Augustana Men's Basketball Greece Trip 2022
Follow along with the team during their stay in Greece on Instagram at @augie_mbb
Monday, May 30
Day nine began and just like that, the week in Greece wrapped up today. We checked out of the hotel around 8 and headed to the airport for our flights back to the states. This started our 16 hour journey home by flying to Munich and then to O’hare. We got to the airport around 9am and went through check-in and security very smoothly, giving us an opportunity to grab some food and relax before our flights. A group of guys and I went to a little cafe, and hung out for several hours until we headed to our gate. At the gate, some of us slept while most played on their phones, read a book, or were looking for last minute souvenirs.
The first plane ride was easy and very smooth. A two hour flight from Athens to Munich was our connecting flight just like on the way here. Our next flight was at 3:45 pm to O'hare and we landed in Munich around 3:15 pm, so we had to move it from one gate to the next. We ended up making the plane on time but it was delayed 25 minutes so others from late planes could make it as well. The second plane ride was around 8 hours long . It was filled with many movies and lots of sleep, but overall it went by quickly. We landed in Chicago, all of us ready to get home… but the line of customs told us we’d better have another plan. Customs took around 35 minutes to get through to our bags. At the checked bags, we relived our favorite memories on the trip and wished each other a happy summer.
Throughout the nine days, we got a chance to compete, learn and experience this historic Greek culture. I did not know that it is a country so rich in history and it was really once in a lifetime to see all the different temples and ancient cities. In total we competed in 4 games against Greek professional players who age ranged from 18-44. This unique experience will forever be one of the coolest things I have ever done and connecting with other athletes who don’t speak English or have the same background as my teammates and I. This trip really helped our team bond and become closer with each other. This is definitely what we needed going into the next season!
Thank you for following our trip throughout the week and reading our blog! Hope to see you this season.
Go Vikes!!!
Matt Hanushewsky ‘23’
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Sunday, May 29
Today is our last full day in Greece. To finish an amazing trip, we departed from the hotel at 7:50am to travel to the Temple of Poseidon. Many of us spent the hour bus ride catching up on lost sleep from this past week. We arrived an hour early to our tour and got the chance to hike around the area and take beautiful pictures. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking. Looking out at the blue waters shimmering in the sun will make it very hard to leave Greece. Just before the tour began, we stopped for coffee and some snacks. The team got to witness Dan Carr eat a large waffle topped with chocolate syrup, bananas, and a mountain of whipped cream in 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
We started the tour just after 10 o’clock. The group walked up the hill and made our way to the top. Once we reached the top we got a closer look at the remains of the Temple of Poseidon. The temple was constructed between 444 BC and 440 BC in honor of Poseidon, the god of the sea. The temple was erected overlooking the Aegean Sea. The ancient Athenians wanted incoming and outgoing ships to see the temple in all of its glory. After learning a few facts from our tour guide, we took pictures and enjoyed the cool sea breeze.
We returned to the hotel at 12:30 to drop our stuff off and get a quick bite to eat before Covid testing at 2:15. A group of us took a short walk over to the same restaurant we ate at on day one. I got a platter of pork gyros which was delicious! After lunch the entire group got our negative Covid tests for the flight home. We had around two hours to rest before making the trip to Kakouris Stadium for our final game of the Greece trip.
Our opponent today was Enosi Iliou. Before the game tipped, the opposing players came to us and gave us all a pin with their logo on it. It was a really cool moment. We had a slow first quarter, but we managed to pick it up in the second. We held a double digit lead through the third, but the other team started to cut into it. We struggled to shoot the ball in the second half, but our defense helped us edge them out 65-60. Dan Carr made two huge clutch free throws that helped us pull out a win in our final game.
We are finishing up our last night with a team dinner near the Acropolis. This trip has brought our team together more than I could have ever imagined. I’m really grateful for the opportunity to travel and play with our team. I can’t wait to show off all the progress we made together this spring.
