Vilseck’s Jessica Gomez and Rota’s Athena Quiroz grapple during a 120-pound semifinal at the 2025 DODEA European wrestling championships on Feb. 7, 2025, at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

The win booked her ticket to the final match, where she will square off with Ramstein’s Lilianna Greene.

The Royal junior defeated Alconbury freshman Maya Reyes with a pin at 4:19. They were in the middle of their match with 20 seconds left in the first period with Greene leading 5-2.

“It wasn’t too hard – you just have to warm yourself back up,” Greene said. “The most difficult part was you had to be there mentally.”

Greene already was motivated heading into the semifinal after a loss to Kirkconnell in each wrestler’s final pool-play match. The Admiral pinned the Royal in 29 seconds in a call with which the Ramstein coaches disagreed.

The result evened the record between the two, after Greene pinned Kirkconnell earlier this season.

Kirkconnell declined to say Friday’s win gives her the upper hand heading into the final.

“I know she’s a good wrestler, and we’re both at that level,” Kirkconnell said. “I try not to let it get to my head because in this sport, anyone can win or lose.”

Greene, meanwhile, didn’t shy away from calling that loss motivation.

“My mindset is tomorrow, I got to win,” Greene said. “I’m using the drive from losing to become a winner.”

Kaiserslautern’s Uno Tate reacts after pinning Ramstein’s Chanel Lantapon during a 115-pound semifinal at the 2025 DODEA European wrestling championships on Feb. 7, 2025, at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein’s Lilianna Greene and Alconbury’s Maya Reyes embrace following their 105-pound semifinal match at the 2025 DODEA European wrestling championships on Feb. 7, 2025, at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Rota’s Quennette Kirkconnell grasps SHAPE’s Penelope Gomlak during a 105-pound semifinal at the 2025 DODEA European wrestling championships on Feb. 7, 2025, at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Tate recovers to make final

Kaiserslautern’s Uno Tate admitted she was in a difficult spot after losing her second 115-pound pool-play match to Rota’s Camielle Siguenza.

She needed a win against Vicenza’s Kiera Mukai on Friday morning to force a three-way tie and hope she could squeak through to the semifinals.

The Raider senior did just that and more. Tate pinned Mukai to win the three-way tiebreaker and avoid Ramstein ace Genesis Esparza in the semifinal. There, Tate took care of business against Esparza’s teammate, Chanel Lantapon, with a pin at 1:33.

Tate thanked her coaches for getting her out of the dumps.

“After that second match, it was a little tough,” Tate said. “I’ve been dreaming of the spotlight ever since I’ve been around wrestling. I’m so glad to make it my senior year as my last hurrah.”

That last hurrah includes yet another matchup with Esparza. The duo has faced each other almost every meet this season, with the Royal winning every time.

Tate said she hopes to buck the trend in Saturday’s final.

“I can only control how I go into it,” Tate said. “I’m not really worrying about what her game plan is. I’m sticking to mine.”

Rota’s Akira Terlaje pins Baumholder’s Leilani Slye during a 110-pound pool-play match at the 2025 DODEA European wrestling championships on Feb. 7, 2025, at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Kaiserslautern’s Kaelyn Ronnau grabs the leg of Rylea King of Stuttgart during a 170-plus-pound pool-play match at the 2025 DODEA European wrestling championships on Feb. 7, 2025, at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Griffin hoping seventh time’s the charm vs. Pounds

Aviano’s Angelisse Griffin knew her opponent in a 155 semifinal, Ankara’s Charlotte Geis, very well. The Saint sophomore wrestled her in the regular season, as well as during the postseason.

Even though she had enjoyed success against Geis, the stage added pressure for Griffin.

The Saint decided to go for a few laps, watch motivational wrestling videos and listen to Lil Wayne radio on Spotify.

“I won the other matches, but at the same time, this is to go to the finals,” Griffin said. “I was walking laps to lock in and stuff.”

It worked, as Griffin pinned Geis in 36 seconds to advance to the 155 final.

There, she will see another familiar face – Naples’ Audrey Pounds. Griffin has lost six times to Pounds throughout the season, including once in pool play.

The Saint said she and her roommate Isabella Parker will try to come up with a game plan to change her luck against the Wildcat.

“We’re going to look at past videos and see what I can improve on and really lock in what I’m going to try to do tomorrow,” Griffin said.

Ramstein’s Genesis Esparza ties to maneuver for a pin against SHAPE’s Addison Roehrkasse during a 115-pound pool-play match at the 2025 DODEA European wrestling championships on Feb. 7, 2025, at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein’s Liberty Snyder controls Hohenfels’ Ileana Rodriguez on the mat during a 110-pound pool-play match at the 2025 DODEA European wrestling championships on Feb. 7, 2025, at the Wiesbaden Sports and Fitness Center in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)