They took home their share of the spoils but it is the cultural experience that has been the most enriching aspect of Los Angeles- based coach Kyle Iwanaga's tour of New Zealand.
Iwanaga's 12-strong junior team from the Southern California Wrestling Association mixed it with the locals at the weekend for the Bay of Plenty championships. But rather than what they brought to the mat against their New Zealand rivals, the 44-year-old from Orange County said exploding the insularity of most Americans' world view would have the greatest impact.
"These kids, two who've never been on a plane before this trip, will truly go home with a huge world perspective from our time here and my big hope before coming, and something I sold the trip on, was that it would spark an interest in that there's a big world out there to visit.
"Life's more than just America, or even the city you live in, so rather than just reading about it or studying it in the classroom, get out there and see it."
Iwanaga is an experienced visitor downunder and knows how most New Zealanders, and the rest of the world, view his country.