From NCAA Division III tournaments to holiday-break trips in warmer-weather climates, BW's men's and women's basketball athletes have done their fair share of traveling. Now, they're on a one-of-a-kind journey that has been more than a year in the making.
On Aug. 7, the Yellow Jacket basketball teams left the familiar confines of Ursprung Gymnasium to travel across the Atlantic Ocean for a 12-day experience in Ireland and Northern Ireland, where each team will play two exhibitions and be immersed in the cultures of the two countries.
"It's really more about the experience and the educational piece than the basketball," women's basketball coach Cheri Harrer explained. "Basketball's just the avenue to get it done."
Men's basketball coach Tom Heil added, "It's going to be an awesome experience. To grow the relationships between players and coaches and girls' players and guys' players, it's a unique opportunity that I think is an exceptional experience."
The trip the Yellow Jackets are taking is the result of months of work, both from the Baldwin Wallace community and with key figures in the Northeast Ohio area.
Wanting to enhance the experience for current Yellow Jackets, BW Athletics Hall of Famer Dan Andrews arranged a meeting between athletic director Steve Thompson and Terry Joyce, the business manager of the Building Laborers' Union Local 310, and Shane Donnelly, founder of The Cleveland Project.
The object of The Cleveland Project is to "promote, organize and supervise athletic competition, primarily basketball, while focusing on education, mentorship and coaching for youths in Northern Ireland."
After the initial correspondence, many fundraising efforts were undertaken. Those combined efforts and a travel-abroad class with Dr. Amy Jo Sutterluety, professor and chair of the department of allied health, sport and wellness, allowed the Yellow Jackets to book the trip.
"As student-athletes, taking a semester abroad or even a two-week study trip isn't easy," Thompson said. "Their dedication to academic and athletic excellence keeps them constantly busy. This makes it hard to participate in opportunities like those offered by our faculty and the Center for Global Exploration at BW, led by Christie Shrefler.
"However, these team trips uniquely blend the academic benefits of studying abroad with their passion for sports, making them invaluable. I had this opportunity during my playing days, and it profoundly impacted my life. I am confident it will do the same for our student-athletes," he added.
The trip to Ireland is a first for both the men's and women's basketball teams and for some of the players as well. Many of the current Yellow Jackets have never been out of the country. That adds an element of excitement for the players.
"I've never been out of the country, so I'm really excited just to get over there, and I think it's even better that I'm going to do it with some of my best friends in a team like this," senior point guard Emily Irwin said. "We're going to have a great time together, learning so much about Ireland and the culture."
Junior forward Ray Ellington agreed, "I've been looking forward to this for a while, ever since we found out around last year that we were going. It's nice to be able to go with the team, and we get to play there, so it's just a nice experience overall. I've never been out of the country before, so it's a newer thing, and I like trying new things, so it'll be fun."
With young players, Heil understands that any type of competitive environment his team can experience is a blessing. Rather than focusing strictly on the games, of which the Yellow Jackets will play two during the nearly two-week-long trip, Heil wants his players to continue developing camaraderie and chemistry that will serve them well during the 2024-2025 season.
"Playing two games is great," Heil said. "Getting to practice is great, but the best part of the experience is growing the relationships. You get to spend 12 days on a pretty unbelievable trip, learning about two new countries and cultures and seeing all kinds of things that we would never have the opportunity to see, and we get to do it together, which that bonding and the brotherhood is really what it's all about. That's the most, to me, beneficial part of doing this."
While the exhibition schedule has not yet been finalized, there is a chance the BW men's basketball team will play against the Irish National Team.
Ellington and his teammates are ready for anything, but they would very much like to play the Irish team. "We need it as a team, especially coming off of last year and just a little adversity that we had," Ellington said. "It'll definitely be good to play somebody else, especially in a different country, and, obviously, they're going to be good, too."
At the end of the day, wins and losses do not matter in these exhibitions. What does count, especially for Thompson, is that everyone embraces the opportunity to experience new cultures and recognizes the chances they have to take lessons learned at Baldwin Wallace and apply them to make the world better.
"One of the best aspects of this experience is the diverse backgrounds of the participants, all united by basketball at Baldwin Wallace," noted Thompson. "Over 12 days, they'll share this incredible experience, learning about a different culture, bonding as teammates and friends, and spreading the message of Baldwin Wallace. This wonderful place in Berea, Ohio, has the power to change lives — not only for our student-athletes but also for the students and people in Ireland and Northern Ireland."
In addition to the basketball teams traveling to Ireland, two members of the BW Center for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement and 15 alumni and friends are on the trip to support BW's talented athletes and create lasting memories with fellow alumni.
