>> female: Squash is kind of like racquetball.

>> Renato Paiva: The ball can only bounce once.

The ball must hit the front wall but it can bounce out of every other side and back wall too.

>> Renato: The tin is a piece of metal that comes from the floor.

You're not allowed to hit the ball below the tin.

[music] >> Renato: Guys, the whole idea is tchu, tchu, pow, tchu, tchu, pow.

>> Renato: I've been in this job for 10½ years now and I grew a lot as a human being by learning how to deal with insecurities.

You've got to play an honest game.

I keep saying to my kids, "Doesn't matter if you win or lose.

It's how you win or how you lose."

I have no problem losing but let's give it all out there 'cause losing and you give all out is actually brilliant.

It's relieving, it's kind of cleansing.

It's gorgeous.

But you gotta do it properly.

[music] [music] >> Renato: I think 95% of the world, if you wanna play squash you probably have money.

That's what's exactly we're trying to change it right here.

If my dad didn't have money back then, there was no chance I would be playing squash now.

My name is Renato Paiva.

I'm 32 and I work for Access Youth Academy.

I am the executive director but have coached the kids for the past five years.

My dad was vice president of IBM.

Some of my uncles were politicians and things like that so we come from a good family.

I understand struggles.

We lost all our money at some point.

So if you're 25, 26 years old, I did not really focus my work on giving back.

I didn't.

[music] >> Renato: Preuss is an amazing school.

They're a magnet school.

They serve the same population we wanna serve.

Now, that's a great match.

They serve kids in the free or reduced lunch program as well as kids, their parents could not have gone to four-year college and they have driven kids.

Exactly what we need.

>> Renato: You are here because you were chosen because you're the best that I have to play and because I think you're the one that deserves to win this.

>> Renato: I want efforts.

People that wanna change their lives, regardless if they can hit a squash ball on a high level or not, if they have good grades or not, if they have both Mom and Dad at home or not.

I care if they want to change their lives.

[music] [music] >> Renato: Every year, all the Urban Squash programs in the country compete in this tournament.

It's a team tournament so teams of five players per division.

It is where all of us train the whole year to play, where you can show the pride on the program.

It rotates between New York, Philadelphia, and Boston.

This year's in New York, very special place for a lot of the kids.

Some of these kids only play one tournament a year and that's the one they play and that's the one they can earn a national title.

>> Renato: Eric Milo, the rookie for this tournament, he's a great kid.

During tryouts, he didn't really stand--stood out that much.

And then one of our stations is a running station.

I just make them run as much as they can until they get really tired and then I wanna see if they give up or not.

If they give up, showed weakness.

And Eric Milo has asthma and he had an asthma attack.

He wasn't doing too well but he came back and finished it.

And that, for me, was the checkbox, yeah, he has it.

>> Eric Milo: I'm an only child so I feel like Access are like my brothers and sisters, you know, like my family, you know?

It's just cool to have somebody there, like, all the time.

>> Erik Win: What game is--do you know what game this is?

>> Renato: Erik Win.

Great squash player, great lacrosse player.

He really creates and improve his grades throughout the five years which got him accepted to so many colleges so now he can pick and choose where he wants to go.

>> Erik: One, two, three.

>> all: Access!

>> Erik: I feel like it's an accomplishment, having gone through all these years.

Being able to use everything squash has to send me to college and just always keep your head up, no matter what, supporting everyone.

>> Renato: You know, so the third one is Kevin Vaquera.

Good squash player but overthinks a little bit too much.

That's why he misses a few shots but very athletic.

This kid can run and swim forever.

>> Renato: Shot, Kev.

>> Kevin Vaquera: I plan to major in molecular biology or biochemistry and then maybe in the future undergo some private research or solve some cures for something.

>> Renato: Chuy, you gotta take your time.

Clean your goggles.

Look at your opponent.

Check the score.

Then you serve.

Don't rush it.

>> Renato: "Chuy" Jesus Gomez.

