TIGERTRACKS Brazil Bound
In August, Hunter Yoakum of Dixon, Mis- souri and Kelsey Williams of Eminence, Missouri, two of Lincoln’s standout basket- ball guards joined a USA team to compete in Brazil. Nicole Collier, Head Women’s Basketball Coach for Lincoln, was selected as Team USA’s assistant coach. Ron Smith, founder of USA Sport
Tours and Events said, “I have been fortu- nate throughout my career in athletics to be a part of some ‘once in a lifetime’ expe- riences. My international basketball travel has included Europe, South America, Caribbean, and Australia. I want to be able to share these same types of international competition and cultural experiences with athletes and coaches.” Te 2015 USA Sports Events Division II Select Women’s Basketball Team traveled to Brazil where Smith had arranged competitions with four teams from schools, professional teams and sports clubs. Although the USA team selection was open to several Divi- sion II conferences, the final team included nine players and coaches from the MIAA. Yoakum, Williams and Coach Collier
arrived in Brazil on August 3rd aſter a nine-hour flight. Tere was time for a brief meeting in the airport where players got acquainted and discussed plans for their first game. Te team had little sleep, a
Above Left: USA Basketball Team in Brazil Above Right: Basketball venues in Brazil
two-hour time zone change and less than five hours to move from airport to hotel to the game. Team USA found itself compet- ing with an aggressive professional team, ending in a loss. Yoakum and Williams grimace at
the loss and think a little rest and time to practice with unfamiliar teammates would have given them a win that night. At the close of play in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Jundiai’, Team USA had a 3-1 record. Te trip delivered a “once in a lifetime”
experience allowing the team time to ex- plore the globally recognized Copacabana Beach, the Christ the Redeemer Statue and Sugar Loaf Mountain. A highlight of the trip was a tour of 2016 Olympic venue, which is still under construction. Team USA planned a day for outreach
at a local school, where the team did well demonstrating their basketball talent and were amazed when the Brazilian students decided to show them how to play soccer. Yoakum, Williams and Collier found the Brazilians to be high energy, active, friendly, outgoing and hospitable. When the games ended, the teams
exchanged pins, t-shirts and other memorabilia. Collier noted that many of the Brazilian players hope to come to the USA to attend college and play basketball.
Above: Hunter Yoakum, guard; Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Nicole Collier for Lincoln; and Kelsey Williams, guard.
Yoakum and Williams are looking forward to playing against other women who were part of Team USA as the MIAA schedule progresses. During Collier’s tenure as head coach,
16 players have earned MIAA Honor Roll awards. Last year, ten members of the team carried grade point averages of 3.0 or better. Yoakum plans a career as a chiro- practor. Williams will begin work on her master’s degree when she graduates in 2017 and aspires to coach women’s basketball one day in a Division II school.
Winter 2016
LINCOLNU.EDU/ALUMNI 45
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