Kadena senior Neil Kentish said he was looking forward to Monday's first football practice even as far back as Oct. 28, when the Panthers won their Pacific-record eighth straight Division I title. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

The curtain has risen on fall season athletics at DODEA high schools overseas.

Monday was the first day football, volleyball, tennis, cross country and golf teams were authorized to begin practicing in both the Pacific and Europe. Most football teams hit the practice field; tryouts and workouts in other sports either began Monday or will wait depending on the school and district.

Despite the heat and humidity in some locales, players and coaches said they were looking forward to building new teams and getting ready for real competition.

“I’m always happy to be back out here,” said senior Neil Kentish of defending Far East Division I football champion Kadena.

The Panthers captured their Pacific-record eighth D-I title and first since prior to the coronavirus pandemic last fall.

Kentish, who missed three games due to injury last season, said he was already looking forward to Monday’s practice just after Kadena beat Kubasaki in October.

“I hope to be out here the whole way this time,” he said.

Coco Jones, a sophomore with defending Far East Division II volleyball champion Yokota, said she, too, was glad to be back on the practice court with her teammates.

“We’ve been talking about winning since our (D-II final) game last year and what we can do to make this team win the championship,” Jones said. The Panthers beat E.J. King in the D-II title match last Oct. 25.

She kept in shape, Jones said, by practicing setting in her room, and traveling to Misawa Air Base to bump the ball around with her friends.

Hopes were also high in gyms at Aviano Air Base in Italy, where the two-time defending champion Saints girls began drills.

The boys team took to the courts as well, with coach Logan Riley looking at five returners from a year ago to provide leadership. Boys volleyball has been growing in recent years in Europe, with multiple teams in Germany fielding teams for the first time last season.

Emmanual Miquel, Yokota assistant volleyball coach, demonstrates passing the ball during Monday's first day of practice for the defending Far East Division II champion Panthers. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)

Coco Jones, a sophomore, played for last year's Far East Division II volleyball champion Yokota. Practice and tryouts began Monday. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)

Coach Tony Alvarado makes his point during Kubasaki's initial football practice on Monday. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Even before Monday's first Kubasaki football practice, senior Carlos Cadet saiid he spent a lot of time in the gym bulking up and working on quarterback techniques. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Kadena freshman Connor Shiflet pulls a tire during Monday's first Panthers football practice. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

Though not all teams began official practice on Monday, some DODEA-Pacific teams spent time conditioning and keeping in shape, such as Kadena sophomore Aylin Alvarez. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

In Vilseck, Germany, last year’s DODEA-Europe Division I runners-up had 17 players attend the first day of camp, up five from the start of last season, according to head coach Eric Mead.

Mead kept things light for the first day, with the boys working on conditioning and agility drills before lifting him up atop the school’s brand-new sled.

“We got a good returning group of kids coming back,” Mead said before the start of practice. “We’ve gotten second in Europeans three years in a row, so our goal obviously is to try to be back there in that championship game again and give it another shot at winning it all.”

Arthur Tavares, a 17-year-old senior, was happy to be back on the field. Like the majority of players, he kept in shape on his own over the summer break. He was one of a few running routes and working up a sweat before the start of practice.

“Hopefully I can help where I can with the defensive and offensive lines,” Tavares said. “I see a lot of hard work and dedication out here. It’s going to be a good year.”

Daniel Honigford, 17, a senior and new transfer into the school from Arizona, said it was great to meet some of his new teammates and feel the ball in his hands again.

“I think we’re going to do pretty good,” Honigford said between gasps. “It’s pretty exciting.”

New player Alexander Goeke, a 16-year-old junior, said the team has already developed a special camaraderie and they aren’t afraid to respectfully critique and help one another.

“They’re just really fun, respectful guys,” he said.

Luke Young, a ninth grade student of Osan Middle High School, performs a drill during football practice at Osan Air Base, South Korea, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)

Zavier Jones, an 11th grade student of Osan Middle High School, performs a drill during football practice at Osan Air Base, South Korea, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)

Crew Flatau, a ninth grade student of Osan Middle High School, performs a drill during football practice at Osan Air Base, South Korea, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)

Crew Flatau, a ninth grade student of Osan Middle High School, performs a drill during football practice at Osan Air Base, South Korea, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)

Zavier Jones, an 11th grade student of Osan Middle High School, and Jaxtin Ross, a ninth grade student, run during football practice at Osan Air Base, South Korea, Monday Aug. 5, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)

Adrian Baldwin, a ninth grade student of Osan Middle High School, runs during football practice at Osan Air Base, South Korea, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)

Carlos Cadet, a Kubasaki senior, spent most of his days in the gym during the summer, putting on muscle and working on quarterbacking skills. He is tagged to be the starting signal-caller this season.

“I put on 20 pounds, mostly upper body and legs,” Cadet said. He now weighs 165 pounds. “I’m trying to lead the team, trying to step up, trying to be the one they lean on.”

Division I football in the Pacific begins Aug. 23 with Kubasaki visiting Kadena, while Zama travels to Edgren for the Division II opener the same evening.

Volleyball, cross country and tennis open in Japan the weekend of Aug. 23-24, while Korea’s regular season opens Aug. 28. Schedules for Okinawa and Guam are still being determined.

The seasons don’t start until the first full weekend of September in Europe, with all fall sports getting underway Sept. 6-7 or – in the case of golf – a few days later.

Players from Vilseck's football team lift head coach Eric Mead as they push the school's brand new sled during the first practice of the year in Vilseck, Germany, on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

The Vilseck football team goes for a run during their first practice of the new season in Vilseck, Germany, on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

The Vilseck football team sprints through speed and agility drills during their first practice of the new season in Vilseck, Germany, on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

Aviano sophomore Toby Canales returns a serve during a practice session at the Aviano Middle High School gymnasium Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (Brian Erickson/Stars and Stripes)

Aviano sophomore Micah Guerrero works on his jump serve during a practice session at the Aviano Middle High School gymnasium Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (Brian Erickson/Stars and Stripes)