2014 Cultural Exchange: First Update

Update from Coach Hansen:

Our group of 12 has finally arrived in Istanbul! Many of us have been together since yesterday afternoon where we met at the Edge in Hoboken, NJ. Huge thanks to Jeff Marsh and his staff for accommodating us. The group (which includes 6 All-Americans) have been patient through the travel process. We are excited to go eat in about an hour and tour the city.

The hotel here is very nice. The spa includes a sauna, steam and Turkish Hamam room which is one of the first things we took advantage of. Apparently there’s a tradition that we can’t leave the country without taking a Turkish Bath. So look forward to updates about that. Some of us have been trying to pick up the language and phrases. ‘Thank you’ is very difficult. No competition until after tomorrow. But someone will send an update soon.

The trip includes:
Coaches Nate Hansen (Simpson) and Zach Mizer (Buena Vista)
Jared Bronaugh, Buena Vista
Brett Roberts, Simpson College
Anthony Bonaventura, Waynesburg
Dylan Foley, Springfield
Zach Joseph, Springfield
Dan Schiferl, UW Oshkosh
Jon Deupree, Southern Maine
Elroy Perkin, UW Whitewater
Brenden Lenhardt, JWU
Nick Bellanza, Cortland