Chase Larsen ‘25
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Saturday, May 28
The team started day 7 early with a 7am breakfast and planned a 7:50 departure for Hydra, a Greek island. Unfortunately because of myself we ended leaving at about 8:05. Nonetheless we arrived nice and early for the boarding of the 2 hour boat ride to Hydra. Everyone caught up on plenty of rest on the boat, especially myself. I woke up at the perfect time and was able to catch some incredible views of several islands and the most beautiful water I have ever seen.
We made a stop at Poros, another beautiful island near Hydra, where several people outside of our group were dropped off. Then we arrived at Hydra where we walked around checking the scenery and searched for a place to eat lunch at. A third of the team walked about 30 minutes farther than the rest and went to the sand beaches and had some seafood for lunch and relaxed on the beach.
Anthony Cooper, Brandon Merritt, Mikey Hamilton and myself went to Papagalos where I got a chicken club sandwich that was delectable. The rest went to Techne, a seafood restaurant which I heard was delicious as well. The last 2 groups went to the “rock beaches” which were exactly how they sound, beaches with rocks instead of sand. The water was crystal clear which helped with steering clear of the sea urchins and jellyfish that were throughout where we were swimming.
We then went to the gift shop and grabbed some souvenirs for our families and friends. Shortly after most of us got pork gyros and ice cream which topped off our time at Hydra. We took the same boat back and stayed on the top deck the entire ride home to appreciate everything going on around us. We topped the night off with some chicken and potatoes for dinner at the hotel and getting some rest for day 8.
Matt Hawkins ‘25
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Friday, May 27
Today we started at the historical ruins of Delphi! Being a 3 hour drive from our hotel in Athens, we left the hotel at 8am with the majority of the team napping on the way there!
The trip to Delphi was very beautiful with perfect warm weather. Driving through mountain towns and rural green valleys were some of the best views we have seen on the trip. After navigating the narrow mountain roads, we then arrived at Delphi, one of the most famous religious sanctuary’s in the world! Strategically tucked away from Persian military of early Greek history, there were a number of marble and stone ruins with rich history, including the stadium of Delphi at the highest point of the archaeological site. The preservation of this 4th century BC theatre is extremely impressive and added to the beauty of this sanctuary. Following viewing the stadium, we walked back down and headed to the museum which gave even more insight into the discoveries of this historical site. There were many archaic statues and historical artifacts to look at, with the statues of the “twins’ of Argos and the Sphinx of Naxos standing out. The museum tour was a great end to the Delphi excursion.
After our tour, we got lunch as we headed back to Athens. We stopped on the way at a restaurant called Taverna in the heart of the mountains. On top of some more impeccable views, the food was extremely good and reasonable. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their dishes and we were all fueled up and ready to go to our game.
For our third game in three days, our opponent was Maroussi Basketball Club. They were the best team we had played to date, with really good ball movement and big physical players. We had a very hard fought comeback at the end to cut a double digit lead to a single point, but we unfortunately lost 86-82 to have our record at 2-1 on the trip. We are looking forward to another opportunity to play on Sunday night.
After a long day of exploring and playing, we headed back to the hotel for a team dinner. Tomorrow we head to the island of Hydra, which will be another great experience. Look forward to keeping you all updated on the last few days of our trip!
Go Vikings!
-Daniel Carr ‘23
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Thursday, May 26
Today is day 5 of our incredible trip to Greece. Today was our free day where we had time to adventure out and explore Athens. The night before, we came to the conclusion that we all wanted to go to the beach, so this morning we departed to Bolivar Beach.
Following our quick cab rides, we all ran into the water to cool off. The beach was off the Saronic Gulf and the water was unlike any oceans in the United States, because of how clear and extremely salty it was. After swimming and relaxing for a bit, we decided to rent some paddle boats and paddle boards to explore further out into the sea. We had a blast going down the slides on the boats and trying to balance on the boards. After that, we split up for lunch, some staying at the beach to get food and others going to find Gyros, one of Greece’s most well known meals. I was with the group that went to get to Gyros and they were my favorite food of the trip so far. The others went souvenirs shopping near the Acropolis as well, and after that we all went back to the hotel for some much needed rest.
