all teams began practice Monday; others are scheduled to start later in the month. The first day of school for most is Aug. 18.

Some, like the Panthers, held unofficial summer conditioning sessions in June and July leading up to Monday.

Kadena captain Richard Gantz leads the Panthers through exercise drills. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

All-Far East sophomore Samantha Kehe returns to the Kadena volleyball lineup. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Senior setter Christina Kehe returns to the Kadena volleyball lineup after missing the last two weeks of the 2024 season with a fractured wrist suffered during a practice. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Kubasaki senior Ryan Hater gets spotting help from fellow senior Jayden Rivera in the weight room. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Kubasaki quarterback Maurice Brown does a Bulgarian split squat in the weight room. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Some teams were in action in South Korea as well.

Osan sophomore Kyle Helphinstine hopes his football team finishes stronger than it did a year ago, when the school cut the season short due a lack of players.

“New people, new team,” Helphinstine said. “We had a rough season last year, but we have a dedicated coaching staff that want to see us win.”

Tyler Greve, who heads that staff, said he hopes to build a foundation this year.

“We’re going to focus a lot more on the fundamentals of football, focus a lot more on the small things like tackling, stances, being in better shape things like that,” he said. “Our main thing as a football team is we’re trying to establish a healthy and a very physical and tenacious culture, it’s kind of what we’re going for this year.”

In Italy, Aviano couldn’t even field a team to begin the season last year – the first time in school history that was the case. But hopes are high as the Saints switch to a nine-man format this year.

Aviano opens the season by hosting Sigonella on Sept. 13.

Coach John Chance said he’s hoping that more than two dozen players suit up this season. Only half that many were there Monday as the team donned helmets for the first time and had all their equipment issued before working out.

“We’re excited to get back out here,” Chance said.

Aviano’s volleyball teams would normally be practicing just a few feet away. But the school’s new furniture is in the gym, so they practiced across town at the base fitness center.

A small parachute trails behind Aviano’s Gabe Wood as he sprints along with teammates at the first day of fall practice at the school Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Aviano’s Kristian Thomas watches the ball come to him Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, during the first day of fall practice at the school. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Aviano head football coach John Chance issues equipment to Noah Stanley on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, at the beginning of the first day of fall practice at the school. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

Aviano’s Cruz Cottingham shows off some footwork at the first day of fall practice on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

On Kadena’s volleyball court, Kehe will be setting to her sophomore sister Samantha, while fellow All-Far east senior libero Alo Vargas also returns. “We have a fabulous freshman class coming in,” Gina Fussinger said.

Like Kehe, Kubasaki senior running back Ryan Hater is also returning from a season-ending injury. He suffered a hamstring injury late in last spring’s track season and missed the Far East meet.

“A lot better, actually,” Hater said of how he was doing entering the Dragons’ football season, which begins Aug. 30 at home against Humphreys. Hater said he was icing and rehabilitating the muscle, with the help of his mother, Reiko, a physical therapist.

He’ll be replacing one of Kubasaki’s departed running backs, Haustyn Lunsford, while Maurice Brown, a junior, will slide into the quarterback slot vacated by departed Carlos Cadet.

“I’ve been doing cardio, weights, workouts with my dad, all of that, then going out to the field with my brother, throw some out passes to keep my arm in shape,” Brown said.

While the Panther volleyball team worked out in the cool of the gym, a couple hundred meters away in the summer heat, Kadena’s football team was going through its practice paces.

Their season begins on Aug. 22 at home against Nile C. Kinnick, so coach Sergio Mendoza and his staff have the Panthers out for two-a-day practices which began Monday morning.

“We had a very strong conditioning program this summer and we have some leaders who are stepping up into the tenets of the program,” Mendoza said.

Baumholder senior Dariana Luna hits the ball at the net during a drill on the first day of a volleyball camp on August 4, 2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Kaiserslautern senior Aisha Evans spikes the ball during a drill on the first day of a volleyball camp on August 4, 2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

SHAPE freshman Faith Coley goes for the dig during a drill on the first day of a volleyball camp on August 4, 2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Black Forest Academy freshman Charlotte Van Meter sets the ball during a drill on the first day of a volleyball camp on August 4, 2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Kaiserslautern sophomore Marlee Storch bumps the ball near the net during a drill on the first day of a volleyball camp on August 4, 2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Spangdahlem freshman Isabella Ashley serves during the first day of a volleyball camp on August 4, 2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein sophomore Aurora Lewis slams the ball at the net during a drill on the first day of a volleyball camp on August 4, 2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Kaiserslautern junior Jayzahbella Dumlao bumps the ball during a drill on the first day of a volleyball camp on August 4, 2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

At Ramstein High School in Germany, more than 75 athletes from seven schools – Baumholder, Black Forest Academy, Kaiserslautern, Ramstein, SHAPE, Spangdahlem and Vilseck – gathered for a weeklong volleyball camp ahead of the first week of practice starting Aug. 11.

Ranging from novices to expected varsity contributors, the players went through morning and afternoon sessions preparing for the season via positional and 4-v-4 drills.

“It’s very nice (to get back on the court), especially when everybody’s hyping together,” said Ramstein senior Nataliya Roa, who is expected to slot at either libero or setter. “It’s really fun.”

In Japan, Yokota senior Julian Chuckrey is looking forward to his senior season mentoring younger players.

“As someone who’s been through not knowing anything and having to learn it from my captains, I know how important it is to be there for the younger players who don’t have as much experience,” said Chuckrey, one of the team captains. “I try to be there for them and encourage my other captains to be there for them too.”

Panthers coach Michael Woodworth likes that attitude and said there’s plenty of learning to do for many players.

“What I think is one of the great things about DODEA is you come here to a small school like Yokota, and you get a chance to play tackle football, and you would probably never get that chance at a larger school,” he said. “Back in the states, for example Texas, you got 99 kids lined up to play, and another 99 kids behind them, ready to take that starting jersey away.”

Only three players return from last year’s Yokota volleyball team. Coach Veronica Pascoe said that’s just the nature of high school sports overseas.

“That’s the beast of DODEA,” she said. “PCS moves with such a great turnover every year, and it’s good when you have returners that know what to expect, what we’re looking for, and with something to build on rather than starting from scratch.”

Stars and Stripes reporters Trevares Johnson, Kent Harris, Matt Wagner and Jeremy Stillwagner contributed to this report.

Michael Woodworth, Yokota’s head football coach, speaks to football players before the first practice of the year on August 4, 2025. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)

Football players at Yokota do warmup drills on Aug. 4, 2025. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)

Yokota football players practice ball handoffs Aug. 4, 2025. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)

Football players practice lineman fundamentals on Aug. 4, 2025. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)

Yokota volleyball players practice basic drills on Aug. 5, 2025. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)

Volleyball players from Yokota High School practice basic drills on Aug. 5, 2025. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)

Volleyball players from Yokota High School practice returning serves on Aug. 5, 2025. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)

Yokota volleyball players move the ball back and forth in practice Aug. 5, 2025. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)