Probably one of our best athletes we've ever had.

Phenomenal squash player.

>> Chuy Jesus Gomez: I feel like I need to stay close to my family 'cause I don't wanna grow up with seeing, like, my little brother not seeing me much as a brother 'cause my parents told me, like, their brothers and sisters don't see them as close because they came over here to America.

That kind of grew them apart and I don't want that to happen to me and my little brother.

>> Renato: Doesn't matter if you win or lose.

It's how you play.

>> Renato: Well, William Kwon is our poster boy as of now.

I mean, William was a chubby little kid when he came in here.

No confidence whatsoever.

To the point now he is probably in the top three or four best urban squash player in the country.

>> William Kwon: I've always had a problem with my family.

I'm always either at squash or at school.

I'm barely home at all.

I had a recent chat with Renato and he said--he's showing I need to balance the squash with my family life.

Right now, I'm trying to, like, slowly bring down the squash and school to, like, help bring up my family relationships.

>> Renato: So Reyna is our number one since second year, probably.

She kind of took the number one spot, never dropped it.

Academically, was a struggle in the beginning.

She approached life, school and squash, the same way: I'm gonna fight for it.

I'm gonna bite the ankles of everyone and get things done.

And she did it.

>> Reyna: When we're teens, you kind of judge our parents a lot and I think because my mom missed out a lot of my teenaged years, especially when I started squash, I always kind of judged her.

But after figuring out who I am and who I'm becoming, is breaking a lot of cycles, especially my mom.

The fact that she was gonna give me up at some point and she stuck with me, she was strong enough to do that, I'm making it worth it.

And that feels good.

>> Renato: Sharon is a extremely intelligent person, phenomenal squash player, understands the game really well.

Comes from a tough family but she learned five years to understand her family and to maximize what--the set-up that she has at home.

>> Sharon: I didn't really have motive behind the things I did.

It was very mechanical but after joining Access things completely changed because I was introduced to having a very large family, very large and dysfunctional one.

That changed a lot of things in my life and has made me who I am today.

>> Renato: All right, --she did it twice with you and you, correct?

You must watch that.

Well done, Tiff.

>> Renato: Tiffany is an absolute rock star.

This is a Team 3 girl that comes after a successful group of girls.

They've been winning, they've been having good grades.

>> Tiffany: My GPA is 4.13.

I have straight A's and my number one dream college is Stanford because, first of all, it's not out of state and has really awesome opportunities.

>> Renato: I have eight girls that can explain--and win.

>> Renato: Hanna is a little, little girl.

She's very small and she plays a big squash.

Hits the ball harder than half of the men in this club.

>> Hanna: I was born in Ethiopia and I'm a junior at the Preuss-- My family decided that, like, the education here was better and then my mom and dad wanted the best for me and my siblings so they decided that if we came here we'd have a better education and we'd do better for ourself.

>> Renato: Warm up.

Active warm-up.

Up and down a little bit, knees up, butt kicks.

Open the gates, close the gate, Frankensteins.

>> Renato: So Marissa is potential next best player.

Very, very agile on court.

>> Marissa: Before, I was really shy and I wouldn't really participate in classes or anything.

I'd be, like, the really smart kid that doesn't say anything, really.

Access really helped me become more who I am today.

Now, my mentality is just, like, play your heart out and show no mercy either.

[music] >> Renato: The girls, Access is like, here we have the title of winning all the time, so.

They're pretty notorious for winning, like, nationals.

>> Chuy: We messed up the first year.

I think the first day we were there we were lacking sleep 'cause we were watching TV.

We got punished pretty bad for that, for not being, like, serious about, like, the business trip.

>> Renato: Morning, guys.

>> female: Morning.

>> female: Morning.

>> Hanna: The difference between the guys' team and the girls' team at Urban Nationals is that they went the first year and they haven't gone since then.

To them it's kind of like a reunion to, like, their friends or the people they met the first year.

