By Rusty Bryan
Published: September 27, 2011
Even though it actually was played almost 23 hours earlier, you can check out the U.S.A.-Italy rugby game at 9 a.m. (CET) Wednesday on AFN-Sports. The U.S.A. completed its Rugby World Cup pool-play schedule against Italy and stood no chance of advancing to the tournament quarterfinals no matter what the outcome.
Still, if you haven’t seen much rugby, you might enjoy it. The level of play won’t be anything close to the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals coming up, but it’s still worth watching. Talk about action.
By Rusty Bryan
Published: September 27, 2011
With the high school football season nearing its halfway point, Ansbach’s Marcus George has surveyed his fellow coaches and compiled an analysis of this week’s games, three of which will be under the lights on Friday night. If you’re in the Baumholder, Ansbach or Brussels areas on Friday, you might want to check out the state of high school football in Europe. Primetime football under the lights continues Saturday night, when Alconbury visits unbeaten, unscored-upon Rota.
Here’s what the coaching fraternity sees this week, according to George. (Overall records in parentheses include all games played).
Division I
"If we were in a normal situation, most folks would claim that “gremlins” are involved with Division I football. Ramstein losing to Patch. Heidelberg losing to Wiesbaden… hmmmmmm.
"Truth is, programs change, student populations change, coaches change, and DODDS football is ever in flux."
Kaiserslautern (0-2) at Filton (1-1)
"K-town is still looking for win No. 1. Filton squeaked out a 6-0 win over Lakenheath, which handled K-town in Week 1. On paper, Filton wins. Given all the surprises so far, who knows? That being said, one team will be playing catch-up after this game and one will have new life. It is a short season!"
Heidelberg (1-1) at Lakenheath (1-1)
"Both teams’ perfect seasons came to a screeching halt this past weekend. Heidelberg’s nine-game winning streak was run over by a rebound runaway train from Wiesbaden, and Lakenheath was shut down by a large, physical team from Filton. Heidelberg’s spread attack requires some athletes to stop. Wiesbaden seems to have found the secret that no teams have discovered in the past few years. Lakenheath has a week to learn a similar game plan."
Vilseck (2-0) at Ramstein (1-1)
"Most folks have forgotten the Vilseck win over Ramstein a few years ago. Vilseck is riding high and is a strong candidate to challenge Europe’s largest high school. Ramstein had a badly needed big win over cross-town rival K-Town this past weekend. This weekend will test how much the Royals have improved. Vilseck defeated the Patch team that upset the Royals in Week 1, so this will be a big test for the Royals."
Patch (1-1) at Wiesbaden (2-1)
"Patch’s undefeated season came crashing down this past weekend against Vilseck, but the powerful rushing attack (led by Justin Johnson-Rich) of the Panthers should insure a good season. The next obstacle is Wiesbaden, with a tough rushing attack and an outstanding back of its own (Daniel Harris Jr.). Wiesbaden showed great growth between Weeks 1 and 2 and should give a true picture of how solid the 2011 Patch program is."
Division II
"The preseason predictions have proved to be accurate so far. Bitburg, Baumholder and ISB return the most lettermen, are all undefeated and all play in the North Division. Baumholder and Bitburg have run roughshod over their first few opponents. In the South Division, Ansbach seems to be playing their normal level of football, along with Naples. This week should provide some clarity, with 2-0 Aviano and 2-0 Naples squaring off, as well as 2-0 Baumholder and 3-0 Bitburg."
Aviano (2-1) at Naples (2-0)
"Aviano stumbled in the pre-season against Rota, but has won two games in the regular season. Naples won the opening game in a tight one against Hohenfels, but surged strongly versus Vicenza, The Naples coaches have declared their defense one of the best in Europe. Aviano becomes the third team to challenge that statement. So far, Naples has given up 12 points."
Bitburg (3-0) at Baumholder (2-0)
"Bitburg returns about three-fourths of their championship team from 2010. Many prognosticators have penciled in Bitburg as the Division II champ this year. Baumholder returns many players from the 2010 season as well and has some move-ins. Both teams have scored big points so far. How long has it been since Baumholder defeated Bitburg? Will this be the year? This game will go a long way in establishing the pecking order in the North."
Hohenfels (0-2) at Ansbach (2-0)
"Athletic Hohenfels has shown some talent on defense, but is not scoring many points, playing tough in losses to Naples and Aviano. Ansbach has averaged 48 points a game so far. Hohenfels has talent and needs a great defensive game plan to re-start their playoff quest. Ansbach is a tough place to start such a quest. The Cougars have lost one game in 11 years on their home field."
