St. Peter, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus women’s basketball team will travel overseas for a 10-day trip through Italy and Switzerland, beginning on Wednesday, June 4 when the team departs for Milan from Minneapolis.
“Our team is looking forward to having the chance to travel abroad, play internationally, and bond together while touring Italy and Switzerland,” said Head Coach Laurie Kelly. “At Gustavus, we strive to provide our students with the opportunity to expand their horizons and visit new places. This trip will be a great opportunity for our team to explore new cultures and play basketball in the process.”
Over their 10-day excursion, the Gusties will take in the sights of Milan, Lake Como, Lugano in Switzerland, Venice, Montecatini, Florence, Lucca, Pisa, and Rome.
To go along with the educational experience of touring overseas, the Gustavus basketball team will also play a pair of friendship games on the third and fourth days of the trip. On Friday, June 6, the Gusties will depart for Arosio where they will face the ASD Basketball Costa women’s team. On Saturday, June 7, Gustavus takes part in its final friendly against the Usmate Club team in Como.
“This trip offers our players a unique opportunity to play basketball against international competition,” said Kelly. “It’s been great to have the girls together at practice over the last month. The games will be contested under international rules against unfamiliar opponents, but that’s what makes it so exciting. This is a chance for them to be immersed in basketball overseas – a chance to grow as a team and hopefully walk away from the experience with a fresh perspective on the sport.”
The Gustavus women’s basketball team will return to Minnesota on Friday, June 13.
“This is the opportunity of a lifetime and I believe our team will be changed forever after this experience,” concluded Kelly.
To track the Gustavus women’s basketball team’s journey through Italy and Switzerland, Laurie Kelly has set up a travel blog to help fans follow all the action of the trip. The Gustie women’s basketball Italy travel blog can be accessed via the link below.