Since the girls have gone, like, a couple of times after that, we know the girls there and we know how they play and stuff.

We know what's better in terms of socializing or not.

>> Renato: Guys, we've been waiting for this for four years.

I've been waiting.

Boys, we've gotta win this.

Girls, you've gotta get another one, all right?

>> male: Who are we?

Who are we?

Team on three, team on three.

One, two, three.

>> all: Team!

[music] >> Renato: So I had a pulmonary embolism.

It was--I think it happened a week or a week and a half before the trip so I couldn't fly but that was a bummer, the first time I couldn't go to a tournament and a time that we would have a lot of attention on us with bringing two teams again.

Was a tough moment, I know.

>> Renato: I am gonna talk to the team today because of my incident this past week and, because I'm not going, tell them everything I can expect for them today, how to play, and how to react and how to deal.

And then I'll go to the airport tomorrow and say goodbye and then wait the whole weekend for results.

>> Renato: Logistically, same trip, same thing, so girls have done it over and over again.

The only thing that changes is that it is the last time the seniors will play for Access so it's another day to leave your mark.

I think you carry a little bit of a heavier load today at this tournament because of the boys 'cause you've got to carry your team and the boys' team, although Erik is the captain for the boys' team, 'cause you're senior too, you will need their help.

Okay, have fun, enjoy.

The message for the boys is don't beat yourselves.

Boys, if you believe you're the best of the best of Urban Squash, go out there and show to them that you're the best.

If you don't believe you're the best, you will not come out as a winner.

[girls chattering] >> Renato: So every day we pick up the kids at the school, bring them to squash club.

We train and we study for about an hour each part, one hour of squash, one hour of academics, and then we come back, drop them back at school and then they go home.

>> Eric: On the way there, I was, like, excited, like, this is, like, sitting on the plane with all my teammates and everything just talking about what's gonna happen.

The girls and everything have told me stories about New York and all these things before.

I was just imagining how it would be like, you know?

>> Reyna: I have been to New York to visit and, like, for me, it's just, like, amazing.

It's new.

People are new.

I love people and knowing that all the people that I meet are gonna be from different backgrounds and from different places of the world, for me that was amazing.

>> Erik: I guess, once you hit the city side, it's just a big city.

We're not used to being in the big city.

And even in the, like, the neighborhood sides, it's more like old and unique.

>> Marissa: Our composure's really businesslike because when we went with Renato he always told us this is a business trip.

Since the first year we started, he always put that in our head.

>> Tiffany: This New York trip, I felt really happy that the boys came.

After four--three or four years, this is the first trip and they practiced so hard.

The girls always go to the Nationals and they see the hard work, their efforts, and their energy, their dedication, pay off.

But now, the boys actually get--have, like, a goal in front of them.

>> male: Just cheer for one another.

Support one another and it's gonna be a real good day.

Real good day.

Now we can go inside, stay warm, and do our best.

>> Eric: As soon as I walked inside, oh man, that was, like, the greatest feeling ever.

There was eight courts.

I thought that the room we had was kind of like the room where you get mentally prepared to go play your squash matches.

That's like a totally different environment, like, it was just nice to, like, be around other squash players.

It was exciting.

>> Sharon: I'm a little nervous but I'm not nervous on the match play as much as I'm nervous about going in there and presenting.

Think that that's the most thing that I'm scared of, like, walking in there and being really confident and being together as a team.

I'm confident about today.

One of the things that Renato told us is it's not about whether or not you win or lose; it's how you do it.

And as the captain, I'm more concerned about how we do that and how it's not about going out there and winning 'cause I feel like we're gonna win.

It's about going out there and being really professional about why we're here.

>> Erik: --think I'll end it.

If you know you can, then do it.

If you don't, play your hardest.

That's all, guys.

We wanna play our hardest.

We wanna win.

>> Eric: After practicing with my teammates, I got confident.

I built, like, more stamina than I used to have before.

And I was watching some matches right now and I'm feeling pretty confident about it.