Vicenza (0-2) at Schweinfurt (0-2)
"Both teams need a win, after big losses in the past two weeks. Schweinfurt is the upstart in this game, as well-established Vicenza holds most of the cards. The loser of this game faces a hard road to make the playoffs. Schweinfurt would like to get their first win in school history. Vicenza, at home, will try to get their engine started and win a playoff spot."
SHAPE (0-2) at International School of Brussels (1-0)
"ISB had a tough game in their first win of the season versus AFNORTH. SHAPE has struggled in big losses so far. Is this the game that SHAPE turns around its fortunes? SHAPE needs a win. How good is ISB? With 20 returning lettermen, ISB should be a solid choice in this game, but you can never tell…."
AFNORTH (0-2) is idle this week.
Division III
"So far, Division III appears to have three main players (Menwith Hill, Bamberg and Rota). Alconbury, Brussels and defending champion Sigonella are in speed-up mode to get that final playoff spot. Several years ago, Alconbury ran through regular season with few wins but came on like gang-busters in the playoffs. It is too soon to tell who the final four will be, but this weekend will help to clarify the picture."
Alconbury (1-2) at Rota (3-0)
"Rota has looked like a juggernaut so far. Alconbury returned to the winner’s column with a win over Brussels, but is far from the team that played in the Division III championship games in the past two years. How good is the Rota team that handled D-II Aviano (26-0) three weeks ago? Alconbury will help answer these questions and will also establish the playoff pecking order this weekend. Duke Eidt is back at the helm at Alconbury."
Bamberg (3-0) at Sigonella (0-2)
"Bamberg is a seasoned competitor that has played in Division II. They are athletic and talented. Sigonella is the defending D-III champion, but is in a big-time rebuilding mode. They would love to pull themselves back into the playoff picture. Beating Bamberg will be a tall order for them."
Menwith Hill (2-1) at Brussels (0-3)
"Menwith Hill is a frustrated football team, after multiple turnovers in a loss to Bamberg. Brussels is looking to get in the win column. Brussels will need their best game to have a chance versus the hungry Mustangs."
Do you take issue with any of this? Let us know in the comment section below. You might earn bragging rights come Saturday night.
Patch junior Morgan Mahlock, shown here winning the European championship last October in Schwetzingen, Germany, set a course record Saturday at Kaiserslautern, beating the old mark set by two-time champion Colleen Smith of K-town in 2006, by 16 seconds.
By Rusty Bryan
Published: September 26, 2011
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – Lost in the Saturday-evening scramble to get to press was the top-tier performance of Patch junior Morgan Mahlock in Saturday's six-school cross country meet here.
Mahlock, a transfer student last fall who capped her first season across the pond by winning the European championship last October, led Patch to a dominating victory Saturday over defending European team champion Ramstein. Mahlock covered K-town’s 5,000-meter layout in a course-record time of 19 minutes, 11 seconds.
The Wiesbaden Warriors football team and managers followed their big victory Saturday over Heidelberg helping raise funds and awareness to fight breast cancer by running in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Sunday in Frankfurt, Germany. Sunday marked the fourth straight year the Warriors have taken part in the race.
By Rusty Bryan
Published: September 26, 2011
WIESBADEN, Germany – Bitburg sophomore LeAnna Day (see previous blog) wasn’t the only DODDS-Europe athlete who ran for a higher cause over the weekend. Fresh off their 35-22 victory over defending European D-I champion Heidelberg on Saturday, Wiesbaden football coach Steve Jewell and his Warriors spent part of their Sunday running in the seventh annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in nearby Frankfurt.
“This is the fourth year in a row that the Warriors have participated in this event,” Jewell E-mailed on Monday morning. “The event is designed to raise money and awareness for the fight against breast cancer. (It) draws 10,000 participants for both the two-kilometer walk and five-kilometer run each year, raising hundreds of thousands of Euros for breast cancer research.”
Jewell and his wife Hilda have chaperoned the team’s attendance at the race every year, and Jewell noted that what once seemed like a chore to his players is now a highlight of the football season.
“This is something that I require my football players to attend,” Jewell wrote, “and, to be truthful, now they all look forward to it.”
Bitburg sophomore LeAnna Day interrupted her cross country race Saturday to come to the aid of an injured foe.
By Rusty Bryan
Published: September 26, 2011
BITBURG AIR BASE, Germany – One of the goals of high school sports is to teach sportsmanship. In the case of Bitburg cross country runner LeAnna Day, go ahead and put the “mission-accomplished” banner over her locker.
