Our Greece Adventure: Women’s Basketball Travel Blog

Greece is less than 24 hours away, which means it’s packing day!!! My name is Joy Bergstrom and I’m a freshman here on the South Dakota Women’s Basketball team! My team and I are so grateful to have this opportunity to travel overseas to compete and learn all about the Greek culture! Personally, this will be my first time ever out of the country, so I feel extremely lucky to be able to experience this with such a great community. This trip is allowing me to experience a lot of my “firsts.” I am not only traveling overseas for the first time, but I am also playing in my first collegiate basketball game! I think everyone could guess that I am at least a little nervous to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity. However, I am way more excited! Our team has worked so hard this summer training to be the best we can be and now we are able to make it count!

Overall, I am excited for everything about this trip. Some of the things we get to do and see doesn’t even seem real to me. Specifically, I’m really looking forward to visiting the Parthenon because it is such a central location for Greece. In addition, I’m really excited to check out what the beaches and water is like in Greece. I love the beach and being outside so that is something I am definitely looking forward to.  The team and I learned a lot about these specific locations we’re going to be visiting from two students here at USD that came in and talked with us. They had the opportunity to study abroad in Greece, so we were very fortunate to hear about their experiences and give us tips on what to expect! One thing that I really took away from their presentation was to enjoy the time we have together as a team, and to make the best of whatever we are doing in that given moment. They reminded us not to focus on “what’s next,” and to instead value what is presently going on in front of us.  Finally, the food! This trip is definitely going to make me, and I’m sure many others, branch out and try new things.  I think it’s going to be really cool for us to see what all the different kinds of food is like in Greece, and what makes it so different from the U.S. Prior to leaving for our trip, the team was actually able to share a Greek meal together.  We were joined by Tasos, who is from Greece, and plays on the men’s basketball team here at USD.  He taught us all about the different kinds of dishes we will see and get to try, and even assured us they will be even better in Greece!  I believe this was a great opportunity for our team as well because we were able to ask Tasos questions about Greek words, restaurants, symbols, and just everyday things we don’t get to experience here.

Finally, this trip to Greece is going to allow the entire team, program, and community to grow as one. Many people have worked so hard to make this happen, and we are all so thankful.  This being my first year here, I feel like our team is already getting very close despite how different it may feel. I’m so excited for this additional chance to grow even closer with my teammates and really bond over this amazing opportunity. Wish us luck, and we will be thinking of our entire Yote community back home! Please also wish me luck in packing, I am an over packer and it should not be taking me this long…

- Joy

It feels so good to finally be going to Greece! I had a hard time believing we were going to Greece until last night when I was finishing up with packing. We had pushed back this trip a couple years due to COVID, which is probably why I couldn’t believe it until we were actually leaving for Athens ! We are all so excited and thankful we get to go on this trip. Travel today is long, but spirits have been high all day. For most of us, myself included, this is the first time traveling internationally, which makes this extra special.

There’s been a lot of reading, listening to music, watching tv and lots and lots of sleeping. Sleeping on the plane, sleeping on the bus and in the airport. We have a long long day of travel to rest up for ! :) There also has been quite a bit of caffeine consumed - you can really tell who the coffee drinkers are on the team.

We started off the day at 3:30 am when we left Verm for Sioux Falls. We left for Chicago from there and then had a 7-hour layover. Currently, we are boarding our 10- hour flight to Athens. When we get there, it will be 8:00 am but, at home it will be 12:00 am. Needless to say, we are all going to need some coffee when we arrive, we will have a full day ahead of us!

Keep following along with us to see and hear about our adventures in Greece! GO YOTES!

- Pep #35

By the time I boarded the plane headed to Greece, I was thinking solely about sleeping. Many of my teammates and I had forced ourselves to stay awake during our layover in Chicago, but now we were ready to close our eyes. At any time throughout the flight, you could look around the back of the plane and see a member of the USD Coyotes asleep on the plane. I slept for about seven or eight of the 10 ½-hour flight.

