Wildcat women off to see the world
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No comments [ Add Comment ]By JUSTIN JOHNSON
Standard-Examiner staff
jjohnson@standard.net
Globetrotters go to France, Switzerland
OGDEN -- After several years of planning, the Weber State University women's basketball team embarks today on what coach Carla Taylor calls "the trip of a lifetime."
The Wildcats leave today for a 10-day, two-country tour of France and Switzerland where they will play three games against foreign competition while soaking in the sights.
"This trip not only gives us extra games to play so we are more prepared as the season comes near, but it's more for the experience of traveling as a team to a foreign country and sharing each memory together. It will be a huge bonding trip for everyone," junior point guard Tonya Schnibbe said. "Being able to travel to Europe to play basketball in itself is incredible to even think about.
"Most everyone on the team, including the coaches, have never been to France and Switzerland, so we are all very excited to be able to tour and sight-see. Not to mention get us out of our comfort zones a little and try new things."
Weber State is headed out with Basketball Travelers, Inc., which organizes tours and tournaments worldwide for more 200 collegiate and high school teams annually.
The Wildcats' tour itinerary sends them out of Salt Lake City this afternoon to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Weber State will stay in Paris through Friday, taking in the Louvre, Eiffel Tower and Palace of Versaille.
On Friday, the team will travel to Lyon, France, where they will face U.S. Laveyron. The team will depart Saturday morning for Montreux, Switzerland, and will face Case Basketball that morning.
Weber State will return to Nice, France, on Aug. 18 and will then play its final game against Nice Cobasket on Aug. 20, before returning to the United States on Aug. 21.
"From a basetball perspective, we have three weeks together to learn and grow as a team and get a jump on the X's and O's," Taylor said. "It's a huge 'team bonding' trip. We will have the opportunity to play three games of international competition in France and Swirtzerland.
"We have had some incredibly generous people in the Ogden community help make this trip possible. Our women's basketball program has the unique opportunity to go to Europe and be ambassadors for Weber State University. We also will see and experience these two foreign countries which are rich with history and culture."
