For the second time in as many years, a Wayne State College coach has gained international coaching experience. Last summer, WSC head softball coach Krista Unger and Wildcat player Sam Earleywine were part of a United States team that played in an international tournament in the Netherlands. This year, Wildcat women's soccer coach Molly Grisham served as head coach of a team from the United States in international play against teams in Argentina.
Grisham's trip, like Unger's last summer, was arranged through USA Athletes International from Olathe, Kansas. The group puts together teams from the United States in a variety of sports and then sends them to other countries to gain international experience. So when USA Athletes International called Grisham last December asking if she would be interested in coaching a team against international competition this summer it was a no brainer.
“I said yes right away,” commented Grisham. “I saw it as a great opportunity for me and our program and a great chance to see the sport of soccer in a country that lives and breathes soccer.”
Grisham served as the head coach of Team USA that comprised of players from seven schools ranging from NAIA all the way up to NCAA Division I. The trip was June 1 through 11. The coach and players met in Miami, Florida and then flew together to Buenos Aires, Argentina. The team played four matches while in Argentina, two against club teams and two against college teams. Grisham's team tied all four matches they played against the Argentina squads.
“The games were very interesting because the style of play in Argentina is so different compared to ours in the states,” said Grisham. “Their players are so good with the ball. They do things with the ball that are amazing.”
While Grisham and the players were in Argentina for their four matches, they did get to spend time sight seeing and touring the unique country. And with World Cup Soccer this summer and Argentina being the home of Diego Maradona, Grisham says the timing of the international trip couldn't have been better.
“We had lots of time to tour and everywhere we went you saw people in Maradona jerseys,” remarked Grisham. “He's like a national hero there so you sensed something special was about to happen with the World Cup. The culture there is more European so we had a chance to interact with a lot of people and find out about many things in Argentina.
Grisham said the group visited many national monuments while in Buenos Aires and one day went to a ranch one hour outside of the city to see how rural life is conducted in Argentina. She noted that the ranchers in Argentina wore traditional clothing and were called gouchos, which are like cowboys in the United States.
Asked if she would do a trip like this again, Grisham said quickly, 'in a heartbeat'. “It was a very positive experience and the quality of soccer was amazing. And with the World Cup going on, it was a special trip and something I will remember forever.”
