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Monday, October 20, 2008

Goshen basketball players scrimmage at maximum security correctional facility

Memorable pre-season scrimmage: Goshen College Men's Basketball Team play inmates at the Ionia (Mich.) Maximum Security Corrections Facility.

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IONIA, Mich. – As temperatures begin to cool down and leaves change color, college basketball swings into full gear as teams prepare for a grueling season with pre-season scrimmages.

Much like any other season-opening scrimmage, the Goshen College Men's Basketball Team loaded a bus wearing sparkling new warm-up uniforms and shoes evident of a fresh new season. Players studied, listened to music and rested while their stomachs churned in anticipation for their first contest of the season.

Meanwhile, the coaching staff sat toward the front discussing options for the game and season with many questions and expectations left unanswered.

That is where the typical scrimmage preparations ended for the Maple Leafs on Oct. 14, since the men's basketball team was not playing a similarly matched opponent from another university. Instead, they were traveling to play inmates at the Ionia (Mich.) Maximum Security Corrections Facility.

The facility in Ionia holds approximately 680 inmates, including about 250 Level 2 offenders – less serious offenses like drug charges – and the remaining inmates classified as Level 5, representing the most dangerous criminals in the state of Michigan. The Level 5 inmates are closed off from nearly all personal contact, but the Level 2 prisoners received rewards, like basketball, for good behavior.

"We thought it would be good for our guys to get this kind of unique experience and get them out of their comfort zone," said assistant coach Neal Young.

After arriving at the prison, players and coaches waited for their host, who upon entering the building and seeing the players, remarked, "Wow, it must be Christmas!" Dennis 'DC' Childs, a former lineman at Michigan State University, organized the contest for Goshen and helps inmates develop socially through a variety of recreational programs.

As players and coaches cleared through the security checks, they were greeted by the prison chaplain who explained more about life in the complex and behind bars. "The breakdown of the family has played such a huge role in the breakdown of our society, and is a major reason many of these guys are here," he said, explaining that most individuals he works with have never met at least one of their parents.

How unique is it, then, that the unofficial team motto chanted in Maple Leaf huddles is "family." Something that many of the inmates have little concept of because of their respective backgrounds, Maple Leaf players have found in their teammates.

While on a brief guided tour of the facilities, players saw inmates in the Level 5 complexes peering out at them through the iron bars. The walk through the prison yard and library was quiet and controlled.

However, in a moments notice, everything changed. As 15 players and coaches walked through the hallway into the compound's gymnasium, time seemed to stop.

Rap music was rattling the walls as the dozens of inmates playing basketball, lifting weights and standing around froze and stared at the newcomers. The Leafs, in turn, froze and for several seconds the room stood motionless.

Then, the power of competition took over. After an abbreviated warm up, players took to the court for a simple game of basketball. Like most other contests, fans and players disagreed with officials – also inmates in this case – timeouts were called, shots were made, players were heckled by fans and one team came out ahead – Goshen easily won the game 100-53 against the aptly named I-Max (for maximum security) varsity team.

At times, Goshen College players and staff almost forgot that the game was even taking place in a prison. They were forced back to reality when they looked around and saw guards standing with weapons and the crowd full of men, young and old, wearing the bright orange and blue with printed prisoner numbers on them.

But for those instances, fans and players – on both sides – could momentarily forget about the circumstances and focus on camaraderie and a simple game, even if just for a night.

In post-game handshakes, inmate team members words were that of: "God bless you," "Thanks for coming" and "Thanks for picking our spirits up."

"It is going to be all that they (inmates) talk about for the next month," said Goshen assistant coach Tim Williams. The same could likely be said for the Maple Leaf basketball players, as it became an experience everyone would not soon forget. 

– By Josh Gleason, Goshen College Sports Information Director

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College Sports Information Director Josh Gleason at (574) 535-7497 or joshag@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college's Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron's Best Buys in Education, "Colleges of Distinction," "Making a Difference College Guide" and U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" edition, which named Goshen a "least debt college." Visit www.goshen.edu.

 

 

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Goshen College
1700 S Main St
Goshen, Indiana 46526
USA
phone: +1 (574) 535-7569
fax: 535-7660
web: arachnid@goshen.edu
other: pr@goshen.edu