>> Erik: Bring back for Renato, okay?

Who are we?

>> all: Access.

>> Erik: Who are we?

>> all: Access.

>> Erik: One, two, three.

>> all: Access!

>> Chuy: The first match, yeah, I was a bit nervous.

I guess you always have that, like, nervousness.

You want to win but then you don't know how they play and they don't know how you play, but it's whoever wants it most.

>> Reyna: How was it?

How was your match?

>> male: He's up.

He's up two.

>> Erik: I couldn't really see as any match as easy match.

They're all tough matches to me.

You can never go into a game or any type of game situation thinking that this is gonna be an easy match for you.

[clapping] >> female: Just like that!

>> male: Nice-- he's hitting it too high.

Like his cross courts are too high.

>> male: Nice shot, Eric!

>> Erik: With the sharper angle, it'll die down here.

You want it to die down here, okay?

You got this, dude, alright man, c'mon, you know.

>> Eric: I was just, like, so frustrated, I just, like, I started, like, to get really tired and exhausted and I just could not breathe.

>> Erik: Five-six.

Let's go, Eric.

>> Eric: You know, all these things, like, started to build up, like, to the point where I was just like, was really overwhelmed.

>> female: That's it, Erik-- Let's go.

C'mon.

>> female: Inside!

Inside!

Inside, Erik.

It's in here, it's in here.

>> Reyna: Focus.

You can't let that get to you, man.

All of that, all of that's crap that they're giving you in there, all that cheering and all that stuff, don't let it get to you at all.

Go, go, go, go, go.

Go, go, go, go, go.

>> all: Ahh!

[chatter] [cheering] >> William: We're tied 2-2 in New York.

This is our first match and I am really, really nervous.

I feel a lot of pressure that I gotta win.

I've been waiting four years since this moment and we can't lose our first match because there's no point.

>> Reyna: Chuy won so it's all on you, okay?

You close it off like usual, c'mon, c'mon.

>> William: I just felt so much confidence after that I just--I was, like, "I did it.

Like, don't worry about me, guys.

I just--I'll do it."

>> Reyna: Here we go, Willie.

It's on you, man.

>> Reyna: Getting a little nervous, eh?

That's it, that's it, that's it.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

>> Renato: So listen, I wanna say congratulations to everyone, the whole team.

Boys, big win, and I think this win is gonna carry you over hopefully through tomorrow because there's a lot of learning in this win.

>> Reyna: I'm a really hard coach and I don't take, like, my teammate could tell me that they can't do it and I'll probably scream at them and say, "Really?"

Like, I won't be, like, "Oh, sweetheart, you have a lot of attention."

No, I would be, like, "Wake up."

Just like, "Snap out of it," you know?

And I think that that comes a lot from Renato.

Renato is not easy on me and that really influenced the way I approach things.

He doesn't cut me any slack and when he doesn't like something he lets me know it.

If he took it easy on me I don't think I'd be who I am now.

But that definitely does influence the way I approach the game, the way I approach my team, the way I approach any goals, and Urban Nationals was one of them.

[music] >> Renato: All right, guys.

So I think you are about to play the semifinals.

I hope New York's not too cold.

Here in San Diego, it's still very warm.

This is the game that gets a little bit harder.

Don't let anyone beat you.

Don't let yourself beat yourselves.

Play as hard as you can.

Milo, Rookie, play hard.

Erik Win, you've got to deliver a win this time, sir.

And Vaquera, play the best you can, buddy.

I have full trust on you.

Chuy, big match for you coming today so it's time to prove yourself.

And William, c'mon, man.

Number one player, lead this team to a victory.

Girls, do your magic.

Show off.

Just play good squash.

I have no worries about you all.

I'm thinking about you.

Good luck.

>> females: Awww.

>> Renato: It's 9:15 here, 12:15 there and they just walked on court.

The boys and girls are playing the same time the semifinal of Nationals.

