KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Senior Kutztown women's lacrosse student-athlete Summer Davis (Beach Haven, N.J./Southern Regional) had an experience of a lifetime earlier this summer as she was able to travel to Japan to play the game she loves and try to promote the game overseas.
 
The trip allowed Davis to meet other collegiate lacrosse players from around the country and to also experience the culture and people in Japan.
 
"My experience in Japan was amazing and something I will never forget," said Davis. "There were a little over 20 U.S. lacrosse girls playing and my roommate was from New Mexico. It was so fun meeting people from all over the country along with a lot of the Japanese lacrosse players. Some of the highlights would including meeting everyone, trying all of the different traditional Japanese foods, and learning the international rules of lacrosse and how it is played in Japan."
 
Davis was chosen out of a select group of U.S. women's lacrosse student-athletes by the Beyond Sports program that looks to make the sport bigger and more popular in areas outside of the United States.
 
"I had gotten an email from my coach over winter break along with two of my other teammates that we were invited to go play with a program called Beyond Sports in Japan," Davis said. "It is a program that tries to expand the game and its culture. We played four games against different Japanese colleges. We stayed in hotels and traveled to the colleges to play. It was so interesting to see what their schools looked like compared to ours. It was also a lot of fun to play with the other girls from the US because lacrosse is a little different everywhere! Overall, it was an amazing experience and the program does an amazing job setting everything up itinerary wise. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone!"
 
Davis is also part of the summer series of 'Catching up with a Golden Bear,' and her answers are below.
 
Summer Davis (Beach Haven, N.J./Southern Regional) – Women's Lacrosse – Senior
 
What is your favorite thing about summer?
- My favorite thing about the summer is the warm weather and having a little more freedom over break to travel!
 
What is your favorite thing to do during the summer?
- My favorite thing to do in the summer would be going to the beach and hanging out with family/friends.
 
Favorite vacation spot you've been to? One place you haven't been to yet, but would like to?
- My favorite vacation spot I have been to would be Japan, and a trip I would really like to and have been wanting to go on is taking the Amtrak from Chicago to California which is a 52 hour train ride with beautiful views.
 
What have you been up to/current plans this summer from a sport perspective?
- Sports related things I have planned/ have been doing this summer is a drop in pickup league on Mondays and Wednesdays which is super fun because I am able to play with girls from different levels of collegiate lacrosse.
 
What's a song you can jam out to that makes you feel like it's summer?
- A song I could jam out to that makes me feel like it's summer would be "No shoes, no shirt, no problem," by Kenny Chesney.
 
What do you miss about KU during the summer months?
- What I miss most about KU while on break would definitely be my roommates and also just having a chaotic schedule. I love to be busy!
 
Favorite place to be on campus when it's a nice, sunny and warm day?
- My favorite place to be on campus on a sunny day would be the chairs outside of the Library.
 
Favorite summer dessert/treat?
- My favorite dessert is either key lime pie or ice cream.
 
Favorite way to keep cool during the summer?
- My favorite way to keep cool in the summer is to jump in the bay or ocean. I live on a lagoon so me and my friends usually tie floats to the dock and sit out for hours.
 
Any summer traditions you do with friends/family that you enjoy?
- A somewhat newer tradition going on its fourth year is my roommates coming down to my house every fourth of July.
 
What do you look forward to most about returning to KU in August?
- I am looking forward to getting back to lacrosse with my teammates and coaches along with being back and living with my roommates. As I mentioned before, I really like to be busy so I truly just can't wait for the chaos of everything that goes on between lacrosse and academics being back at school.