My first thought when I got to Athens was surprise at the amount of mountains and valleys there were. It  reminded me a lot of Colorado. I also was surprised at how old the city seemed. I knew Athens was an ancient city, however, I was expecting more modern buildings or skyscrapers. Overall, I immediately thought Athens had great character and I was so excited to explore it.

Later in the day, the team got on a bus to take a tour of the city. Our bus driver acted as a tour guide and told us a bunch of stories about the different parts of Athens. I loved to hear him because he was very informative, while also adding entertainment. All in all, I love Greece so far and I have learned so much in Athens!

- Sophie

We played in our first game of the trip today. It was so fun to be back in action! I was definitely very nervous before the game. It was my first time playing in a real game in over a year so I felt nervous, but also very excited! It was fun to be on the court with new teammates that I’ve never played with before!

Greece has been such an adventure! I’ve been overseas before, but never to Greece. It is different from America, but similar to countries I’ve visited before. It’s fun to travel and walk the streets of Greece with teammates who haven’t traveled outside the country before and see their experience on a new country. Greece is so nice and it’s so pretty. The views are amazing and there is so much to see here!

Today's itinerary also included a visit to the Parthenon. It was so fun to tour the Acropolis. There is so much history here and so many sites to see. The Acropolis was amazing to see. It was so much larger in person. It’s been enjoyable learning about the country’s history. Also learning about how the statues were built and why they were built. Greece has been incredible so far and I can’t wait to travel to Crete and Santorini and see more of this pretty country!

- Alexi

Today was such a fun day! We woke up and ate breakfast at the hotel. The breakfast from our hotel has been so awesome. Today we traveled 3 hours to play Prometheus BC in Patra, Greece. The scenery was beautiful on the drive. On one side there was mountains and on the other, the Mediterranean Sea. It was the first time we got to see the mountains and the ocean since we’ve gotten here.

Our second game went really well, and we did a lot of good things. The facility we got to play at was beautiful. The Yotes got another win! I think that it will really pay off for us having the opportunity to play these games. We are learning so much and getting lots of valuable experience. It’s also fun to see how the style of play is different in Europe. We are playing against women that are anywhere from 17-32 years old, which is very different for us!

After the game we had lunch at the facility where we played. We got to eat with the Greek players and talk with them. It’s cool to hear how life over here is different than in South Dakota. We definitely made some new friends! The food here has been delicious. They served us so many courses and we were stuffed by the end of our meal. They served us salads, pasta, appetizers, beef, fries, and fruit! After that we got to go to a beautiful beach. This was my first time in the Mediterranean Sea. The water was very salty and that made it easy to float, which is good for our team because not everyone knows how to swim. The beach was full of rocks and there were even some sea urchins that we had to avoid.

So far I have loved everything about Greece! Our next stops include Crete, Peloponnese, and Santorini! Keep following along to hear all about this amazing opportunity we have.

- Macy Guebert #3

Today we woke up and packed up all our things, and had one last breakfast at our hotel in Athens. The breakfasts have been so delicious with so many different options. We drove a couple hours and stopped at the Corinth Canal, which was so beautiful and high up! Good thing none of us are afraid of heights! Next, we stopped at the Theater of Epidaurus. It was so cool to see where they used to perform. The sound echoed a lot throughout the theater. Our final stop was the town of Napflio. It was a gorgeous town right on the coast with such a pretty view and a cute little flea market. We all had lunch together when we got there, which was delicious! It’s my mom's birthday today, so we sang her happy birthday while at lunch! While shopping, I got a cute eye necklace and some yummy gelato.

Greece has been so amazing these last few days spending time with the team, parents, and supporters that came with us! Finally getting to play a few games has me looking forward to the season more than ever! We are going to the islands for the next few days and I’m super excited! Today was a good glimpse of how beautiful the sea is. It made me look forward to swimming at the islands!

- Carley Duffney #20

Today was our fifth day in Greece and we started our game day off strong by visiting the Palace of Knossos in Heraklion! The tour of the palace was super interesting and full of history! Right after our visit to the palace, we got to see the Heraklion Archaeological Museum in which we saw many artifacts.

