The College of Wooster men's basketball team is in France over fall break. This is the program's seventh international trip, which the NCAA permits every three years.
Wooster previously visited England, Ireland, and Scotland (2017), Spain (2014), Ireland and Scotland (2011), Italy (2008), Germany and Austria (2004), and England and Scotland (2000).
A journal of the experience provided by members of the team is below and fans can check out the photo gallery of the trip above. Entries submitted by team members will be added throughout the trip as schedules permit upon submission.
Saturday, October 8 – by Elijah Meredith '24
We explored the area surrounding the Louvre Museum after arriving in France. There were gardens, architecture, and the museum itself. We enjoyed our first team meal in France later that evening.
Sunday, October 9 - by Najee Hardaway '22
Today was a day I will always remember. We woke up and convened in the lobby over breakfast. I love waking up to the orange juice and croissants; they are delicious! We then hopped on the bus and rode over to our first stop of the day, the Eiffel Tower. We made the trek up 281 meters to the highest point possible for people to go in the city. While the height was a little nerve wracking, the views were nothing short of amazing.
After lunch, we took a ferry tour on the Seine, a river that cuts through Paris. The guide told us about the historical significance of the landmarks we passed as well as notable facts about the city.
Once the tour finished, we went and had dinner as a team and were given free time for the night. We found amazing places while exploring the city, took pictures with the Eiffel Tower lit up in the background, and featured it in a music video!
I am very grateful for this once in a lifetime opportunity to go to France, play the game I love, and bond with people I will be connected to for the rest of my life.
Monday, October 10 - by Vinni Veikalas '26
On Monday, we traveled to Normandy. We visited the Utah and Omaha Beaches, where the United States troops landed on D-Day. We explored the Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy some of the lesser-known landmarks, including the church of Sainte-Mère-Église, where two United States medics treated and saved the lives of Allied soldiers, Nazi soldiers, and French civilians. We ended our day by visiting the United States cemetery at Omaha Beach, and saw the remnants of a Mulberry harbour, which was built by British engineers for the Allied navy.
Tuesday, October 11 - by Mitch Heilman '24
Tuesday started at the Musée d'Orsay Museum, which included many historical paintings and statues. It was very interesting to see. After, we traveled to Versailles, where we explored the grandeur of Château de Versailles, home of King Louis XIV, and its gardens. This was quite the experience for us all, as the landscape and mansion were purely breathtaking. We then went back to Paris for our pregame meal, which included a buffet. We concluded our day by competing against the Metropolitans 92, a French club. Prior to our game, we had the opportunity to watch their Euro League team practice. Victor Wembanyama, the projected number one pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, plays for them. It was an eventful day and one we will remember for a long time!
Wednesday, October 12 – by Eric Mudd '24
We started our morning early and explored the Louvre Museum and saw all of the amazing sculptures and paintings. I went through about half of the exhibits and saw the Egyptian Pharaohs sarcophagus exhibit. A small group of us got to see the Mona Lisa in all its glory. Shorty after, we left for lunch at Enza and Famiglia Trattoria, which was very tasty. Later, we played very well and very unselfish basketball, which is a Wooster tradition, and beat AS Meudon 86-67. I appreciate the experience of being able to see the Louvre with all of the incredible artwork and being able to play against good competition while being out of the country.
Thursday, October 13 - by Carter Warstler '24
Thursday started with an early wake up call and bus ride to the train station. Upon arriving, we were informed the train would be traveling at speeds of over 150 miles per hour! After two hours, we arrive in Lyon, France. We immediately hopped on a bus and went to see a cathedral dedicated to Mary. We then checked into the hotel and went to our game. The Fighting Scots pulled out the win against Le Coteau Basket Club, 73-54, in front of a great crowd! Following the game, we had a great dinner and conversations with the opposing team.
Friday, October 14 - by Nick Everett '24
On Friday, we started with a two-hour bus ride to Annecy, where we had an hour to roam the city and get lunch. We had tartiflette, a dish with potatoes, cheese, and meat. After lunch and shopping, we had a guided tour of Annecy. During the tour, we were able to learn about the history of the city and visited a prison and churches. A few of us grabbed some ice cream at the end of the tour, and it was hands down, the best ice cream I've ever had. We finished the day with dinner and headed back to the hotel. We had some free time, so some of us went shopping and others stayed back to relax for the night. Popular stores here included Lacoste, Gucci, and other designer brands. Lyon, where we stayed, is beautiful at night with various historical buildings lit up. This trip was a great experience, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to do this with my teammates.
Saturday, October 15 - by Brennan South '24
Saturday was a short day. We had the morning off, so some of us walked around Lyon and did some sightseeing. We all met up around 12:30 for a team lunch at Le Condé, where we had a great meal consisting of steak and potatoes. After lunch, we had some more free time. Some of us chose to go back to the hotel and others went off to find a good movie to watch. Around 5:00, we all met up at the hotel to catch a bus and a high-speed train back to Paris.
Sunday, October 16 - by JJ Cline '24
On Sunday, it was time to make our way back to Wooster. The morning started off early by waking up at 6:15 a.m. After a 6:50 a.m. hotel breakfast, we made our way to the airport. After arriving at the airport, we made our way to get our boarding passes. While getting our boarding passes, we found out our flight was delayed two hours. Along with the delay, the conveyer for the luggage would not work for over 30 minutes. We could not leave until it started working again. After that, we said our goodbyes to the person behind the organization of the trip, Jeremy Walker. We then got through security and arrived at the gate. At the gate, most of us were sleeping on the floor until we got told our gate moved at the last second. The flight to Detroit, Michigan took a little over eight hours. Once we landed, we made it through U.S. Customs. Then, we headed to the bus to begin our three-hour trip back to Wooster. We arrived in Wooster around 6:50 p.m. This trip was an amazing experience that was filled with many new memories that few college athletes get to do. It is one I will never forget. I am truly thankful to our coaches and Jeremy Walker for putting this together for our team. Most importantly, this trip has brought our team closer together right before we take on the 2022-23 season.
Wooster's season gets underway on Friday, November 18 when the Scots host Mount Aloysius College at 8 p.m. to cap night one of the Al Van Wie/Wooster Rotary Classic. Prior to that, Wooster plays an exhibition game at Illinois State University, coached by alumnus Ryan Pedon '00. Tipoff for that exhibition on Sunday, October 30 is set for 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT.
photos courtesy of Jeremy Walker, Sports Journeys International, and Lauren Cline