OWB - 2022 High School trip

2025 High School Trip

Trip Overview:

Travel dates: July 5-July 15, 2025.
Countries visited: Italy, Austria and Germany.
Cities/Towns visited: Venice, Padua, Sirmione and Verona (Italy), Innsbruck (Austria) and Fuessen and Munich (Germany).
Opponents: Italian club teams, Austrian and German National Team selections.
Record: 6 wins, 0 losses (1 rainout).
Group size: 20 players, 6 staff members.

Trip Staff:

Tom Gillespie - Tour Leader
Stephan Rapaglia - Tour Leader and Pitching Coach
Justin Cronk (http://diamondcollegeadvisory.com/who-are-we.php) (Founder of Diamond College Advisory Team, LLC and former Head Coach at Shenandoah University) - Head Coach
Stan Exeter (Manager of Bonn Capitals [German 2024 national champions]; former Head Coach at Swarthmore College and Ursinus College) - Assistant Coach
Alan Dean (Strength and Conditioning Coach for Great Britain National Baseball Programme) - Trainer/Strength and Conditioning Coach
John Couture (Mental Performance Coach for IMG; former Mental Performance Coach for Cleveland Indians) - Mental Performance Coach

Each of the staff members listed above has had significant experience coaching and/or teaching HS and college student-athletes, 3 of the staff members have significant national team coaching experience, and 4 of the staff members have significant college coaching experience.
Important Notes:

Staff members were available via cellphone and email at all times during the trip to respond to emergencies.
Although the legal drinking age in most parts of Europe is 18 (or even less), Old World has a strict policy against alcohol consumption by HS trip participants. Violations of this policy or other rules of personal conduct would have resulted in the violator being sent home immediately (at their family's expense).
As Old World's trip participants serve as de facto ambassadors of US baseball, excellent sportsmanship was promoted and expected
Parents and other family members of HS trip participants were welcome to participate in this trip at their own expense, and several family members did accompany the team in various locations.