Our third and final game was today in Crete and we came out with a win! It was a super fun environment because of all the fans that came to show their support! Getting to play with this new crew has been so fun and it's only summer, so I cannot wait for the season! We ended our day by going to watch some FIBA 17U and 18U girls basketball games.

My favorite part of the trip so far was going to the town of Nafplio because it was really pretty and relaxing! But we still have many days to look forward to here and I cannot wait to spend time on the beaches with my teammates!

Thanks for tuning in via our blog, Yote fans!

- Morgan Hansen #10

The boat trip out to Spinalonga Island today was really fun! I enjoyed riding the boat over to the island and back. We got to walk around on the island and the views from the top were breathtaking. We rode the boat around the whole island for a panoramic view. It was super fun to learn about the history of the island as well.

After the trip to the island we had free time in the city of Elounda. There was a pretty beach on Elounda where I sunbathed and took a dip into the water to cool off! After that, I went tubing on the Mediterranean Sea, which has been my favorite activity that we’ve done since arriving in Greece. The water was so blue and it felt great since the weather was pretty hot today. The water was so clear that I was able to see all the way down to my feet.

After we went tubing, we got to walk around the city of Elounda. My teammates and I were able to explore all the shops and restaurants. I went to a super yummy gyro restaurant and ate lunch. After that, we went shopping and I bought a couple of souvenirs to bring home! I have really enjoyed all the great food and beautiful views of the trip so far!

- Natalie

Today we explored the city of Rethymno. We went on a guided tour and were able to see the Fortezza of Rethymno as well. The architecture was honestly mind blowing. The fortress is right on the ocean and we had the prettiest views from the top. There were so many buildings still standing. Something that I found very interesting about the city is that it’s split in half between old and new and you could easily distinguish the two when looking above from the fortress.

The bus rides between cities have been super fun. It’s a great time for team bonding and karaoke sessions. We sang “Halo” by Beyonce and “Piano Man” for everyone on the bus one day. Other times, I’ll usually just sleep or read a book to pass the time. My favorite part of the trip so far has been exploring the Greek shops in all of the different cities. I love the Greek culture, and I have already bought so much greek jewelry and souvenirs… and I’m still planning on getting more when we get back to Athens! This trip will definitely be one to remember and I’m so glad it’s not over yet!

- Nicole

Today, we got up at 6:20 a.m. to head to Santorini! We pulled up and got on this huge boat and set sail. Two hours later, we docked and got on our bus. There was a huge cliff that our bus slowly maneuvered up, but the view from the top was amazing! I got a few more souvenirs in a market area and am so excited to see what my family thinks of them! After about an hour of shopping, we headed toward the black sand beach for the rest of our day. Here there was more shopping, restaurants, and the beach, of course.

During our time at the beach, Macy and I decided that we would love to go jet skiing! We got on the jet ski and took off for thirty minutes in the Mediterranean Sea! Some of my other teammates participated in the water activities as well. Some even went parasailing! I was shocked how blue the water was. Macy threw me from the jet ski twice and it was so much fun to go into the water. Unfortunately, it was time to go, but I was exhausted and ready for bed!

We got back on the boat, and I went to the top of the boat to see the water. After a little relaxing view, I went to my seat and took a huge nap. That’s mostly what I’ve been doing during the traveling since we are doing such amazing activities when we are at different places! It’s been an awesome trip and I’m sad it’s coming to an end. My favorite part over the whole trip is hard to say. Every time I have said that something was my favorite, the next activity or next day we do something just as amazing! Tomorrow, we are heading back to Athens to start our trip back to Vermillion. Go Yotes!

