The DODEA European wrestling championships this weekend might feel more like a festival of the sport than ever before.

Not only will the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany, host the first-ever European girls wrestling championship, but the tournaments will last three days instead of two, beginning Thursday.

Across 22 weight classes, 231 wrestlers will grapple for European titles.

Here’s a class-by-class preview heading into the tournament:

Boys

106

The lightest weight class on the boys side is wide open.

Kaiserslautern’s Reilly Tobias enters the European tournament 15-1 after winning the Ramstein sectional on Feb. 1 with a major decision, technical fall and two pins. Naples’ Nathan Pasteur took care of business in the South sectional, while Stuttgart freshman Ryan Gilcrest entered the Stuttgart sectional with a .500 record before going 3-0 to win the bracket.

Ankara freshman Daviti Japaridze has produced a solid rookie season with a 9-5 record and a runner-up placement at the Naples sectional. Ramstein’s Matthew Schmermund, who defeated Japaridze during a meet at Ramstein on Jan. 25, gave Tobias his best match at sectionals in a 22-12 loss.

In his first season, Alconbury sophomore Daniel Scavola has gone 9-3, but two of losses came against Schemermund and Tobias – his second against the Raider – in the sectional.

113

Edison Vega seems to be on a mission this winter after finishing runner-up at 113 last season.

The Alconbury sophomore is 10-0 this campaign, including a 9-0 mark against fellow European qualifiers. That includes a 2-0 record against Ramstein’s Cole Santos, 2023 European champion at 106 and 2024 third-place finisher at 113.

Vega hasn’t seen Vicenza’s Kyler Mukai, who took the South sectional title. But he’s 1-0 against Stuttgart’s Floyd Lucero, who won the Central sectional.

120

Ramstein’s Nate Greene has been on a roll this season, going 17-1 and winning the West sectional tournament at Ramstein

Naples’ Deshaun Bowie returns to Wiesbaden after a fifth-place finish, this time at 120 pounds. He’s coming off a South sectional crown.

Vilseck’s Sean-Carlos Fuentes struggled to start the season, but the freshman has found his groove late, winning the Central sectional and entering Euros with a 10-6 record.

Sophomore Dragon Andrew Barbee could make some noise, going 15-3 this season – including a 6-2 mark against European qualifiers. Those two losses have come against Greene.

Ankara senior Caleb Figueroa placed third in the South sectional, but he enters the finals with a 15-5 record and has Euros experience from last season, when he went 1-3.

126

SHAPE’s Julyan Serrano-Garcia has heard rumblings of Vicenza’s Mitchell Horrigan all season, and before the postseason, the Spartan senior said he expects the duo to meet in the final.

Serrano-Garcia (19-1) qualified for Euros last year and took sixth place. This year, he has 13 victories by pin and four by technical falls.

Horrigan, meanwhile, was the European champion at 120 in 2024.

But neither can the competition, which could trip up either of them.

Spangdahlem senior Caleb Truscott, who will be heading to The Citadel this summer, is more than capable of playing spoiler to both and getting that elusive European championship. The Sentinel has a 12-4 record and won the West sectional.

Panther sophomore Preston Schnieders (14-3) also could make some noise.

132

Kaiserslautern’s Joshua Kim is ready to take the next step up the podium.

The Raider junior finished runner-up at Euros last year in 126 despite an ankle injury. Healthy this season, Kim is unbeaten at 16-0, using explosive speed and power.

Looking to stop the Raider are Stuttgart junior Sammy Johnson (17-3), the Central sectional winner, and Naples’ Hayden Schmall, who won the South sectional.

Don’t overlook Troy Truscott. The Sentinel sophomore is 14-6 and kept the sectional final match against Kim close at 9-3.

Hohenfels freshman Ben Tocco and SHAPE senior Federico Leongito also could make deep runs, after wrestling Johnson close with three- and five-point defeats, respectively. Both enter Euros at 14-7.

138

Wiesbaden’s Munro Davis has his sights set on the perfect sendoff.

The senior is a two-time European champion – the only wrestler to have won in 2023 and 2024. His 2023 crown came at 120, and his 2024 triumph was at 132.

Davis has moved up to 138, and he hasn’t missed a beat. In fact, he’s improved from last year, having not lost a match at 15-0. At the Central sectional, Davis pinned Panther sophomore Dominick Welsh at 3:44 and produced a 13-1 major decision against Welsh’s teammate Rucell Phillip.

The competition won’t let him waltz into a third championship, though. Ramstein junior Rhys Barlow is 13-4 following a trio of pins at the West sectional, and Naples’ Riley Edwards is coming off a win at the South sectional.

Jacob Stuhler also will seek a deep run. The Dragon junior placed third at 132 last winter. He’s 11-3 this season, including a 1-1 mark vs. Barlow with a pin during the regular season and a loss in his lone meeting with Davis.

Ankara senior Sayed Kadhem (6-7) could be a dark horse after upsetting an opponent that beat him three times during the regular season to make a run into the sectional final.

