http://www.amestrib.com/sports/20180809/womens-basketball-cyclones-depart-for-week-in-costa-ricaBy Hayes Gardner Staff Writer hgardner@amestrib.comPosted Aug 9, 2018 at 7:09 PMUpdated Aug 9, 2018 at 9:35 PM
Soon, Iowa State women's basketball will be living the pura vida.For a week starting today, the Cyclones will be in Costa Rica, splitting time between San Jos, the capital and largest city, and Los Sueos, a beautiful coastal area which translates to "the dreams."
"You always tell student-athletes when you recruit them and talk about it, that these are the experiences that probably they'll remember more than games they won and things like that," ISU coach Bill Fennelly said Thursday.
Of course, they'll be playing basketball, too.
On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, ISU will play three exhibitions against the University of Ottawa, the Costa Rican National Team and then the University of Ottawa, again.
Going on an international trip does enable teams to practice 10 times and then get extra competitive court time, but Fennelly called that aspect of it "overrated."
He especially mentioned how four potential starters have not been even playing with the team. Both Bridget. Carleton and Ashley Joens have been out of the country competing for their respective national teams. Alexa Middleton is nursing a minor knee injury, and Meredith Burkhall had a serious health concern this summer.
Middleton and Burkhall will not play in Costa Rica, while Carleton and Joens are likely to play sparingly.
Instead, Fennelly thinks the trip will benefit the team from a cohesiveness standpoint.
"The biggest thing is the chemistry that they get," Fennelly said. "I mean, we play three games, but it's all the other stuff. They're gonna spend time together, get to know each other better. Because when you look at our roster, half of our roster is new to our team, so that part of it maybe gives you a four-, five-week jumpstart.
"What they'd normally go through in September, we're going through it now. You just hope you don't get tired of each other too soon."
For some Cyclones, such as Joens, traveling internationally is an entirely new experience. Her recent trip to Mexico was her first time out of the country.
But for others, such as Sweden native Adriana Camber, global travel is old hat. She can't name how many countries she's been to, but noted that it's "basically everywhere in Europe."
"I like to travel," she said. "I do that a lot."
Despite her full passport, she said she is unfamiliar with the Central American country.
(I know) nothing. I'm so excited. I know about the volcanoes, so I'm a little scared, but that's gonna be fun," she said, noting the Costa Rica's majestic but active volcanoes.
With so many players not practicing, Camber, a junior and returning starter, said she's started to step into a leadership role.
"We have some hurt players," Camber said. "None of the seniors are practicing right now. As a junior, that's kind of your role. Nia (Washington)'s been hurt, too, so I'm basically the oldest one."
In Costa Rica, the entire team will be united for the first time. After the three exhibitions, the team has plans to tour the capital city, visit an orphanage and zipline.
"It'll be a fun trip," Fennelly said. "It'll be a good way to end the summer and then come back and get excited and get ready to go to Jack Trice and watch some football."