On court for the girls right now is Tiffany and Hanna, and for the boys it's Eric Milo, the Rookie, and Erik Win.

>> Erik: I didn't even think we'd be seated at that tournament since we haven't played for so long but we came there and then the best thing came out, we were second so we didn't have to worry about the first season 'til we actually got to finals, if we made it that far.

>> Erik: So we have five players per team.

You go from bottom to tops or fifth player, then fourth, third, second, and our best player plays last.

So out of five players, we've got to win three of them.

>> Eric: My second game, I mean, now that I know how everything goes, like, with the environment, like, and everything, I felt a little bit more confident.

I just felt like I need to, like, get through it.

>> Renato: So Erik wins, player number four.

Number five's playing the Rookie, just nervous and it can be really hard for him to pull through.

>> Renato: So, he's left-handed.

Serve on the other side, and don't make mistakes.

When you make mistakes, you just give the whole game away.

Just keep no mistakes.

>> Eric: Okay.

>> Renato: C'mon, buddy.

Keep it up.

>> Eric: --Thank you so much.

>> Renato: Yeah, go get some water.

[cheering] >> female: Here we go Eric!

>> male: Bring it back, man, bring it back.

>> Renato: Oh, he missed an easy one.

C'mon, relax.

>> Renato: Did he win?

Yes!

Yes, he is.

Yes, that's what I'm talking about.

You were so good, buddy.

You were so good.

That's amazing result.

That's so good.

>> Erik: Thank you.

>> Renato: Well done.

>> William: Erik Win, on his match.

So I'm not worried about him.

Eric Milo, he lost 11-4, 11-4, 11-7 and that is a big difference for a rookie.

He tried.

He pushed everything in his last game and I'm proud of him, even though he lost his match, I'm proud of him.

So, right now, Kevin is tied in games, 1 all, but I think he would do it.

>> male: Erik won his.

You just have to get this together.

If you get this together we're in the next one.

>> William: You know how to move me around.

You know how to move him around, all right?

>> Chuy: Score?

Kevin win it?

>> William: He's 1 all, 1 all, so Chuy, we can do this.

We can do this, c'mon.

>> Renato: Every time you put the ball to the front, sometimes you make mistakes.

Keep that ball back.

And most importantly, you need a strong start.

Start the game very strong.

>> Chuy: Let's go.

>> male: Shot, Chuy.

>> Renato: So we lost the five, we won the four.

We're winning--we're losing at three, we're winning at two.

So out of that, it's gonna be 2-all.

There's the final-- >> male: Yeah, Chuy!

[cheering] >> male: Let's go, Chuy.

>> Erik: C'mon, pull it off.

C'mon, Chuy, I know you can do this.

[cheering] >> Renato: Okay, listen up.

Chuy, last game, last game is all about no mistakes.

Chuy, no mistakes and a loss hurts.

A lot of grit.

Every time you go to the front, if a dropshot, you're missing.

It's--everything you have.

Give me everything you have.

>> Reyna: [speaking foreign language] >> male: [speaking foreign language] Oh boy.

>> Reyna: It means let's go, keep moving forward.

Like, keep going, keep pushing through.

>> Renato: William's 7-5 up, 8-5 up.

C'mon, son.

It's Chuy, man.

It all ends on Chuy.

[cheering] >> Renato: Nine-five, Chuy.

C'mon.

>> male: [speaking foreign language] >> Reyna: Yeah, that's it, c'mon.

That's it, that's it, that's it, that's my Spanish.

[cheering] >> male: Going to finals, man.

>> Erik: You guys, we're going to finals.

Yes, we're going to finals, man.

>> Renato: Hey, listen, now you play in the finals of a national championship you have a chance of making history.

We didn't go to New York to-- We went to New York to win the title, correct?

>> all: Yes.

>> Renato: So don't think the mission's done.

Don't think that the job is over.

There's one more step for the job to be over.

It's to win this last match, okay?

>> all: Okay.

>> Renato: All right, guys, listen.

