Most restrictions are lifted and the athletes at the Q are ready to get back to doing what they love and that is, playing sports.

The Q has been on COVID-19 hiatus for over 14 months and it shows in the athletes. Most athletes are eager and excited to be back in the swing of things but, their physical endurance is not equivalent to their desires to play.

Also, the lack of exercise most athletes has experienced may have caused a drastic weight gain and it shows in their performance on the field. So, getting back to sports activities to offset the lethargy, folks are eager and excited.

“My first game was horrible and I couldn’t even finish the game, I couldn’t even score,” said former SQ basketballer Jamal Harrison.

“I missed sports really bad. Before COVID I weighed 205 pounds. I was able to play two full-court games, I was jumping high, quicker and playing for at least two hours a day.”

The Oakland native Harrison gained 30 pounds during the COVID lay-in. But, pounds was not the only thing being added. As a component residents affected from the pandemic also have to deal with the mental matters.

“In 2020 I was stuck in the cell eating, bored and depressed,” said Harrison. “ I was stressed out. During that time I had lost my mom to COVID and other family members too.”

Playing sports can be considered a lifesaver to the incarcerated in some form or at least a good way to ease the pain and tension caused by the issues of life.

“I’m a borderline diabetic and I used to eat all the bad foods like; honey buns, beef logs, soups and chips on the late night,” Harrison explained. “I had developed a heart condition and bad blood pressure. Plus, wearing the mask didn’t help with my breathing neither. Now that sports are back I can breathe better and most importantly since we opened back up I can talk with my family more.”

Harrison concludes, “My energy is not all the way back and I’m not at 100% back yet, but I’m getting there.”