After we all took our unbelievable naps, we left for our second game. We departed for the Stadium of Zografou and played EFAOZ Zografou. NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brothers grew up playing in this gym so it was a very surreal experience for all of us. The game went very well for our team coming out on top 78-67. We played well on both ends of the floor and competed from the tip off to the last buzzer. The highlight of the game was a steal by Matt Hano (Arlington Heights, Illinois) that led to a fastbreak behind the back pass to a monstrous Anthony Cooper (Ottawa, Illinois) slam dunk. Following the game we took a picture on the court with the opposing team in front of the huge flags of the Antetokounmpo brothers. Every one of these moments really has shown us all how global of a sport basketball is and how this wonderful sport brings us all together.
Following the great game, we rode back to the Athenian Montana Hotel, where we decided to not eat dinner at the hotel and rather are going out to celebrate our win with some seafood. Tomorrow we are headed to the beautiful city of Delphi and have our third game in a row.
Nic Giliberto, '25
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Wednesday, May 25
On our third day we had a very long, but very adventurous day. We woke up early to travel across Greece to visit three places, the Corinth canal, Epidaurus theater, and the fortress of Mycenae. We met our guide, Sophia, at 7am to embark on our journey.
The first stop was about an hour away and it was called the Corinth canal. This canal was breathtaking. It was about 4 miles long, and 26 feet apart. What was breathtaking was the depth of the canal. We were on a bridge about 300 feet above sea level. Looking down to the water made me sick because of how deep it was.
On the way to our next stop we took a winding, and very beautiful route through the mountains. We were able to see the amazing saronic gulf, and the mountains on the horizon. The next stop was the theater of Epidaurus. This was one of the best preserved ancient theaters left on the planet. Because of the way that this theater was built, it acted as an amphitheater. It has one of the best acoustics in the world because of this. We were able to sit at the top and hear our tour guide clapping softly from the stage of the theater. It is crazy how preserved this theater was, it was built in the 4th century B.C. and had basically the same structure from when it was built, and it was no small theater. It was able to hold around 9 thousand people.
We then drove another hour to lunch at a place our tour guide recommended, and it was great. I had pork souvlaki, which is basically a pork kebab. After lunch we took a short drive to the treasury of Atreus, an ancient tomb built into the side of a hill. In that same site, there was also the fortress of Mycenae. These were ancient ruins that were built before the Parthenon, as far back as 1400 B.C. It was mostly destroyed so no one knows what it actually looked like in its time. There were many great artifacts in the museum. Some of my favorites were the bronze swords and daggers. The view from the fortress was astonishing, you could see the Mediterranean miles away, and the mountains in the north.
The last stop of our long trip today was a stadium back in Athens, where we played our first game against Eynikos. During this game as a team we shot the ball really well giving us a great start. We defended well at times as well, especially in the third quarter. We played hard, smart and together for a full forty minutes to help us win 83-75 against Eynikos and to end our day on a positive note. We ended back at the hotel with a delicious and fulfilling meal to finally conclude our adventurous day.
Looking forward to finishing our trip strong, and competing again tomorrow in our second of three games in three days! Check back here for day 5 of our blog tomorrow!
Tyler Knuth ‘24
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Tuesday, May 24
It was our first full day in Athens, Greece and it was a fun day. We first had breakfast where we’re staying, the Athenian Montana Hotel. The food was delicious and very filling! We noticed that the portion sizes in America, when compared to Europe, were tremendously different. They served eggs, mini “hot dogs”, fresh fruit/vegetables, and pastries! After eating, we got ready to go on our first tour in Greece, heading to the Acropolis/Parthenon.
We gathered in the hotel lobby, applying sunscreen and filling our water bottles in preparation for our trip. We met Alex, our tour guide for the day, before getting on the bus. Alex provided us a lot of history on the meaning and background information of the Acropolis and the Parthenon on the drive, which was about 20 minutes from our hotel. We were also taught that Greek culture is based on six pillars: democracy, sports, philosophy, science, theater, and classical art. Using these pillars in everyday life in Greece helped to shape the civilization here, and at home in the states!. When we arrived at the Acropolis there was a big line that stretched for 30 minutes to reach the entrance. On top of a hill, the Acropolis consists of temples and theaters. Alex told us Greek mythological stories while we waited to enter the gates, and my favorite was about Zeus giving birth to his demigod son from his leg. When delivering most of his historical information, he alludes to Athens and Greece in the fifth century, which was the greatest century in their city's history.
