College athletes visiting San Quentin help prisoners prepare for return to their communities, says University of San Francisco tennis coach Pablo Pires de Almeida.
“We may have opened the door to something really, really big. Our football, basketball, soccer and baseball teams are all interested in coming inside and playing against the guys here. Community support for programs like sports are a key for reentry,” Almeida said during a visit late last year.
“This is my first time coming inside a prison to play,” said one of the players, Vasco Valvardi of Portugal. “I’m waiting to see what the game is going to be like.” The players also represented Finland, Malaysia, and Denmark.
The USF tennis team brought in six players to go against the San Quentin Inside Tennis Team. The visitors won easily.
“The first time we came in, the play was decent,” said Nick Valko. “The next trip, there was a vast improvement. I’m waiting to see if it’s improved more.”
“My guys come here for the experience of shared love of tennis,” said the USF coach. “The experience of coming inside, playing tennis in this environment – barbed wire and gun towers – it brings a certain irony to the game. You find love of the game at any level you find it.”
“The first time I came in here, I won’t lie: I was scared to death,” said a visitor from Finland. “I mean, you see prison movies — riots, shivs and all that. However, once I came in here and saw the complete opposite, I was stunned. These people love tennis, and the environment isn’t the Hollywood stuff. Everyone here is respectful and interested in positive work.”