McLean County Times

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Devon Hanson, a standout midfielder for the Illinois Wesleyan University women's lacrosse team, recently represented her team in an international competition organized by Beyond Sports. Following a record-breaking sophomore season, Hanson traveled to Europe to compete against international teams.

Hanson, who hails from Waukesha, Wisconsin, was named a Second Team All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin honoree for the second consecutive season. She concluded her sophomore year by setting IWU's single-season record for caused turnovers with 50 and leading the team in draw controls with 78. Additionally, she accumulated 55 ground balls and 36 points over the season.

"My biggest goal for this trip was to gain new perspectives on the game and evaluate my strengths and weaknesses compared to others," Hanson stated. "The skills I've developed so far, with [my coach's] guidance, have been so valuable. Competing at such a high level during this tour has given me a fresh insight as I approach my junior season."

During her European tour, Hanson visited Prague in the Czech Republic, Vienna in Austria, and Munich in Germany. In Prague, she played against the Czech Republic national team. "We were scheduled to play three games but ended up playing two due to timing issues," Hanson said. "Our first game was against the Czech National Team... It was during this game that I scored my first international goal!" While in Prague, she also explored notable sites such as Prague Castle and Charles Bridge.

In Vienna, Hanson's team faced a local club team and participated in a cookout afterward. She described it as one of her favorite moments from the trip: "It was amazing to be able to interact with both teams and get to know the players from each country." The group also enjoyed free time exploring Vienna and took a boat tour of the Danube River.

Reflecting on her motivations for joining the trip, Hanson explained: "I wanted to go on this trip because I was eager to see what new skills and perspectives I could gain while being there... Plus, who doesn't love some good competition?" She also mentioned bringing along her brother Craig for their first visit to Europe.

The final leg of their journey took them to Munich where they visited Salzburg and had an option to tour Dachau concentration camp. "A lot of emotions hit me at once while being there," Hanson commented about visiting Dachau.

Looking ahead to her junior season at IWU after this experience abroad, Hanson expressed gratitude: "My biggest takeaway was realizing how stepping out of your comfort zone could lead to surprising results... I'm grateful that I had this opportunity."

With two seasons completed at IWU, Hanson aims to contribute significantly as her team prepares for another competitive year following their 9-8 overall record last season.