We made our way to the summit after eventually getting through the gates. The hike was long and hot because it was so crowded. We spotted the Odeion of Herodes Atticus, the first theatre on the acropolis, as we ascended. This theatre is still operational and hosts performances. Then we went to the Acropolis’ front gate, which had exquisite marble pillars, and the temple built for the goddess of victory, Nike, on the right. As you approach the gate, you will notice two large temples, the larger of which is known as the Parthenon and is dedicated to the goddess Athena. Because this temple has been destroyed numerous times, the city of Athens has undertaken numerous initiatives to restore it, as it holds significance for Athenians. The other temple is called The Erectheion, an asymmetrical temple with one side representing masculinity and the other femininity. Many photos were taken from the summit of the Acropolis, from where it appeared that you could see all of Greece. Also, the entire top of the Acropolis was composed of marble, which was extremely slippery. We were warned to be careful walking on it but the writer of this may have slipped and fallen. We finished our acropolis tour by walking past the second theatre, The Theatre of Dionysos, which had been mostly demolished, before heading to The Acropolis Museum. The majority of the Acropolis relics are housed in this museum. The best aspect of the museum was the see-through floors, which revealed the ancient roadways, sewer system, and wells beneath.
Following the tour, we went to a local gym to assist with a workout for younger members of an academy team. These children ranged in age from 13 to 15, and it was a lot of fun working with children from diverse countries. It was fascinating to see first hand how basketball can bring people from two different countries together, all sharing a passion for the sport.
That is a wrap on day 3 and I can’t wait for the rest of the week!
Go Vikings!
-Matt Hanushewsky ‘23
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Monday, May 23
The 2022-23 Augustana Men’s Basketball trip to Greece has officially begun!
We all met up at Chicago O’Hare Airport at 12:45pm on Sunday, May 22nd with everyone making it just in time. There was a lot of excitement and anticipation among our nearly 40 person group, as we have all been waiting for this trip for quite some time. There has been plenty of work put in prior to us meeting Sunday afternoon.
On May 2nd, we had our first of 10 official practices that were given by the NCAA to prepare for our trip. These practices allowed us to reconnect with our teammates and coaches as well as get physically and mentally prepared for the trip ahead. The energy was high and the practices were sharp, with everyone knowing how great of an experience we had ahead. With the conclusion of our 10th and final practice on Friday, May 20th, we all headed home (for some of us out-of-staters, hosted by friends in the Chicago area) and got our bags packed to get ready to go.
Now, writing this blog just an hour before our first flight leaves, our team is all waiting in the gate, bags checked, and ready for the wonderful experiences we will all have as a team. Our first flight lands in Munich, Germany at around 7:20am local time (7 hours ahead of Chicago). Following a short layover, we will fly from Munich to Athens, Greece and land at around 12:20pm local time (8 hours ahead of Chicago).
Following our flight landing, we drove around 40 minutes to our hotel, the Athenian Montaza Hotel in Athens. We checked in, then got some food locally. Some guys already dived into the local cuisine and had some Gyros from a local restaurant, and they were delicious! Following lunch, we headed to the Eurohoops basketball complex for our first and only practice of the trip, which was a great hour and thirty session for our team. The facility is owned by Theodoros Papaloukas, a former Greek international basketball player who is a legend in the area, and was a captain on the Greek team that defeated the United States in the 2006 World Championships. He was a very gracious host and we love the opportunity to connect with one of Greeks finest basketball players ever!
To conclude the evening, we had a team dinner at the hotel, which continued our bonding and connection.
This trip will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for this Augustana Men’s Basketball team, and we are excited to share our experiences via this blog.
Go Vikings!
-Daniel Carr ’23
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Sunday, May 22 - Team departs for Greece