- Jeniah Ugofsky #30

Today we left Crete and traveled back to Athens! We got up at 6 a.m. to get on the bus to head to the airport. Traveling in Greece is a lot different than anywhere else I have ever traveled especially when we are on the bus because the roads are a lot more narrow than what I usually see, so it gets a little tight between the cars. I’m not sure if I would ever want to drive in Greece by myself. That would definitely be a safety hazard. haha

Once we got to Athens, we checked into our hotel and got ready for our shopping day! I first got lunch with my parents, and my mom and I got gelato for dessert. After that we headed to the Placa where my mom and I both got Athens T-shirt’s. We then went to one of the little jewelry stores and I got a pair of earrings and a bracelet for my sister. I also spotted a cute bag off the street corner. I went back to the hotel to take a break before heading back out for more clothes shopping at Zara and Stradivarius with my roommates. We finished the day with a group team dinner with everyone since it was our last one for the trip.

This trip has been so amazing and I’ve loved every second of it! My favorite out of all the places we’ve been would have to be Santorini. Getting to go jet skiing and parasailing for the first time ever on this beautiful island was just insane! The scenery was amazing and the black sand beach was so surreal to see in person.

- Grace

Today we left Greece and headed home. This was my first trip overseas and I’d say it was definitely successful. It was pretty smooth sailing besides the slight delay the first flight. I learned so much about a different culture and way of life. Unfortunately, I also had to learn the hard way about overpacking (thanks mom!). This was my very first trip with the Coyotes and I can confidently say I wouldn’t change a thing. I spent the last 10 days with my amazing teammates and some of our very close supporters. I’m so thankful I got the opportunity to make these relationships so early in my career as a Coyote. In addition, I got to experience some of my first EVER college basketball games. Not many people can say that they’ve played their first games on a foreign tour, and for that I’ll be forever grateful.

I had so many unforgettable memories on this trip. Some of my favorites were jet skiing in Santorini with Joy. It was her very first time on a jet ski which made it 10 times better (especially when we fell off!). In addition, I also really liked going out to eat with the entire group. We all dressed up and walked to a cute little restaurant where we sat and talked for hours! Lastly, I liked when we got to meet some of the players from the other team. We were able to eat lunch with them and take a ride to a nearby beach. It was so interesting to communicate and share experiences with them. This was such a memorable trip, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it. I’m excited to continue my adventures with this team!

- Walker

Wow!! What a trip it has been!! From visiting the capital city of Athens to going to the beautiful islands of Crete and Santorini, it was truly the experience of a lifetime. There were so many amazing sites to see as well as such great food to eat. The cities of Nafplio and Elounda were definitely two of my favorites. Not only for the beaches! But for the gorgeous sceneries just when walking around and shopping (even if I did spend too much money). Another place I throughly enjoyed was Santorini! Santorini has always been on my bucket list so it was exciting to finally see it in person. The jet skiing and parasailing at their black sand beach made it even more of a dream moment. It’s hard to pick an absolute favorite place as everywhere we visited was different, from the architecture sites and the history lessons to the beaches and the beautiful views, I couldn’t have asked for a better trip!

Greece has not only been amazing from a vacation standpoint, but also from a team bonding one. With having four new people on our team and losing so many girls from last year, our team is entirely different than it’s been before. Greece has given us the opportunity to get to know each other in a way we couldn’t have imagined! We each had the same roommate throughout the trip which gave us each a chance to have more in depth conversations with each other and get to know them on a more personal level. Just walking around the streets and eating also have given us the chance to talk with different people and become overall closer as a team! I believe these personal connections will help us grow so much on the court as well, which will be really exciting to see!

There are so many things from this trip that I will remember for the rest of my life! The magnificent Parthenon and the old time theaters were the most memorable sites for me and places I will never forget. But more important are the memories I made with my teammates. Tubing, jet skiing and parasailing in the Mediterranean Sea were experiences I can only dream of being able to do again. Finally, just being overseas with my family is something that holds dear to my heart. My parents had the opportunity to join us on this adventure as well and I am so happy they did! I don’t get to see them a ton throughout the school year so I really cherish the time I do get to be with them.

Overall, this was such a great experience and one that our whole team has thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you to everyone who has made this trip possible for us. Thank you to everyone who has followed along! We are so excited for the actual season to start and can’t wait to see many of you at our games!!

- Cassidy