Last week was about more than just the game for the Mount Si High School boys soccer team.

As part of a cultural exchange, the Wildcats hosted a group of boys from Bishop Heber High School in Malpas, U.K., with both hosts and visitors learning from one another. It’s the second year that Bishop Heber students have visited the Valley.

The visiting British players went to classes at Mount Si, attended Mariners and Sounders games and participated in the school fashion show. They also played several soccer games, including one against the Mount Si varsity team, which Bishop Heber won last Thursday, April 16, 2-1.

It was an eye-opening experience for Wildcat goalkeeper Sam Evans, both as a player and as a student.

“It’s always good to learn about how they live on the other side,” Evans said.

“Anytime you can bring a different culture in, and the kids can learn about the sport and about life in general from a different perspective, it’s pretty cool,” said Mount Si coach Darren Brown. “It’s been a great experience having the boys here.”

Bishop Heber players Louis Moss and Joe Sumner were the lone players from the first visit, done in 2007, to make this trip. Moss was overjoyed at the response from the Mount Si students.

“It’s great to come over and get a really good response from the students,” he said. “It’s fantastic for all of us, because we’re not really used to that back in England.”

Bishop Heber coach Mark Lindley said the reaction is unrivaled.

“We do French exchange, Spanish exchange, but the hospitality of the Americans and the families has been second to none,” he said.

Mount Si assistant coach and social studies teacher Ben Tomlisson has been instrumental in organizing these visits. Prior to coming to the Valley, he taught at Bishop Heber High School.

“There’s more to education than sitting on a seat listening to a teacher,” Tomlisson said. “What a great opportunity to give them a world view.”

“I think it’s great for them to see what’s going on across the pond,” said Cascade FC coach Ron Heller, whose team faced Bishop Heber in an exhibition tournament last Saturday, April 18. “Soccer’s huge over there, and so for these guys to see what it’s like, I think it’s a great experience for them.”

This exchange is expected to continue next year, with a trip by Mount Si players to the United Kingdom. Fundraising is now being done by soccer boosters.

“It’s going to be just a chance of a lifetime for all these kids to really go over and see great soccer,” Brown said.

For more information, visit the booster club Web site at www.mshsboysoccer.com.