Every year, student-athletes from around the world pack up their bags, leave their homes and families, and travel thousands of miles to continue pursuing the sports they love. At UW-Whitewater, these international athletes play a significant role in shaping campus culture, enhancing team environments and showcasing the global reach of collegiate athletics. Their journeys reveal the courage it takes to uproot their lives and the resilience needed to thrive in a new country.
For many, like Canadian gymnast Tegan Haberstock, the decision to come to the United States was driven as much by opportunity as by ambition.
“Collegiate gymnastics is something I’ve always wanted to pursue, however it is not a sport that is available in Canadian universities,” Haberstock said.
The lack of collegiate-level gymnastics back home meant that if she wanted to continue her athletic career while getting a degree, she had to look beyond Canada’s borders. She visited several campuses in the U.S. before choosing UW-W, describing it as the best fit both academically and athletically.
“I really enjoyed the campus and community and felt like I would be able to reach my academic goals best here,” Haberstock said. “I also really enjoyed the team.”
Her story highlights a common theme among international student-athletes, which is accessibility. U.S. universities often offer resources, facilities and competitive opportunities that simply do not exist elsewhere. For many international students, the NCAA system offers a rare combination of high-level athletics and quality education under one structure.
Men’s soccer player Luka Breslin expressed a similar sentiment when discussing why he left home to play in the United States. He noted that American collegiate programs provide a level of structure and intensity that can help athletes prepare for professional leagues or coaching careers.
But even with these benefits, the transition can be challenging. Adjusting to a new country requires navigating differences in coaching philosophies, academic expectations and cultural norms, often without the support system they relied on when they were home.
Yet despite these challenges, both athletes spoke highly of the support they found once they arrived at UW-W. Teammates, coaches, professors and staff all play crucial roles in helping international athletes feel grounded. This sense of community becomes especially important for students who must manage homesickness, time zone differences when communicating with family, and the emotional weight of being far from home during stressful periods.
The team really made the difference,” Haberstock said, reflecting on how her teammates helped her feel at home when she couldn’t physically go home as often as others.
Breslin offered a similar reflection, explaining how his teammates quickly became his primary support system, the people who helped him learn the campus, navigate classes and understand American culture.
Beyond gymnastics, international student-athletes in other sports share many of the same challenges and rewards. Breslin came to the United States by a different path than Haberstock, but with the same goal of taking his athletic and academic career to the next level. Breslin was born in San Francisco but grew up in Ireland, and from a young age he felt drawn to the idea of playing college soccer in the United States.
“When I was about 16, I started looking at it, and I was close to going to a few different schools,” he said.
He initially stayed in Ireland for university, but eventually decided he wanted a different environment, one where he could grow both as a student and athlete. Through an Irish agency that helps soccer players connect with American colleges, Breslin was introduced to Whitewater. After speaking with head coach Tony Guinn, he suddenly felt it was the right place.
For Breslin, the biggest shift came on the field, where in Ireland teams are limited to five substitutions per match, but in the U.S. unlimited subs create a faster, more physically demanding style of play. The training schedule was another major adjustment.
“Back in Dublin, I’d train twice a week for about an hour and a half and have a game once a week,” he said. “Over here we train almost every day and can have up to five games within a week at times.”
Despite the intensity, he found the environment exciting and motivating, pushing him to improve quickly.
Off the field, Breslin also had to adjust to living on his own. Unlike in Ireland, where he commuted from home and stayed close to family and longtime friends, life in Whitewater meant full independence. Still, he found comfort in the team from the start.
“After being here for almost two years, I don’t even really feel as though I’m an international student anymore,” he said.
His teammates helped him transition smoothly and feel like he belonged immediately.
Balancing academics and athletics in a new country can be overwhelming, but Breslin found that staying organized and not letting schoolwork pile up has been the key. The structure of the training schedule also gives him the space he needs to stay on top of assignments. Over time, he’s learned valuable habits from maintaining a routine to understanding how sleep and nutrition impact performance.
Looking ahead, Breslin doesn’t have one set path planned, but he hopes to keep playing soccer while also exploring career opportunities in the United States. He’s particularly interested in real estate and hopes to build a future here after his athletic career.
Athletes like Haberstock and Breslin show how international students contribute to the culture, competitiveness and community of UW-Whitewater athletics. Their experiences highlight not only the challenges of leaving home, but also the strength, growth and belonging they find along the way.
