CONTACT: Kyle Schauls, kschauls@iwu.edu

We are back in the country from the team's spring break trip to Spain, and we just wanted to provide a brief update on how fantastic it was for everyone! We also have photos on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook that you can check out.

Day 1: Travel/FC Barcelona Game
After a long day of travel, we landed in Barcelona and met our tour guide for the week, Fabrizio. The team got settled into the hotel, checked out the surrounding area, and then headed to Camp Nou to catch FC Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano. It did not disappoint, as Barcelona came back from a 0-1 deficit to earn a 3-1 victory with goals from Pique, Messi, and Suarez.

Day 2: Barcelona Tour/Girona Game
The first full day in Spain began with a walking tour of Barcelona, taking in sights such as the Gothic cathedral and La Rambla while enjoying the beauty and history of the Old Town area. The afternoon was filled with the 2nd La Liga game of the trip between host Girona and Valencia. This match was an exciting one between two mid-table teams, and Valencia pulled off the 3-2 victory with a 90th minute goal by Torres.

Day 3: Montserrat/Friendly #1
The next day in the Catalonia region started with a morning hike at Montserrat Mountain, also home to a Benedictine Monastery. The afternoon was filled with free time to explore the city of Barcelona, followed by the team's first friendly match in the evening. The Titans took on the Pobe See U19 squad. The team was able to shake off the travel/jet lag/morning hike in order to come away with a 3-1 victory over the local side.

Day 4: Camp Nou/Friendly #2
The last full day in Barcelona began with a stadium tour of Camp Nou. The players enjoyed getting to take a look behind the ropes at the home of FC Barcelona. After some more free time in the city in the afternoon, the team geared up for the second friendly match of the trip against the U19s from CE Hospitalet Juvenil. Despite playing on back-to-back nights, the Titans earned a 2-2 draw against a very technical side.

Day 5: Travel/Zaragosa
Despite the majority of this day being spent transferring from Barcelona to Madrid, the group was still able to get our and stretch the legs for a few hours in the scenic town of Zaragosa. The architecture and fine art did not disappoint in this historic city on the banks of the Rio Ebro.

Day 6: Madrid/Friendly #3
The next day started off with a walking tour of the historic parts of the city of Madrid, including the Palacio Real de Madrid and Plaza Mayor. The players were given free time to explore the city on their own in the afternoon before getting back together for the last friendly match of the trip in the evening. The team took on the CD Sampler U19 squad, earning a 2-1 victory to cap off an undefeated (2-0-1) trio of friendlies in Spain.

Day 7: Bernebeu/Madrid
The next day kicked off with a stadium tour of the Bernebeu Stadium, home to La Liga's other perennial contender, Real Madrid. After witnessing Europe's most impressive collection of trophies, the group enjoyed lunch at the Real Café Bernebeu, accompanied by a beautiful view of the pitch. The afternoon and evening were free for the players to explore the pedestrian-friendly downtown area of Madrid.

Day 8: Toledo/Real Madrid Game
The last full day abroad began with a morning trip to the beautiful and historic town of Toledo. This old city, known for it's narrow, winding, cobblestone streets, is surrounded on three sides by the Tagus river. This creates a natural fortress, as well as some breathtaking views. The group returned to the city to take in an afternoon match between Real Madrid and Celta Vigo, with the hosts taking a 2-0 victory (goals from Isco and Bale) in Zinedine Zidane's first match back at the helm.

The trip in its entirety was extremely enjoyable, as a number of parents and family members joined the team to take in the famous sites of Spain. There was so much history to observe and a lot of culture to absorb. Needless to say, it was a very memorable experience for all of us! Also, a shoutout to Quest Sports Travel for setting up such an outstanding team vacation!

Go Titans!