The UW-Platteville men’s and women’s basketball team traveled to Ireland this past spring to play three games each against Irish teams. The ten-day experience allowed both teams to enjoy the experience of playing against international teams along with the education they received by visiting a different country.

The teams departed from Chicago on May 18 and arrived in Dublin on May 19. After landing, the teams enjoyed a trip to the Wicklow Mountains National Park and the visitor center in Glendalough.

During the Pioneers stay in Ireland, they toured Dublin visiting Trinity College, St. James Gate, the Guiness Brewery, Castle, Christchurch Cathedral, Old Jameson Distillery and the Bank of Ireland. Both teams had the afternoon to practice.

The Pioneers then traveled to Powerscourt Estate. UW-P then played against the men’s and women’s Irish National Under 21 teams.

The next day they departed from Dublin and traveled to Cobh for an educational tour at the Cobh Heritage and Visitor Center. The teams spent three nights in Killarney, home to St. Mary’s Cathedral, Ross Castle, Muckross Abbey, Torc Waterfall and Gap of Dunloe.

The Pioneers then traveled to Limerick and toured the Bunratty Castle. They were able to see the coast of Ireland and the Cliffs of Moher. That night they practiced in Galway.

The next day, the team traveled to the Galway Crystal Factory Shop and to the only medieval walled town in Ireland with original-intact walls, the town of Athenry. Both teams then played rival Irish teams and won.

On their last day in Ireland, the teams toured the Connemara region. They traveled to the Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory in Moycullen, and then to Klyemore Abbey.

Both teams were able to have an educational experience on the trip and learned to play better as a team, along with adapting to the cultural change to basketball.

“The one big advantage of these trips as you do get to try out different options for the upcoming season,” Paul Combs, men’s head coach, said. “We had to adapt to the 24 second shot clock as this has helped us already this season.”

Both head coaches believe that the trip brought experience to the players and allowed them to grow closer as a team.

“Traveling overseas is a unique experience for all of us,” Combs said. “Having it tied in with playing competitive games is even more beneficial.”

“It was a great opportunity for the kids to get to know one another off the basketball court; to meet new people who traveled with us,” Tina Kuhle, women’s head coach, said.

Senior center Jeff Skemp kept a journal while on the trip.

“The trip was great except for the sickness that went around, and there will be many stories to share by all who were involved,” Skemp wrote. Other players shared Skemps positive attitude toward the trip to Ireland.

“We brought back confidence; we grew closer as a team,” senior guard Bo Richter said.

Both teams won all three games against their opponents; the men playing the teams Irish National 21 Under (81-29), Team Garvey (92-52), and the GMIT All-Stars (86-55) and the women playing the Women’s Irish National Under 21 (71-59), St. Mary’s National team (53-49) and the Maree Lady’s team (66-36).

The trip to Ireland hadn’t been the first time the basketball teams traveled overseas. Both teams traveled to Austria, the Czech Republic and Germany three years ago to play against European teams.