I love you all, and let's try to win two titles, okay?

>> all: Yeah.

>> William: Like, being the leader's hard.

You have to push yourself while pushing other people along with you and sometimes you help other people so much, like, you don't help yourself out.

>> female: --Chuy.

>> Chuy: Like, I mean, you don't know me.

>> male: You can--do it.

>> male: I know, I know.

You always say, "You guys are gonna win, you guys are gonna win."

>> Kevin: William's kind of been, well, he told us on the trip that he was feeling, like, we don't support him and we don't, like, we don't notice him very much.

I think it's not because we don't really care about him.

It's because we know that he's gonna win already.

>> William: So when I broke down, like, it was a really, really hard feeling.

>> male: --you gotta do it.

We know you can do it.

We need to get other people like Kevin, we need to give him support too.

We know that the support that you gave gives us legs, you know?

Even if it seems like we're not coming to you, we know that you're, like, our teammate, okay?

>> William: Like, I just felt left out from the team.

Everyone was cheering each other on.

They're all--Erik told the other Eric, "Yeah, you can do it.

You can do it."

Kevin told Chuy something, like, "C'mon, let's go."

>> Erik: We love you, man.

>> female: William, I'm never--I feel the same way you feel all the time, man.

I understand you.

I feel the same way all the time.

But you have to understand that they're looking up to you.

That's the only reason why they don't say it to you.

They trust you, okay?

>> William: I was sitting down, I was tying my shoe and I was, like, "Hey, where's my pump up?

Where's my 'Hey, let's go'?"

I just like, felt really, really down about it and just started--I just had a breakdown.

>> male: I'm not gonna-- He's our best player, alright?

>> William: Need support, team.

>> male: Exactly.

We want to give you support.

[crosstalk] >> Reyna: Because William and I are number one in the team, it's kind of always like, everyone knows that no matter what happens, if we're screwed, William and I will pull us off.

William and I don't ever get the support we need just because everyone else is, like, "We have to win because Reyna and William will win anyways," and I completely understand him.

I mean, William and I train every single day and, like, it is really hard to always be expected to win without kind of be told, like, "C'mon, like, you can do this."

We're a team and I think he'll go in there and crush it.

I think that is good.

It's important for you to speak up like that because we wouldn't have known if he didn't say anything.

>> Erik: Who are we?

>> all: Access.

>> Erik: Who are we?

>> all: Access.

>> Erik: One, two, three.

>> all: Access!

[cheering] >> Reyna: The only way that you can win is your mindset, you know?

It's just the way--for you and me, it's just like--almost like--relax and that's it, you know?

Like I say, it's inside of you and if you're gonna win this national title you're gonna win it because you want it.

It's virtually one game down in your pocket, right?

So you guys go with the same mindset that you went--now I want you to go in there thinking that you're 1-0 down.

So go in there thinking that so you have to be extra sharp, okay?

C'mon, focus.

Here we go.

>> Renato: Well, the good news is that Rookie got a game and Kevin had a good game.

He was--we might have a shot at this.

>> male: All right, go on, let's go.

>> Renato: Sharon text me saying that Eric Milo's playing really well.

Although he's losing, he's playing really well.

Rookie, Rookie, playing really good.

It's 3-5 down, one all in games.

>> Renato: Now it's 7-9, 8-9.

Oh Lord.

C'mon.

>> female: That's beautiful, man.

That's beautiful.

>> Renato: It was 5-9.

9 all.

>> Renato: No pressure.

Pure love.

Play because you love it.

He said, "I wanna win this."

He said, "I wanna win this."

>> Reyna: So go in there thinking that you deserve this more than anyone else.

More than anyone else in this frigging tournament.

[cheering] >> Eric: My team was really pumped up.

We were just really pumped up and I just had a feeling that we could do this, like, we're gonna win, like, we got this, you know?

That's what I think made me achieve at least some part of the game that really put the matches below that, you know?

I felt very confident about myself.

>> Marissa: I'm so proud of you.

