University of Minnesota Athletics
International Gophers adjust to Minnesota
10/22/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The transition from being a high school student to a college student is tough for everyone--more so when you're a Division I athlete, and even more so when you're adjusting to life in a new country.
Two of this year's newcomers for the Gophers are from foreign countries: freshman Danielle Garven from Toronto and sophomore Jessie Edwards from Leeming, Australia, a suburb of Perth.
Garven played on her age-level Canadian national team for three years, featuring in 20 games averaging 3.8 points per game and 3.4 rebounds per game. She appeared in three games with the Canadian Junior Women's National Team at the 2015 World Championships in Russia.
Now she will begin her collegiate career as a forward for the Gophers. Garven said she expects a similar competition level in the Big Ten compared to what she faced with the national team.
"I would say it's pretty similar because everyone here is good as well," she said. "The pace here is a little bit faster, but everything else is pretty much similar."
The bigger transition for Garven has been off the court. The change to living in Minnesota has been smooth, Garven said. She thinks her new home in Minneapolis is not much different from her hometown of Toronto.
"I'd say it's more crowded in my hometown, although I am on campus right now," Garven said. "It's more crowded, but other than that the Twin Cities is pretty similar to Toronto."
Playing basketball and going to school full time is an adjustment from what she had previously been doing with the Canadian National Team.
"It has been a little bit [difficult] because a lot of the time I just really want to sleep because I'm so tired," Garven said. "My mentor-tutors and stuff have been really helpful keeping me on track with all that. I'm doing all right."
Two of the people on whom she has leaned for support during the transition are teammates Rachel Banham and Allina Starr.
"If I have any questions I go to one of them and they would help me without hesitation," Garven said.
Garven said she plans to learn as much as she can from the seniors this year so that she can be prepared for whenever the team needs her.
For Jessie Edwards, the experience of moving to Minnesota has been a bit different.
Edwards began her college education at Curtin University before deciding to continue it in the United States. She chose to come to the University of Minnesota because of the quality of the psychology program, her planned major. She also was impressed with the basketball program.
"I had a look at [the program] and I was impressed at how Coach Marlene went [to the NCAA Tournament] and has done really well with the team," Edwards said.
Edwards spent the past two years playing basketball for the West Coast Waves and the Kalamunda Eastern Suns in her home country of Australia. As a center, she is expecting tougher competition in the Big Ten.
"I'm definitely expecting a lot more intense and challenging opposition," Edwards said. "The quality of the Big Ten is really high. I'm expecting a good fight."
She is looking forward to the fast-paced playing style that coach Marlene Stollings plans to use this year, because she played in a similar system with her former team.
Off the court, the transition to Minnesota has been smoother than one might imagine.
"It's been in a lot of ways different, but also similar," Edwards said. "There are only a few differences in way of life."
Edwards said it helps that like in Perth, people are friendly to each other in Minnesota. The biggest difference for Edwards? The obvious one: the weather.
I'm a little prepared for winter and snow," Edwards said. "I think I'm definitely going to have a shock when it first snows and it gets below freezing."
One of the differences Edwards won't miss is the wildlife. She told her teammates and fans at a preseason dinner about the dangerous animals that are common in Australia, a concern she doesn't have in Minnesota.
"I heard you have some more dangerous animals a bit further north," she said. "The only animals I've seen are birds and squirrels, so I think I'm pretty safe from them."
Playing and going to school full time is something that Edwards did not have to deal with at her previous teams, which played primarily during the summer. Having to keep a full schedule with practices, classes and studying has been beneficial for her so far.
"I don't have the best time management skills so this has definitely helped me to gain better time management skills," Edwards said. "At first it was a little bit difficult, but as time's gone on I've been able to handle it a bit better."
The Gophers hope that this growth off the court is matched by growth on the court, and that Edwards and Garven can help the team succeed this year.
Story by Joey Erickson, Athletic Communications Student Assistant
