Macon, Ga. — Head softball coach Ryan Bliss is back on campus after adding a trip to Spain to his summer softball recruiting calendar. Bliss, entering his fifth year leading the Wolves, joined America's Team to coach a group of American student-athletes as they traveled across the Atlantic to compete against some of the best talent Barcelona had to offer.
The trip ended with a tournament championship, but softball was only part of the experience. Bliss and the team toured Barcelona, including La Sagrada Família, swam in the Mediterranean Sea, watched Spain defeat Belgium in the World Cup alongside local clubs, and climbed a 900-year-old castle once used to watch the coastline for pirates.
This was not Bliss's first opportunity to travel internationally through sports. He previously represented the United States in Costa Rica and spent a season playing in the SABL for the Northern District Reds in Adelaide, South Australia.
"Sports and travel are two of my favorite things," said Bliss. "I was blessed enough to have the chance to see some of the world as a player, so working with an organization like America's Team and helping athletes have that same opportunity was naturally something I wanted to be involved with."
The international opportunities may not be over. America's Team is currently planning a trip to Australia next July, with Bliss expected to return as the organization builds a team to compete and tour in Sydney.
For Bliss, the opportunity offers another chance to combine softball, travel, and the type of experience that can stay with student-athletes long after the games are over.