You had to-- >> Renato: Rookie lost in five, 3-2.

So he lost 3-2.

Kev Vaquera lost 3-1 so we had 2-0 down.

Erik Win's on court right now.

What has to happen, he has to win everything from now on.

>> Renato: If Erik loses, that's it.

So Erik's gotta pull a miracle.

We're not done yet.

So, you guys, keep positive.

>> William: During the finals I knew that Eric Milo, our number five spot, lost.

Kevin Vaquera, our number three spot, lost.

And Chuy just came off.

He won his match so it's 2-1 to Street Squash.

And Erik Win was on at the same time I was on.

I told my opponent personally, in court, "Whatever happens in that court, the match between Erik and Street Squash, it doesn't matter because I'm gonna play you and I don't care what happens.

I'm gonna just play my hardest."

>> Erik: I thought I was doing well.

I thought it was gonna be a good game but, I mean, it came down to that fifth game and once it came down to me as the last player to win, phew, that was the most pressure I've had in, I think, any squash match ever.

>> William: Erik Win comes out.

I come out the same time.

I ask him his score.

He's 1 down.

I--I'm like, "Shoot."

This is just like, this is the truth, this is what's happening in my mind, like, "Shoot, what's gonna happen?

What happens if you lose?"

I just start doubting myself.

I'm, like, "Oh, man, I'm tired.

Can I do this?

Can I--" I just started questioning myself.

>> William: I started to attack a bit more, you know?

Pushing back and attack, pushing back, attack.

Right now I'm just like running around.

I should be mentally fit.

Why?

I don't know why but guess what?

I'm gonna just push it right now and everything should be fine, all right?

[cheering] >> female: I'm pissed.

I'm already pissed.

No I'm just--tell that to the camera.

>> Marissa: We waited four years.

>> Renato: Erik lost 3-1.

He was 6-0 down game.

He came back to 7 all and that was the game.

The National title's gone this year but we played like champions so I'm very happy and we're very proud.

>> Reyna: I don't even know what to say.

They played amazing.

Better player won today, but-- >> Reyna: I loved my team, man.

I love them so much.

>> Reyna: I can't imagine how Erik's feeling right now at all.

Can't imagine.

I don't even wanna look for him.

If I was him I don't wanna talk to anybody.

>> Erik: My job was to win the game.

I couldn't do that.

I couldn't just win the game against a player that I know I should have beaten.

It just really--it just really hit me, like the moment I got off court, I just--I dunno, I just got really emotional really fast.

[music] >> William: So I go back in.

I just, like, lost all my focus.

I just felt tired, just like, "What's happening?

Boom, I just lost the fourth game."

And that's how the finals was.

I just was really distracted.

>> Erik: The girls' team is, in my opinion, I wouldn't say, like, the heart of the program but they're really important to the program 'cause, I mean, they are, like, undefeated champions at Nationals right now.

Like, they haven't lost in the, I think it's, four or five years.

>> Hanna: The first thing we have to actually do is focus on our matches and focus on the things we're there to do.

>> Reyna: That's it, Marissa.

>> Reyna: Play her like you--like it was me on those rallies, that you wanted to beat me really high?

Play her like that, okay?

Here we go.

>> Chuy: I just think that the girls really put an effort into being that high and they really deserve to be that high.

>> Eric: The girls did amazing.

They just went out there and won game after game after game.

It was just like--it was just amazing to watch.

>> Renato: If you think about a team match, like a five team match, what happens is it's momentum.

Everything's carry momentum.

College squash is the same way but nine matches instead of five.

And if you win 1-2, 2-0 up, anyone that wins the match closes.

And I think we lost a little bit of that on the order we were playing.

Girls rode through.

Last time this team played together they should finish in a strong note and they did.

The boys had a very tough quarterfinal, semifinal, and final but they win through the first two matches.

Winning matches 3-2, it's rough, it's emotional, so it takes a toll on you emotionally.

