Evan Neiswanger, a recent graduate of Center Grove High School, is no stranger to European adventures. The son of a local Spanish teacher, Neiswanger joined his mom on immersion trips starting in the fifth grade. Perhaps it was these regular jaunts that sparked his courage to immerse himself even further, by playing for the Swiss lacrosse team in the European national championships the summer after graduation.
After playing for five years throughout elementary and middle school, Neiswanger rejoined the Center Grove team for his junior and senior years. “Playing Center Grove lacrosse was an awesome experience for me,” he says. “The program was just growing and progressing the whole time I was there. It was truly impressive, how good we got and how fast it happened.”
During his time on the team, Center Grove played in and won their first regional game, afterwards advancing to semi-state – another first. Although Carmel took the win, it was a milestone for the team to have come so far. Neiswanger reflects on these huge wins, stating that it positioned Center Grove as a true Midwest competitor for the first time in the team’s history. “It felt really great to be on a truly competitive team,” he says. “For the first time, we were facing the big beasts of the Midwest and we were holding our own.”
A successful season quickly led to graduation, after which Neiswanger and his girlfriend were already set for a backpacking excursion through Europe. The two worked part-time jobs, saving for the chance to embark on this amazing opportunity during which they would accompany two other friends.
But why stop there? Neiswanger decided he would try to make the absolute most of his trip. He reached out to the general manager of the Swiss lacrosse team to see if there were any openings on the team. Turns out, it pays off to take a chance.
“It happened on a whim,” he says. “While we were planning out our trip, I just decided to go for it and sent my info to the team’s general manager and asked if they needed any more players.”
Given his successful lacrosse background and lineage tracing back to Switzerland, Neiswanger was awarded a shot to try out for the team. “We have a documented heritage in Switzerland, and if you can prove your family has roots there, you’re eligible to play,” he says.
Not only was he eligible, but he was also told the team could use some North American influence to help the Swiss players learn the finer aspects of the game. “Lacrosse isn’t a European sport,” he says. “Oftentimes they’ll recruit Americans and Canadians who have a lacrosse background to come and help get other kids interested in the sport.”
The team makeup ultimately included 17 Swiss members, two Americans and one Canadian.
After a successful seven-week backpacking trip, Neiswanger said goodbye to his girlfriend and friends in Switzerland. They returned home, and he took a train further west to condition and play for the Swiss lacrosse team. “It was incredibly rewarding,” he says. “I won’t lie; it didn’t start out great. They had the basics, but our first practice was messy. By the end of the first week, though, we were really meshing and learning to read each other. These guys started scoring goals, making really cool passes and amazing plays.”
Neiswanger spent the remainder of his summer playing alongside his Swiss teammates. It’s an experience he will remember for a lifetime. “It may sound a little cliché, but I learned how to have fun playing again,” he says. “In competitive sports, there can often be a ton of pressure. When I realized I didn’t have to be perfect, I let go and just had fun with my teammates.”
Neiswanger is now a freshman attending Wabash College, where he continues to play lacrosse and plans to major in political science.
