The Luxembourg American Cultural Society will be leading a tour to Luxembourg from May 10 – 17 with men's university basketball players from Lakeland College of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA. The tour group of 60 people includes 20 men's basketball players from Lakeland College and 40 other adults including the President of Lakeland College, staff members and parents and grandparents of team members.
Lakeland College's men's basketball team, known by the team name of "Muskies" (a fish popular in the Midwest of the United States) will be playing games against Luxembourg's "Musel Pikes" and Luxembourg's National Teams (under 18 years of age).
The games against the U18 National Team of Luxembourg will take place at the "d'Coque" in Kirchberg and the game against the Musel Pikes will take place at the gymnasium in Stadtbredimus (see the schedule of games below). These three basketball games were organized by Musel Pikes' team member, Trent Wurtz, an American from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, who has been a team member with the Musel Pikes the past three years.
Lakeland College recently started a student and faculty exchange program with the University of Luxembourg. Last Fall, Lakeland College sent a Fulbright professor of economics, Dr. Scott Niederjohn, to teach at the University of Luxembourg. In February, the first students from Lakeland College began a semester of studies at the University of Luxembourg. The first students from the University of Luxembourg will attend Lakeland College in the Fall 2014 Semester. Lakeland College is located about 20 minutes from the Luxembourg American Cultural Center in New Luxembourg, Wisconsin.
In addition to the games against Luxembourg teams, the tour group will visit various tourist attractions throughout the Grand Duchy. The tour group will also visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.
Kevin Wester, Executive Director of the Luxembourg American Cultural Society, who is leading the tour with the assistance of Robert & Marianne Johanns of Tetange, said: "This is a very different tour from our regular, annual tour of Luxembourg. That tour is all about Americans of Luxembourg descent being immersed in Luxembourg heritage, culture and gastronomy.
On this tour, very few of the 60 people have roots in Luxembourg. They are coming to not only play basketball but to experience Europe and especially to see what Luxembourg is all about. It should be a fun and enriching tour."
The schedule for basketball games is:
Monday, May 12 – 20:00 – Lakeland College versus Luxembourg National Team (Under 18 years old) – d'Coque
Tuesday, May 13 – 19:00 – Lakeland College versus Musel Pikes – Stadtbredimus Gymnasium
Wednesday, May 14 – 20:00 – Lakeland College versus Luxembourg National Team (Under 18 years old) – d'Coque
The general public is welcome to attend any of these games. LACS members in Luxembourg are cordially invited to attend the games. LACS members in the USA should encourage their friends and relatives in Luxembourg to attend!
