After the close of an incredible season, the University of Wisconsin-Superior’s women’s soccer team is taking a well-deserved study away trip to Costa Rica.

The 2024 season ended with the team winning the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) championships and making it to the national tournament in Iowa. With 12 seniors on the team, the trip to Costa Rica acts as a celebratory final bonding experience.

The trip will take place January 9 to 16. Over the course of the week, the team will be focusing on a blend of bonding, soccer and wellness-related activities.

Brenna Mattson, an elementary education – grades K-9 major, anticipates the time spent with her fellow teammates.

“This season as a whole we had a huge emphasis on team bonding and team culture. So I feel going into the trip we have a really strong foundation.” said Mattson, a senior from Cloquet, Minnesota. “And as a senior who is leaving, I hope this trip can help bring another level of bonding. That’s what I wish for everyone.”

There will be 28 UWS faculty and students attending the trip. Women’s soccer coach Allison DeGroot, along with a study away coordinator Lori Tuominen and athletic trainer Mitch O’Neil, will accompany 25 players in their exploration of Costa Rica.

From the university’s Pruitt Center for Mindfulness and Wellbeing, Tuominen will be acting as a co-lead in the program. Her inclusion in the trip will further expand the connections between well-being and mental health for the players.

In Costa Rica, the team will undergo various soccer training and coaching exercises. Players will also be provided with the opportunity to play together in a match against a local school’s team.

“It’s going to be super cool,” says Mattson. “Soccer is a game played all around the world and it will be a cool experience to see the differences and similarities in how we play”

The women’s soccer team will also get the chance to immerse themselves in the breathtaking scenery of the country. The group will explore the Nicoya Peninsula, tour the capital city of San Jose and sight see in Irazu Volcano National Park. Additionally, the team has planned a rafting excursion on the Sarapiqui River.

“I’m most excited to experience the blue zones, studying their way of life and seeing their mindfulness practices,” said Mattson.

Costa Rica is one of the world’s five blue zones, which are areas where the average lifelong expectancy is longer. Players will see first-hand the factors that go into living a long and happy lifestyle.

Inspired by a previous study away experience by the UW-Superior social work program, this trip has been in the works since 2023. The team has been fundraising for the trip over the course of the year. Players volunteered at a variety of events including shows in both Duluth and the Twin Cities. One exciting volunteering opportunity was working security for a Morgan Wallen concert. The team also hosted raffles in their goal of raising $30,000.

The experience was intentionally structured to promote team bonding and wellness. However, it is also a credit-bearing experience, meaning that these UWS athletes will be working on a project that aligns with the themes of the trip.

The study away program at the UW-Superior offers opportunities to all students for short-term to full-semester programs. The university partners with WorldStrides, who’s athletic division assisted with the team’s trip.

By Olivia Fleming, English major and student writer for UWS.