144

Vilseck’s Lucas Landrum has controlled the 144 weight class – when he’s wrestled.

The junior is 9-0 on the season, including a sectional title in Stuttgart. Landrum also won the weight class over South sectional winner Brady Price of Naples during a regular-season meet at home on Dec. 14. He also handed Ramstein’s Liam Horne his second loss of the season during the West sectional.

Along with Price, Alconbury’s Kieran Quigley could be Landrum’s toughest competition. The Dragon junior, in his first year in folkstyle, is 10-2, including a 3-1 mark against European qualifiers.

And Stuttgart’s Payton Kolesnikov could make a deep run himself. The Panther senior is 13-2, with one loss a forfeit in the Central sectional final.

Kaiserslautern’s Davyn Meno, who finished third at the West sectional, has a win over Quigley.

150

Vilseck’s Jayden Freeman has seemed like he’s got a definitive goal.

Finishing third at 144 during last winter’s European championships, Freeman sits at 15-0 at 150 this winter. The senior produced three pins at the Central sectional, including two within 30 seconds.

But the 150 field is crowded. Vicenza’s Paul Sturtevant qualified for the Euros last year at 144, going 2-2. And he ran the South sectional this year.

AFNORTH’s James Bennett made a midseason switch from 144, where he had lost a single match this season, to 150, and he hasn’t missed a beat. The senior is 15-1 and won the West sectional.

SHAPE’s Donovan Traylor took sixth at last year’s Euros and gave Freeman his best match at the Central sectional, lasting until the third round before losing via pin. The senior is 15-5 with 12 pins.

157

Kai Lewis transferred to Stuttgart from Virginia just before Christmas break. And he’s been unstoppable since.

The sophomore is 12-0 in just four tournaments and pinned his two sectional opponents in the first period. His coach, Norman Matzke, described him as a solid chain wrestler.

Standing in the young Panther’s way will Ramstein’s Isaac Martinez, who is 18-1. The West sectional winner and defending champion lost to Lewis in a technical fall 17-2 in the last regular-season meet.

Naples’ Derrick Cavillery also will have a say, as will Kaiserslautern’s Peyton Allen and Ankara’s Giorgi Imerlishvili. The latter is a second-year European qualifier who has trained with Georgian national team members during school vacations.

165

Kydan Echard is looking to complete a dream 13 months that includes leading the Royals to a Division I football title this fall.

The Ramstein senior won a tight one in the 150 final last season, and he has carried on the form his senior campaign. Echard is 13-0 and won the West sectional with ease.

Wyatt Massey won’t make it easy for him, starting in pool play. Massey is 9-1 and won the Central sectional.

Aviano junior Andre Sunia also will be in the mix, going 12-2 so far with a South sectional title.

175

This weight class is top heavy.

The three sectional winners – Stuttgart’s Andrew Morrow, Ramstein’s Spencer Jackson and Rota’s Jonathan King – have a combined three losses.

Morrow’s been particularly impressive. After placing third at 150 last year, the senior began the season at 165 before helping his team by moving to 175. Since then, Morrow is 11-0.

Looking to play spoiler are Lakenheath junior Wesson Roney, who’s competing at his second European tournament; SHAPE sophomore Liam Kennington, who’s currently 12-5 in his first season in Belgium; and Vicenza’s Jose Jimenez.

190

This weight class should be fun to watch.

Lakenheath senior Jaden Dubois and Aviano junior Cruz Cottingham each arrive in Wiesbaden with just one loss after winning the West and South sectionals, respectively.

Dubois didn’t begin wrestling until his junior year and has continued his meteoric rise after qualifying for Euros his first year.

SHAPE’s Howard Traylor has taken a similar trajectory, although he didn’t experience the same early success Dubois did. The Spartan sophomore didn’t wrestle much last year before going 13-5 and winning the Central sectional this winter. He also is on the lighter side for the class, weighing 179 pounds.

Ramstein’s Chris Farrington scored a regular-season victory over Dubois before losing a 6-2 decision at the West sectional, showing he’s no underdog. The junior is 14-3 on the year.

215

Aviano’s Tyler Mellon and Lakenheath’s Adrian Hill could be on a collision course for the final match. Both juniors are undefeated – Mellon 16-0 and Hill 18-0 – and sit in different pools.

Many pitfalls await them, beginning with Hohenfels senior Nehemiah Baleto. The Tiger won the Central sectional in dramatic fashion, overcoming a double-digit deficit in the third period to pin Stuttgart senior Alex Levardi.

Mellon’s path is rockier than Hill’s, as Baleto and Spangdahlem’s Hudson Hulet are in his pool. Hulet qualified for Euros at 285 last year and dropped to 215 this winter. The senior has produced a 12-3 record, with two of those losses coming against Hill.

285

The sectional winners will have their hands full against each other.

Wiesbaden junior Dan Garin enters the tournament at 14-0 after winning the Central meet. He’s paired up with Ramstein senior Dorain Braun (8-1) in the same pool.

