Mathew Wagner

Matt is a sports reporter for Stars and Stripes based in Kaiserslautern, Germany. A son of two career Air Force aircraft maintenance technicians, he previously worked at newspapers in northeast Ohio for 10 years and is a graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.

wagner.mathew@stripes.com

Ashton Jeanty from Naples scores during the Department of Defense Education Activity Europe division II football championship game between the Aviano Saints and the Naples Wildcats, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018.

Brian Ferguson/Stars and Stripes

Ashton Jeanty: from Naples freshman to Heisman hopeful

He opened some eyes in Europe in 2016 before moving back to the States. Now he’s getting praise as perhaps college’s top running back.

Stella Schmitz, center, signs her National Letter of Intent to play tennis for Rutgers University during a ceremony on Nov. 13, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School. Left is Schmitz's mother, Clare Barnard-Schmitz, and right are Kaiserslautern tennis coaches Elizabeth and Gary Martin. Hidden behind the flowers at left is Stella's father, Frank Schmitz.

Kaiserslautern senior will play tennis for Rutgers

Aviano junior Addison Krajicek, left, and Balck Forest Academy Xofia Wood Pineda, middle, of the Gold team, defend agianst an attack at the net by Black Forest Academy Priscilla Sivonen of the Pink team during the 2024 DODEA-Europe All-Star volleyball matches on Nov. 9, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

DODEA-Europe all-stars pay homage to Paris on court

Wiesbaden's Aniyah Brown attempts to block a ball from Kaiserslautern's Kezley Kai in the Division I final of the DODEA-Europe volleyball championships at Ramstein Air Base, Nov. 2, 2024. Wiesbaden beat Kaiserslautern 25-21, 25-21, 17-25, 25-10 to take the title.

Upstart Wiesbaden refuses to relinquish large-school championship

The Ansbach Cougars celebrate their DODEA-Europe Division III volleyball title after defeating Brussels 25-11, 25-18, 25-18, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Nov. 2, 2024.

Lange leads Ansbach to three-peat as small-schools champ

A Cougars junior dominates at the net to defeat Brussels in championships for a second straight season.

Europe Scoreboard: Nov. 2, 2024

Ramstein running back Kydan Echard goes airborne after being tripped up by Stuttgart defender Sammy Johnson during the Division I DODEA European championship game on Nov. 1, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Ramstein Royals halt Stuttgart Panthers’ reign atop D-I football

Ramstein tops four-time defending champion Stuttgart to grab its first large-school title in Europe since 2018.

Vicenza senior Maya Fitch hits the ball against American Overseas School of Rome's Gabby Makinwa, left, and Gloria Rose Olivieri during a Division II semifinal match at the DODEA European volleyball championships on Nov. 1, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

8 teams set to play for four titles on the courts

Kaiserslautern and Wiesbaden square off in girls D-I, while Vicenza and Black Forest Academy meet in D-II and Ansbach and Brussels battle in D-III. Boys play semifinals early, then decide championship later in the day.

Alconbury senior Sofia Politis bumps the ball while teammates watch during a match against Ansbach in pool play of the Division III DODEA European championships on Oct. 31, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Teams strive to reach final day of play in girls small-school affair

Alconbury, Aviano among teams who win when they have to on Thursday, but will have to do so again on Friday.

Vilseck libero Jayslin Santellano goes to the floor in a match against Stuttgart in round-robin play of the Division I DODEA European championships on Oct. 31, 2024, at Southside Fitness Center on Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Spartans, Royals off to hot starts in girls large-school event

Ramstein is 3-0 after first day of round-robin play, while No. 6 SHAPE joins Kaiserslautern and Wiesbaden at 2-1.

SHAPE quarterback Keller Schutt throws a pass during an Aug. 27, 2024, football practice in Mons, Belgium. Schutt is one of the few returners for the Spartans heading into the season.

Underdog Lions look to prove they belong in title tilt with SHAPE

AFNORTH had a losing record during the first season of nine-man football in DODEA-Europe, but finds itself in the championship contest.

Ramstein running back Nathan Rutlege tries to shed the tackles of Kaiserslautern defenders John Westad, behind Rutlege and River Foulks, right, during a Sept. 13, 2024, game at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Can unbeaten Ramstein knock Stuttgart off throne?

Panthers have won last four D-I football titles. But Royals have pounded everyone this year in quest for first championship since 2018.

Stuttgart freshman Brooklyn Biles spikes the ball as Ramstein's Cara Arnold jumps at the net during a match on Oct. 5, 2024, at Kaiserslautern High School in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Plenty of contenders ready to battle for girls championships

Several teams look like viable winners for D-I and D-II events, while a few hope to upend two-time champ Ansbach in D-III.

Vicenza and Naples players scramble for a loose ball Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in the Wildcats' 28-6 victory in Vicenza, Italy.

Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes

Vicenza looks to end Naples’ stranglehold on D-II title

Cougars face uphill battle in Saturday’s tilt in Naples after already falling to the Wildcats twice this season.

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