Stuttgart athletes win big in November

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In: News, Schools & Youth
Nicholas Collins, Stuttgart 1, (right) and a K-town opponent race for control of the ball, Nov. 5. Photo by Julie Collins

By John Reese
USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs

Individual athletes and teams from the Stuttgart military community shined during November, taking the gold or silver in a wide range of sports.

On Nov. 5, the Child Youth Services’ Stuttgart Junior Soccer Team 1 defeated Kaiserslautern, 4-0, became the Installation Management Command-European tournament champions. Eight teams competed for the title, coming from across southern Germany and as far away as Vicenza, Italy.

“While Kaiserslautern played well, they were no match for Stuttgart’s team, who pulled off a 4-0 victory,” said Julie Collins. Her son, Nicholas, is on the team.  “This was a nice way to finish after an undefeated season.”

Two K-town Royals hit the turf trying to stop a Panther drive during the final game of the season. Photo by Michael B. Keller, Stars and Stripes

The Stuttgart High School Panthers football team traveled north to defeat the Ramstein Royals on their home turf, 26-21, Nov. 4. Stars and Stripes’ Gregory Broome published a detailed story about the 2017 DODEA-Europe Division I football championship online and in the newsstand version. The game was close, with the Panthers trailing until halfway through the 4th quarter before running back Devon Burton scored the final touchdown. The Royals pushed back hard, but ultimately couldn’t get past the Panthers’ defense.

In basketball, Staff Sgt. Ernest Hassel, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, USAG Stuttgart, was part of the 2017 Armed Forces Basketball Championship winning team. Hassel helped the Army team ground the Air Force team, 95-85, Nov. 7. The Airmen held the title the for eight years until the Army beat them in the 2016 tournament, making the Army team the champs for two straight years. The final game is available on YouTube.

Army’s wins gold over Air Force at the 2017 Armed Forces Basketball Championship, held at Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland Air Force Base, Nov. 1-7. Staff Sgt. Ernest Hassel, HHC USAG Stuttgart, is in the back row, third from right. Photo by U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Frost

(Editor’s note: Contributors to this article are Julie Collins and Tom Hlavacek for soccer; info for basketball came from Armed Forces Sports; Stars and Stripes provided details for football.)