According to Bitburg coach Rebecca Washer, Day, a sophomore, was just one-half mile into her second race of the season Saturday when she noticed a runner in obvious pain on the ground ahead of her. Instead of pushing on past the injured competitor, as many runners already had, Day stopped to assist her opponent, who had suffered a leg injury. Day then returned to the starting line to summon help, a move which cost her more time than anyone could expect to make up and added another 1,700 yards or so to her race.
Day’s efforts weren’t wasted, however. According to Washer, it was necessary to drive a vehicle up the course to take the injured runner to the base clinic.
Day then completed her race, officially clocking 41 minutes and 34 seconds. That was more than twice as slow as Saturday’s winning time, 20:30, but it was warp speed in the run to becoming a responsible adult.
In my book, Day’s time was unbeatable on that or any other Saturday.
By Rusty Bryan
Published: September 19, 2011
Four of the biggest surprises of the early going of a high school football season which is entering its third calendar week but just its second full-schedule Saturday will clash this weekend.
In Division I, Vilseck, which controlled defending European D-I runner-up Wiesbaden 25-8 on Saturday, travels to Patch this week to take on the Panthers, who downed Ramstein 26-12 in their opener.
And in the wide-open spaces of the nine-man game used by the D-III schools, divisional newcomer Bamberg, averaging 41 points per game in its first two victories, is scheduled to host Menwith Hill. The Mustangs pinned a 59-20 defeat on defending D-III champion Sigonella last Saturday.
Ansbach coach Marcus George provided these takes on this weekend’s schedule:
Division I
Lakenheath (1-0) at Filton (0-1): Both teams saw each other a few weeks ago at a jamboree. Which team has improved the most? Lakenheath has a running start with an opening-week win (33-18 over visiting K-town).
Ramstein (0-1) at Kaiserslautern (0-1): Cross-town rivalry. Both teams looking for a jump-start win, after tough opening-week losses. Both teams should be hungry.
Heidelberg (1-0) at Wiesbaden (0-1): Heidelberg, thus far, is spreading defenses out and using their speed. Wiesbaden stumbled last week versus another speed team, Vilseck. We will see if they can adjust in a short time.
Vilseck (1-0) at Patch (1-0): Only one of these teams can be undefeated after this weekend. Fairly well-matched. Give Patch the power edge and give Vilseck the overall speed edge.
Kaiserslautern grad Tracey Ely tends to her duties as a trainer as the Texas Longhorns freshman keystone combo of shortstop Ricky Jacquez (10) and second baseman Brooks Marlow (8) heads for the dugout during a game this spring in Austin, Texas.
By Rusty Bryan
Published: September 17, 2011
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – Tracey Ely, a 2009 graduate of Kaiserslautern High School, has begun the second year of her three-year program as an athletic trainer for the University of Texas Longhorns, according to her father, Tim.
While at K-town, Tracey Ely lettered in basketball, volleyball and track, Tim Ely E-mailed.
“She had several opportunities to continue her sports participation as an athlete, but she has chosen to keep close to sports by working as an athletic trainer,” Tim Ely reported. “She is in her second year of a three-year program for Texas.
According to the elder Ely, the UT trainer worked with the Longhorns' baseball team which made the College World Series in Omaha in June. This fall, Tim Ely said, Tracey is working with the Longhorns’ football team.
By Rusty Bryan
Published: September 13, 2011
Volleyball coach Brian Swenty E-mailed Tuesday to inform that 2011 Vilseck graduate Anna Muzzy, a 6-1 outside hitter who was the Stars and Stripes’ 2010 volleyball player of the year, successfully walked on at Boise State University this fall.
Swenty said he wasn’t surprised that Muzzy is able to perform at the Division I level.
“She worked really hard,” he wrote of the Falcons’ three-time All-European who led the school to the 2010 European D-I title.
By Rusty Bryan
Published: September 12, 2011
Lakenheath high school grad Greg Billington, who holds the DODDS-Europe record of 8:34.16 in the 3,000 meters, placed fourth last week in the International Triathlon Union’s Under-23 World Championships, according to Colorado Triathlete magazine.
Billington completed the 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike ride and 10-kilometer run on the course used at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing in 1 hour, 52 minutes, 38 seconds to finish just behind a trio of British triathletes. Matthew Sharpe, David McNamee and Thomas Bishop clocked, resprectively, 1:52:12, 1:52:17 and 1:52:19, according to the magazine.
Forty-two-year Stars and Stripes veteran Bob Wicker lines up his tee shot on No. 1 at Heidelberg Golf Club recently as he began a round on the HGC layout for the seventh consecutive decade.
