FEATURE: A trip of a lifetime

MITCHELL, S.D. – Between traveling out of the country, playing an international game, watching leather-back sea turtles lay eggs or seeing one of the Seven Wonders of the World, there were many firsts for the members of the Dakota Wesleyan University women's soccer team. But one constant on the trip to Trinidad and Tobago is that it was filled with memories that will be carried with them forever.

 In May of 2019, a group of 25 members of the DWU women's and men's soccer teams traveled internationally to Trinidad and Tobago to partake on a plethora of once-in-a-lifetime events. The trip consisted of eight days of traveling, coaching, playing and sight-seeing.

 Before leaving for the trip, the teams stopped for a meal at the home of Hannah Bowes, a member of the women's soccer team, in Omaha, Neb. When the team landed in Trinidad, they were taken to their home for the week where they were greeted by their host family.

 On the first day in Trinidad, the group took a trip to Maracas Beach. The players were able to play beach soccer, tan and relax before the real work began with the soccer camps the following days. The camps didn't last long, but the memories made in the short time is something that the players took with them.

 "My favorite part of the trip was interacting with the children who attended the training camps we put on," Alyssa Weidler said. "Seeing the smile on their faces made the whole trip worth it."

 On the second day in Trinidad, the Tigers hosted the first of many soccer clinics. The players and coaches taught the youth soccer players about proper technique through drills.

 "In all we did four camps," head women's soccer coach Clay Glasgow said. "It was amazing to see the relationship built between our students and the youth players in an hour or hour and a half. They were hugging and crying by the end after building such a strong relationship."

 Later in the same day, the women's soccer team competed in an international exhibition game. The players on the team that DWU played against was mainly composed of athletes playing college soccer in the United States as well as members of the national team in Trinidad and Tobago. The game was the first international game for the DWU players, as the final score was a 1-1 draw.

 The next day, the group hiked through a trail to a waterfall where they were able to relax and enjoy the scenery. Later that night, the members of the trip witnessed the leather-back sea turtle egg-laying process. Turtles traveled from the sea onto the beach in order to lay eggs, while the members of the trip were able to learn about the turtles.

 On the fifth day of the trip, the group traveled to Tobago where they held another clinic for the youth players. The following day the players visited the Trinidad Pitch Lake, also dubbed as the Eighth Wonder of the World. The lake is the largest natural deposit of asphalt in the world.

 Later in the day, the group hosted another camp. Following the camps, DWU donated soccer balls and clothing to the local soccer groups. The players and coaches were also able to talk with the youth and make lasting impressions on the players.

 "This was the first time I have traveled out of the country – there were so many unique experiences," athletic trainer Randi Christensen said. "I love working with and interacting with the DWU kids, the kids we did camps with and our host family and guide family. We were guests not tourist."

 The final two days of the trip consisted of sight-seeing and instrument playing. The group took a cave tour and learned how to play the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago; the steel pan. On the final day of the trip, the group was able to learn how dark chocolate was made and went on a swamp tour. During the tour, the group was able to see the national bird of Trinidad and Tobago; the Scarlet Ibis.

 "Overall, the trip was fantastic," Weidler said. "Seeing Clay in his hometown is an opportunity that I will never forget. Another thing I took away, was that it's okay to get out of my comfort zone. Sometimes you might have the best experiences once you take that step out of it."

 For a full video recap of the trip, click the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2kyF_oOHy4&feature=youtu.be