Courtesy of Lewis & Clark Tennis
Following the men’s and women’s soccer team’s trip to Iceland in the summer of 2025, more Lewis & Clark sports teams are participating in international trips. Most recently, the men’s and women’s tennis teams traveled abroad to Costa Rica during winter break. The trip has been a project of Head Coach Jimmy Chau’s for years and is the first international trip for LC Tennis.
“It’s been in the works for a long time. I guess ever since I got hired as the head coach it has been a pipe dream of mine to bring something like this to fruition,” Chau said in an interview with The Mossy Log.
Despite setbacks including the COVID-19 pandemic and fundraising difficulties, the 10 men’s players, nine women’s players as well as coaches flew into San José, Costa Rica on Jan. 12. The team ran extra camps and contributions from donors helped fund the long-awaited trip, thanking alumni and families of current and past players who were able to contribute.
Matches against local junior players and daily team practices were the focus of the trip, but the teams also participated in catamaran sailing, surf lessons and exploring coastal towns.
“It was a crazy moment where the sun was setting and we had just seen dolphins and then a pod of whales,” Chau commented while looking back on the teams’ sailing excursion.
Another stand out part of the trip for many players was visiting a local school’s after-school program and connecting with disadvantaged children. Senior player Wade McDermott ’26 offered insight into the one of a kind experience.
“We went and played with these Costa Rican kids at this playground for an hour or two, and I think everybody had so much fun that day,” McDermott told The Mossy Log. “There’s a lot of joy in there.”
McDermott reflected on the unique experience the trip was able to offer for many members of the teams.
“I think it was one of the best experiences I’ve had. There’s a lot of people on the team where it was their first time being outside of the country,” McDermott said. “We got to spend a lot of time experiencing new things together, which is a great way to bond.”
Recently returning from the Fall 2025 study abroad program to Seoul, South Korea, McDermott reflected on the impact of international travel.
“I’m really glad I did it. I’ve been telling my teammates here that they should definitely consider doing a program abroad, and I think that this trip might have opened some of their minds to that idea,” McDermott said.
The trip was not only a first-time international travel experience for some players, but it was a valuable bonding event for the team.
“The overall goal, obviously, was to experience a new culture, learn things. But even more important to us is team bonding — getting to know each other on a different level and in a different place,” Chau said. “Obviously, when you travel there are obstacles and things that you need to overcome, and travelling with a group makes that even harder, but we made it. We figured it out. I think the students had an amazing time and learned a lot along the way.”
Costa Rica was chosen as the teams’ destination after consideration of budget, time zones and Chau’s personal desire to visit. Influences on Chau’s choice included the teams’ interest in the outdoors and natural sciences, and that none of the team members had previously visited the Central American country.
Chau expressed a desire to take another international trip in the future if they are able to raise the necessary funds, and said that he would like to have more player input on the next considered location. NCAA restrictions only allow teams to take out-of-season “foreign tours” every four years, so the next international trip for the tennis team could come as soon as 2030.
Looking ahead to the spring season, Chau is optimistic about the team’s potential.
“We have a very talented and motivated group, so the sky’s the limit for them in terms of what they can possibly achieve this year, and so we’re excited to see what happens,” Chau said. “And hopefully the foundations that we made and built, starting with this Costa Rica trip, will give us some momentum into the season that we can hopefully ride all the way through.”
McDermott echoed Chau’s feelings for the upcoming season and shared some goals.
“I’m heading into my senior year, so it’s an exciting and sad time as well,” McDermott said. “I think we are looking strong this year. The team to beat is Whitman, and I think we’re nipping at their heels a little bit… we’re projected in the top two or three of the conference.”
Chau believes the trip had a positive impact on the teams beyond their athletic training.
“There’s a tennis aspect that ended up not becoming as big of a part as I originally thought it was going to be,” Chau said. “I think we quickly realized that it’s more about the experience together, not so much the tennis, that became valuable. And I think it’s what set us up way better for the trials and tribulations ahead to come together as a team, and hopefully that was worth more than any tennis balls we could have hit while we were there.”
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