South sectional champion Declan Newsome of Naples headlines the other pool.

Girls

105

The lightest weight class has the most experience and enough newcomers who pack enough punch to make it one of the most competitive on the girls side.

Three girls have qualified for Europe before against the boys in Ramstein junior Lilianna Greene, Rota senior Quennette Kirkconnell and SHAPE senior Penelope Gomlak.

Greene has gained a fearsome reputation among the DODEA European scene, where rare points against her are added as positives on opponents’ resumes. The Royal is 14-0 on the year.

Kirkconnell has a loss to Greene under her belt, but she enters riding high after a South sectional crown. The two are in the same pool.

Gomlak has a 9-4 record heading into the tournament and dominated the Central sectional with a technical fall and a pin. Known as “Polly Pocket” by her teammates, the Spartan senior competes at 95 pounds.

Don’t sleep on rookie Maya Reyes. The Alconbury freshman is 13-3 on the year, with all three losses coming against Greene and Gomlak. Reyes does hold a positive record against Gomlak at 2-1, and her two defeats to Greene were 3-0 and 1-0.

110

Ramstein senior Liberty Snyder enters as the favorite with two years of Euros experience and a record of 11-0 this campaign.

One of her toughest competitors is in her pool. Hohenfels junior Ileana Rodriguez has transferred from Georgia and made her mark immediately with a 14-3 record and a Central sectional title.

On the other side is Rota sophomore Akira Terlaje, the South sectional winner. Baumholder sophomore Leilani Slye made it to Euros against the boys at 106 last year, and she’s in her third year in the sport overall. She has posted a 10-4 record this winter.

115

Genesis Esparza is the end of Ramstein’s dominating opening trio. The senior, who qualified against the boys at 120 last year, is 15-0 on the year.

Among those tasked with stopping Esparza are Rota’s Camille Siguenza and Kaiserslautern senior Uno Tate. A former Euros qualifier, Tate has struggled against Esparza all season, but she’ll be looking to overcome those setbacks in either the semifinals or finals – should she advance to the knockout stages.

120

In an interesting turn of events, this weight class could get a finals preview in pool play.

Alconbury senior Richele Reyes has advanced to Euros all four years of her high school career, and this time, she’s seeking the top spot on the podium. She’s 10-0 this season with eight via pins and took technical falls. Eight of her victories have come against four other European qualifiers – SHAPE’s Alexis Hall (11-6) and Lene Schaumburger, Ramstein’s Gianna Prevedelli (3-9) and Iliana Echard (7-6).

Hall and Schaumburger are in Reyes’ pool, as is Rota’s Athena Quiroz. The sophomore transferred from California and won the South sectional.

In the other pool, Vilseck senior Jessica Gomez leads the way with a Central sectional crown and a 13-3 record.

130

A pair of athletes better known for other sports are co-favorites in this weight class.

SHAPE’s Sofia Colalongo came into wrestling with a background in judo. The freshman from Italy has made her mark from the start, 14-0 and a Central sectional champ heading into Euros. All 14 victories have been pins.

In the other pool, Rickalia Goss seeks success on the mat after European crowns in track and field. The Sigonella senior, who qualified for multiple Euros as a wrestler against the boys, cruised to the South sectional title.

Ramstein’s Alejandra Sanner will give Goss and Colalongo a run for their money. The sophomore, in her first year wrestling, is 15-0 and won the West sectional.

Lakenheath senior Peyton Caranta also could make a deep run, going 10-6 so far this season.

140

All three sectional champions arrive in Wiesbaden with just one loss each, making this bracket intriguing.

Transferring from Spangdahlem, sophomore Isabella Parker has found a groove in Aviano, going 9-1. Stuttgart junior Violet Tomko tried wrestling for the first time this year and has produced a magical season at 14-1.

Tomko’s lone loss came against Ramstein freshman Talia Carlson, the West sectional champ, on Dec. 7. The duo faced off again on Jan. 25, with Tomko avenging her defeat with a pin.

Wiesbaden freshman Taylor Grace Wesctcott (11-4) and Spangdahlem senior Emma Simpson (8-5) enter as underdogs who could pull off the upset.

155

Naples junior Audrey Pounds leads the way in this weight class, winning the South sectional after qualifying against the boys last year at 150 pounds.

Among those in her way are SHAPE senior Ilaria Chierchia, who enters Euros having not wrestled in two weeks because of a lack of competitors in her weight class, and Ramstein junior Lydia Cox, who’s 6-3 this season.

170+

Kaiserslautern coach Duke Allen cannot praise Kaelyn Ronnau enough, calling her “the best female wrestler in DODEA-Europe.”

No opponent has scored a single point on her all season with a 14-0 record. Allen described her technical skill and physicality as the best he’s seen as a coach in Europe.

Ansbach senior Sara Felice, who’s 12-4 on the year; Rota’s Gracey Graham; and first-year wrestler Terra Love are tasked with stopping the Raider.

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