Update by Lauren Hickey - Kawasaki, Japan

 

The players of Team Stars & Stripes spent their first night with the host families, and each player came back with a different story to tell. But all the players said their families were very gracious and the hospitality was incredible.

 

Here are a couple stories of the players’ first night!

 

“We went to a restaurant where they served water in tiny little cups and we were really thirsty. They kept coming back to the table to fill up or glasses, but wouldn’t leave the water jug, so we kept drinking it and they must have had to refill out cups 20 times.” – Josh Norman, Santa Rita High School, Tucson AZ

 

“My host family was great. I’m staying with a family who has a 21 year-old son.  He plays tight-end at Tokyo University, so last night he got down in his stance so I could tell him if he had the proper technique!” – Brandon Meckelberg, Wautoma High School, Wautoma WI

 

Some players slept on futons and pull out beds while others slept on mats on the floor such as Darrin Emmeck (Somerset High School, WI) and says his back was a little sore but overall it was a great night!

 

In the morning, all of the host families wanted to make sure the team had plenty of food for breakfast to start their day off right! The families, not exactly sure what the team usually ate for meals, brought out as much food as possible to ensure they would have what they needed.

 

Here are some of the meals served:

 

Connor Farquharson (Fort Worth Country Day, TX): Noodles, hard boiled eggs, sausages

Kody Day (Sahuarita HS, AZ): Scrambled eggs, meatballs, cereal, bacon

Maile Labor (Santa Rita HS, AZ): Eggs, sausage

Adam Ward (St. Joseph’s, OH): Broccoli, asparagus, eggs, ham, assortment of fruit

Evan McKissack (Hoover, AL): Eggs, thick bacon and milk that “tasted like it just came out of the cow” 

Brandon Meckelberg (Wautoma HS, WI): Hot dogs

Brandon Cluff (Cesar Chavez, AZ): Tuna Salad

 

Once everyone got back to Kawasaki Stadium, it was off to the football field for their final two-a-day practices. The team is looking great with the defense and offense really coming together and it is had to believe the players have only been playing together for a few short days!

 

Global Football President, Patrick Steenberge helped out in practice as quarterback finishing the day 2-4 for 23 yards with no touchdowns and one interception!

 

As the practice was going on Team Stars & Stripes offensive line coach John Storey noticed some people on a roof near the stadium. Nervous that they could be spys looking to see what Team Stars & Stripes game plan was for Saturday, he asked Mike Preston to investigate the situation.

 

With Mike’s great detective skills, aka the use of his camera zoom, he assured Coach Storey that two of the people were women but none had cameras. Whew!

 

After the practices, the players headed to the train station to spend their second night with the host families which is an experience in itself which Trent DeBraga sentiments on.

 

“The station here is crazy.  There were people everywhere.  I have never seen so many people in one place.” – Trent DeBraga, Churchill County High School, Fallon NV.