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 Sophomore Brigham Waginger and the Catamounts began practice on Aug. 20 for their four-day Costa Rica trip on Aug. 31. |
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Aug. 23, 2007
MEN'S BASKETBALL PRACTICE PHOTO GALLERY
Cullowhee, N.C. - Officials at Western Carolina University and at the Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center are accustomed to having the hardwood laid in the main arena in mid-to-late August each fall for Catamount volleyball. This year, however, the nets hovering above the gym floor are attached to orange rims with glass backboards.
The WCU Catamount basketball team, under the direction of third-year head coach Larry Hunter, opened practice for its 2007-08 season as fall classes commenced in Cullowhee on Aug. 20 in preparation for a four-day trip to Costa Rica in Central America coming August 31 through September 3.
"We felt this type of foreign trip would be a great reward for the players in our program. It provides our young team several days of valuable practice time and the opportunity to play a couple of games against quality competition," said Hunter. "Our players are excited to represent Western Carolina University in Costa Rica in taking their first steps toward a successful season."
The Catamounts will travel to Costa Rica to compete in two exhibition games against a pair of professional teams - Liceo and Saprissa. The four day trip will be a great experience and will allow the younger Catamounts to experience some game action, following a rigorous off-season training program and difficult ten days of practice leading up to the trip.
Flying from Asheville to Atlanta, the Catamounts will depart for Costa Rica on Friday, Aug. 31 and will conclude the first day of travel in the city of San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica. Western will prepare for its first game against Liceo, which boasts an average player age of 25 and average height of 6-4, on Sept. 1. A two-time Costa Rica League Champion (2000 and '04), Liceo is currently ranked third in the country's National League.
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The Catamounts will travel with seven returners from last year's squad including All-Southern Conference selection, sophomore Nick Aldridge. Seniors Arnold Gore, Negus McKenna and Eric Wilson will be joined by sophomores Brandon Giles, Jake Robinson and Brigham Waginger. Five newcomers will also make the trip in freshmen Blake Gallagher, Richie Gordon, Tim Magowan, Camden Miller and Mike Porrini.
In addition to the experience of competing against two tough opponents the players and coaching staff will have an opportunity to tour the capital city of San Jose and participate in a rainforest canopy excursion.
"The experiences (away from the court) will also be a great bonding opportunity for our team and we are happy to give several of our players their first experience to travel out of the country, experience a foreign culture and face international competition," Hunter said.
Several Catamounts are slated to record daily events in an electronic journal which will be available online at CatamountSports.com.
The Cats will return to Cullowhee on September 3rd and prepare for the official opening of practice in mid-October. The trip to Costa Rica highlights an already difficult 2007-08 non-conference schedule which includes road trips to North Carolina State, Illinois, Indiana, and a tournament to kick-off the season in early November at the University of Cincinnati.
