Photo by: SMC Athletics / Brian Brownfield
MBB | Gaels Down Under 2022 – Day 2
8/5/2022 12:33:00 AM | Men's Basketball
SYDNEY — The second day of the foreign tour in Australia wrapped up on Friday night, as the team continued to get acclimated to being in another hemisphere. The team rested up overnight and was ready for a 9:00 am practice, their first full practice of the trip.
Unlike Thursday's stretch and shootaround, Friday's practice had the feel of a typical Saint Mary's practice. The team used the KGV Recreation Centre as their practice facility on Friday, which featured a concrete wall with local artwork on the far side of the gym. The team got some shots up, worked on defense, and got a good sweat in for their first full practice in Australia.
In the team huddle following practice, the Gaels huddled around freshman point guard Aidan Mahaney, who celebrated his birthday. While it won't technically be his birthday in the United States for one more day, this is his first time spending his birthday abroad.
"It's a blessing, I feel like I'm coming into Mr. Wessels's hometown," joked Mahaney, as the two walked back from practice side-by-side. "They've been showing me around, him, [Kyle Bowen] and [Alex Ducas], so I couldn't be happier with where I'm at right now."
Harry Wessels hails from Perth, where the Gaels will spend their final days of their 2022 foreign tour, but he has been accompanied by his family on the front part of this trip to Sydney. Not only has his family joined the team in Sydney, but the Bowen's have also made the trek out to spend extra time with their son.
"Obviously having my family here as we go on the trip has been great, it's great to see them and catch up," Wessels stated.
Both Mahaney and Wessels are freshman on this year's Gaels roster, and the experience they've gained in their first few months of being around the team has been invaluable.
"I've been coached by Coach Bennett since I was about seven or eight, back in the day, but to be able to really get coached by him for real this time is totally a blessing, and all the coaches as well," said Mahaney. "They've all been really great to us and have showed us a lot of different tricks that we can use in our bag going through the season."
Those statements were echoed by Wessels, who has only been in the Gaels system for a few months, but has quickly gotten the hang of things from both his teammates and his coaches.
"I only got to Saint Mary's about three months ago, so the guys have been really cool, showing me around Moraga and California," Wessels said. "Being back in Australia, I've had coaches that have coached under Randy Bennett, so similar coaching styles, and now it just feels like I'm taking the next step. And at the same time, it's been a pleasure to show the guys around my hometown."
After a quick return to the hotel, the Gaels hit the road and went down to Bondi Beach and spent the afternoon soaking up some Sydney sunlight. Despite it being winter in Australia, temperatures reached the low-70s on the beach Friday, making it perfect weather to work on a tan or to stick your feet in the Pacific Ocean.
Bondi Beach is often stated as the most popular beach in Sydney, and it gets its name from the Aboriginal word for "surf." It's been used heavily in pop culture, as the beach's lifeguards even have their own television show Bondi Rescue.
The team will practice on Saturday as they continue preparations for their first game of the foreign tour. Saint Mary's will square off with the Hills Hornets on Sunday afternoon, or Saturday night back in the Bay Area. Local tip-off time of that game is set for 3:00 pm, or 10:00 pm on Saturday in California.
Saint Mary's 2022 Foreign Tour Game Schedule
Date Team Site Time (Local) Streaming
Aug. 7 Hills Hornets Castle Hill, Sydney 3:00 pm LISTEN
Aug. 8 Centre of Excellence Alexandria, Sydney 10:00 am
Aug. 9 Melbourne United Keilor Park, Melbourne 7:30 pm LISTEN
Aug. 10 SE Melb Phoenix Wantirna South, Melbourne 7:30 pm LISTEN
Aug. 12 Perth Wildcats Floreat, Perth TBA
Aug. 14 Joondalup Wolves Joondalup, Perth 5:00 pm LISTEN
Unlike Thursday's stretch and shootaround, Friday's practice had the feel of a typical Saint Mary's practice. The team used the KGV Recreation Centre as their practice facility on Friday, which featured a concrete wall with local artwork on the far side of the gym. The team got some shots up, worked on defense, and got a good sweat in for their first full practice in Australia.
In the team huddle following practice, the Gaels huddled around freshman point guard Aidan Mahaney, who celebrated his birthday. While it won't technically be his birthday in the United States for one more day, this is his first time spending his birthday abroad.
"It's a blessing, I feel like I'm coming into Mr. Wessels's hometown," joked Mahaney, as the two walked back from practice side-by-side. "They've been showing me around, him, [Kyle Bowen] and [Alex Ducas], so I couldn't be happier with where I'm at right now."
Harry Wessels hails from Perth, where the Gaels will spend their final days of their 2022 foreign tour, but he has been accompanied by his family on the front part of this trip to Sydney. Not only has his family joined the team in Sydney, but the Bowen's have also made the trek out to spend extra time with their son.
"Obviously having my family here as we go on the trip has been great, it's great to see them and catch up," Wessels stated.
Both Mahaney and Wessels are freshman on this year's Gaels roster, and the experience they've gained in their first few months of being around the team has been invaluable.
"I've been coached by Coach Bennett since I was about seven or eight, back in the day, but to be able to really get coached by him for real this time is totally a blessing, and all the coaches as well," said Mahaney. "They've all been really great to us and have showed us a lot of different tricks that we can use in our bag going through the season."
Those statements were echoed by Wessels, who has only been in the Gaels system for a few months, but has quickly gotten the hang of things from both his teammates and his coaches.
"I only got to Saint Mary's about three months ago, so the guys have been really cool, showing me around Moraga and California," Wessels said. "Being back in Australia, I've had coaches that have coached under Randy Bennett, so similar coaching styles, and now it just feels like I'm taking the next step. And at the same time, it's been a pleasure to show the guys around my hometown."
After a quick return to the hotel, the Gaels hit the road and went down to Bondi Beach and spent the afternoon soaking up some Sydney sunlight. Despite it being winter in Australia, temperatures reached the low-70s on the beach Friday, making it perfect weather to work on a tan or to stick your feet in the Pacific Ocean.
Bondi Beach is often stated as the most popular beach in Sydney, and it gets its name from the Aboriginal word for "surf." It's been used heavily in pop culture, as the beach's lifeguards even have their own television show Bondi Rescue.
The team will practice on Saturday as they continue preparations for their first game of the foreign tour. Saint Mary's will square off with the Hills Hornets on Sunday afternoon, or Saturday night back in the Bay Area. Local tip-off time of that game is set for 3:00 pm, or 10:00 pm on Saturday in California.
Saint Mary's 2022 Foreign Tour Game Schedule
Date Team Site Time (Local) Streaming
Aug. 7 Hills Hornets Castle Hill, Sydney 3:00 pm LISTEN
Aug. 8 Centre of Excellence Alexandria, Sydney 10:00 am
Aug. 9 Melbourne United Keilor Park, Melbourne 7:30 pm LISTEN
Aug. 10 SE Melb Phoenix Wantirna South, Melbourne 7:30 pm LISTEN
Aug. 12 Perth Wildcats Floreat, Perth TBA
Aug. 14 Joondalup Wolves Joondalup, Perth 5:00 pm LISTEN
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