As invitees for the 2008 USA West squad, Noah Fink and rising senior Alex Kroviak traveled to Fukuoka and Osaka, Japan, to compete as lacrosse ambassadors of Texas and of the United States.

USA West is an invitational travel team comprised of players from non-hotbeds across America. In years past, teams have been made of almost entirely California college players, but the 2008 roster had a wide spread of talent—7 from Minnesota-Duluth, 2 from MCLA Champion Michigan, an Oregon Duck, ASU Sun Devil, Colorado State Ram and a lone representative from NCAA D1 power, Army. The remainder of the roster was filled by perennial WCLL powers from up and down the Pacific Coast. Fink and Kroviak were the lone Texas representatives.

Competitors come together post-game on Maishima Sports Island

Coach Fink led USA West to a 10-0 record, which would have been 11-0 if not for a rain-out in an early contest in Fukuoka. June is rain season in Japan and a few games were played on clay fields in monsoon conditions. Opposing teams ranged in experience and talent from first-year students and players to U-23 regional teams in Osaka, a Japanese lacrosse hotbed.

“The USA West team was a great experience both on and off the field. The players were very coachable and talented. It was easy to work with them and they worked hard to play as a team. Off the field, our guys made a great effort to experience as much of the Japanese culture as possible. They did this in a respectfully and mature way which made our job as coaches fairly effortless,” remarked Coach Fink.

Said Kroviak of the trip, “The experience was one I can never imagine duplicating. The lacrosse was fun, even when not too competitive and I fell like I’ve already benefited from playing with and learning from so many talented teammates. Not to mention, the Japanese people are the most hospitable I’ve ever encountered. My host family’s showered me with gifts and did anything they could to show me a great time. Japan’s culture is so far from America’s, and it was great to detach from most everything I know for two weeks.”

Playing highlights of the trip included playing at Level 5 Stadium in Fukuoka—a professional quality international soccer pitch nestled in the mountains. Another player favorite was the dance performed by nearly 200 Japanese lacrosse players to honor and thank USA West before the final day of play. Off field adventures included visiting temples in both Fukuoka and Kyoto, traveling via bullet train to Osaka, and teaching the Japanese players and hosts the joys of an American take on a Japanese classic—the “Sake Bomb.” Overall, it was an amazing journey, and both Kroviak and Fink recommend that any player invited on future trips take the opportunity to do so.