Senior Benjamin Plouff will play outside hitter for Osan's boys volleyball team. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea – They are definitely not in Kansas any more.
But two transfers from Junction City High School have given Humphreys’ cross country team a huge boost, along with another newcomer from Yokota and a handful of freshmen move-ups from the middle school ranks.
“The PCS Plane definitely blessed us this year,” Blackhawks coach Amy Gleason said, adding that the team’s lineups are already filled with the newcomers and veterans. “We already have our five,” she said.
Most noteworthy among the newcomers are Terrence Burnell, a junior, and senior Reagan McGuire who ran last year for Junction City’s Tigers. Burnell finished first and McGuire third in the Salina Invitational last Oct. 8.
“They’re new and they just love running,” Gleason said. “Their cooldowns are everybody else’s workouts.”
The Blackhawks also welcomed two freshmen to the boys lineup, Derek Snyder and Joey Brown.
They finished second and third Saturday behind Burnell in the first meet of the Korean-American Interscholastic Activities Conference season, while McGuire and freshman Cassie Jarzabek went 2-3 in that opening meet at Seoul Foreign School.
All of that’s in addition to senior Samantha Dales returning as captain, plus juniors Yousoff Baradaji and Ethan Flores and sophomore Kieran Quigley.
“We have an awesome lineup ready to go,” Gleason said.
Coach Cornell Jones, far left, helms an Osan cross country team that's pretty much starting over. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
While the Blackhawks are loaded, DODEA-Korea’s other two cross country entries, Osan and Daegu, are pretty much starting over.
Warriors new coach Jeramie Lentz has just two seniors, Dean Lentz and Seth Peters. Cougars first-year coach Cornell Jones has no varsity returners, only three freshmen and the rest in middle school.
In addition to chasing a KAIAC championship, the Blackhawks will also run in the first in-person Far East meet in four years, scheduled for Oct. 23-24 at Misawa Air Base, Japan.
Senior Samantha Jones is hoping for Daegu to get a leg up as they return to Far East competition next month on Okinawa. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Sophomore Ayden Canizales will be Osan boys tennis team's No. 2 singles seed. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Tennis
Tennis, too, returns to an in-person Far East for the first time since October 2019.
“I don’t think it’s quite hit me yet, but the idea … I’m looking forward to it,” Daegu senior Samantha Jones said. “I’m a little scared, but I’m excited.”
Jones is joined by returning senior Beckam Clites, while sophomore Gianna Tak appears to be in line for Daegu’s top girls singles seed.
Seniors Sean Choo and Naomi Choi return as the top singles seeds for Humphreys. The Blackhawks also have senior Beau Carson and junior Dylan Byun back as their top doubles seed. Adeline Kim, another senior, returns as Humphreys’ No. 2 girls singles seed.
Osan brings back senior Chen Ho and sophomore Ayden Canizales as their top two boys singles seeds. Sophomore Belldandy Lamb is the Cougars’ top girls singles seed. Senior Anna Purvis and sophomore Alexis Ramos also return.
Elysia Koch has transferred from Osan to Humphreys girls volleyball team. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Junior Clarice Lee is one of three returning starters for Osan's girls volleyball team. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Middle blocker Jasmine Harvey is one of six seniors on Daegu's girls volleyball team. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Senior Yanieliz Geliga-Arzon is a potent weapon for Humphreys as an outside hitter. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Freshman Jessica Kim is one of Humphreys girls volleyball's hopes for the future. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Girls volleyball
Former DODEA students Brittany Bonner and Raven Harrison say they couldn’t be more excited to take over the Blackhawks, who not only will host the KAIAC Cup Tournament Oct. 27-28, but also the Far East Division I Tournament Oct. 23-25.
“We’re excited to be going to both, and they’re here,” Bonner said.
Humphreys went undefeated last season, but most of the components from that team are gone. And the Blackhawks dropped their opener in four sets at home against Chadwick International.
But there’s hope moving forward, Bonner said. Elysia Koch transfers from Osan, sisters Kimora and Nyomi Peoples bolster the back line and youngsters Jessica Kim, Christie Park and Evelyn Kim show promise up front. Senior Yanieliz Geliga-Arzon is a strong outside hitter.
After taking several years off, Krista Fagala retakes Osan’s helm and has returners Tatiana Lunn and Ashley Kim, both seniors, and junior Clarice Lee back in the starting lineup. Seniors Lavandria Ulloa and Ava Perez and juniors Hanna Rutland, Abigail Elliott and Audrey Reil will also be of help.
Junior Zachary Hernandez will set for Osan's boys volleyball team. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Boys volleyball
Humphreys had 39 players try out for the boys team, which “afforded us to have one of our stronger teams and build for the future,” Blackhawks coach Eddie Rozzi said.
Senior twins Jonathan (setter) and Joseph Park (outside hitter) return, along with senior outside Lucas Utley. “We moved up some of our better JVs, but we’re relying on our seniors for leadership and to guide us,” Rozzi said.
Senior outside Benjamin Plouff and junior setter Zachary Hernandez will serve as cornerstones for Osan’s boys team.
“We’re very young, we’re still in development, but it’s an energetic team, with a lot of spirit and the chemistry is really good,” Plouff said.
Daegu did not have enough boys players come out and will not field a team this season, school officials said.