By Rusty Bryan
Published: September 11, 2011
HEIDELBERG, Germany – Former city, special projects, sports and managing editor Bob Wicker, who began his Stars and Stripes career as a military reporter in 1957, returned to Europe recently to renew ties with friends and former colleagues.
Wicker, a more-than-avid golfer who worked for Stripes’ Pacific edition his first two years before beginning a 40-year run with European Stars and Stripes in 1959, not coincidentally had his clubs in tow when arrived from his home in Minden, Nev., late last month. Wicker brought his clubs so that he could play his favorite tournament, the Luxembourg Open he helped found in 1961. But before teeing off in the Lux Open for the 33rd time, the 74-year-old first shook the jet-lag out of his sticks on the Heidelberg course he first played in 1959.
By Rusty Bryan
Published: September 10, 2011
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – The U.S. Youth Soccer-Olympic Development Program and the German soccer club 1FC Kaiserslautern will be conducting one-day training sessions Sept. 18 for boys and girls born in 2001 and 2002. The clinics will be held at the 1FCK practice facility just east of K-town off the road to Mehlingen.
There is no charge for the sessions, which run from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. for girls and 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. for boys, with a one-hour lunch break for each. Participants, who will get to work with coaches from 1FCK and the USYS-ODP, are requested to bring their own water, a sack lunch, shin guards and a ball with their name on it.
Address for sessions is FCK Fields Rote Teufel, Werner Liebrichstr 1, Mehlingen 67678. Drivers using the A-6 autobahn should exit at the Mehlingen turnoff east of Kaiserslautern and follow the signs to Sport Park Rote Teufel.
E-mail usysheidelberg@googlemail.com with any questions.
By Rusty Bryan
Published: September 9, 2011
HEIDELBERG, Germany -- United States Youth Soccer-Olympic Development Program has scheduled tryouts Sunday for its boys’ and girls’ Heidelberg Select teams.
Tryouts will be held at the soccer field next to the bowling alley at Patrick Henry Village. Participants should bring a ball, shin guards and something to drink, organizers E-mailed.
By Rusty Bryan
Published: September 6, 2011
SHAPE, Belgium – Led by triple winners Emily Ward, Katie Oldham, Lizzie Hodges, Eric Arrington and Hayden Kasavicha, the Stuttgart Piranhas downed the SHAPE Seals 377-241 Saturday in both teams’ opening meet of the 2011-2012 European Forces Swim League season.
Benjamin Balla, Aurora Cuppone and Heidi Northshield each won three individual gold medals for the host Seals.
The European Forces Swim League, which offers competition for swimmers aged six-19 years, conducts weekly meets throughout the fall and winter leading up to its championship meet, scheduled this season for Eindhoven, Netherlands, Feb. 18-19.
EFSL information, schedules and results are available at www.swimefsl.org.
By Rusty Bryan
Published: September 6, 2011
GARMISCH, Germany – It took a while for all the points to be assigned and added up, but when they were, veteran masters cyclist James Sharp of Kaiserslautern claimed third place in his age category in the 2011 U.S. Forces-Europe Mountain Bike Championship Series.
Sharp, who raced Saturday in just his second event of the eight-race 2011 series, was the fastest American military community racer is his 45-years-and-older category. He covered the near-25 kilometers of Garmisch’s 26th annual Fat Tire Spectacular in 54 minutes, 42.4 seconds.
By Rusty Bryan
Published: September 6, 2011
ANSBACH, Germany -- Ansbach coach Marcus George E-mailed Tuesday to point out the college achievement of a former Cougar running back, Dominique Whaley.
In his first appearance in an Oklahoma jersey, Whaley, a walk-on 5-10, 197-pound junior, emerged on top of a three-player battle for No. 1 on the depth chart by running for 131 yards and four touchdowns Saturday in the top-ranked Sooners’ 47-14 season-opening victory over the University of Tulsa.
By Rusty Bryan
Published: September 6, 2011
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – The Kaiserslautern Officials’ Association will conduct rules clinics at 10 a.m. Saturday at Bldg. 3701 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and the Patch Barracks gym, KOA president Al Shaff announced Tuesday.
According to Shaff, attendance at one of the clinics is the first step in the registration process for anyone who wants to work high school volleyball this season. KOA volleyball commissioner Dave Lock will present the session at Landstuhl; veteran official Mike Brown is to conduct the event at Patch.
"Anyone desiring to work … high school volleyball meets this season will need to attend one of these clinics plus work at one of the four Sept. 17 Jamborees held at Vilseck, Heidelberg, Brussels or Wiesbaden,” Shaff E-mailed, but added, “… referees who cannot make either of the clinics because of distance or commitments may start the registration process by attending and working one of the jamborees...”