We always want to win everything and I'm one of those guys too.

But you've gotta be proud of what they have done and I am.

>> William: New York was amazing, ha, ha.

It was, like--it was the best experience I've ever had.

I hope we can go next year.

I feel good.

[music] >> Renato: The biggest tournament we have this year and I'm looking forward to being able to be there for the kids.

>> Reyna: When I was training, I was never training for Urban Nationals.

I was always training for Yale.

Every time I get on court I was training for Yale.

I was training for Yale.

>> Renato: Historically, Access, when we play a first year on any given event, so five years ago we played the Urban Nationals first time and we lost, and the second year we did a much better job.

So the butterflies were not there anymore when we played again.

Last year was the first time we played High School Nationals so we're coming back this year with a little bit more experience behind us and I feel confident.

Of course, the competition is extremely hard.

>> Yan: I actually enjoy playing three.

I think it's an honor to be number three on such a strong team.

It makes me proud of myself that I can be in such a position playing against all these other big, you know, strong girls from these private schools.

>> Reyna: I would like for us to get on court together a lot more because these teams are training and competing against each other on the weekends and we, we don't have any other team that's that strong to compete against.

>> Ana: Reyna, I think that she has had a really strong impact on us because she does care so much about squash and she's the one that's always pushing us to do our best.

>> Renato: Fourteen hundred kids play this event in the same weekend.

All the main players and coaches in this country is gonna be at New Haven this weekend.

Just to be part of it is--has humbling experience as a coach, humbling experience for the kids to be there.

We're just very honored to be part of it.

>> Reyna: Today's a really important day because we're flying out tonight to go play High School Nationals and tomorrow we will be landing in New York City which is kinda great 'cause that's the city I will be living in, in, like, five months.

>> Renato: So I do, as a coach, want the kids to win their first match, the first round.

Then draw off 16 and if we win the first round, we're automatically top 8 in the country.

And if we lose the first round, we are gonna finish between 9 and 16th.

So it would be great to win our first round.

We've never done that before.

As a coach, that would be the ultimate.

But what is my final goal in this journey, in this tournament, is making sure the kids finish as strong in their careers at Access the way they started.

>> Renato: So the first round, we play this tough team from Philadelphia, so you've gotta win four out of seven matches.

They're very strong, one, two, and three.

But we have a very four, five, six, and seven.

So I feel--it feels like it's a fair match, you know?

My predictions are probably 4-3 either way.

>> Renato: Interesting, because I'm 32.

I've played high level competitive squash but I'll tell you something.

The biggest butterflies I've had in years is this event right here.

Because I know that--how important it is, so I just cannot give that to the girls because it's too intense.

They'll get--they'll get nervous.

>> Renato: So we're right here.

We play today at 2 at courts 7 and 8.

So let's check out our courts 7 and 8, see how we can do that.

>> Reyna: One, two, three.

>> all: Access!

>> Renato: You just need to have a little bit more attitude on your shot, okay?

Do you believe you can still win this or no?

'Cause this is the game.

It's the game you gotta win.

So you're gonna fight for everyone, correct?

C'mon, let's do it.

>> Renato: Meaning, like, if we lose this Hanna match, we'd be in trouble.

We've probably lost.

Three and one are gonna probably get this so there's a little swing match.

>> Renato: Could be a little bit more edgy.

Why not?

But you gotta build it up.

You can't go for--build it up.

>> Reyna: Okay.

--that's it.

>> Renato: That's fine.

And if the person isn't even there, you gotta hit it, okay?

Take your time, breathe.

You're playing really well, really well.

>> Renato: For the record, we're still in the game.

If you win yours, 3-2; and they win that one, 3-3.

We win.

>> Renato: We just got very unlucky in the game with Hanna but everyone else played the best.

Beyond the loss, played her best squash.

Sharon, gorge-- Reyna, she played like a queen, like her name says.

Just that the other team's a bit too strong for us.

>> Renato: Right, so listen up.

My comments on the match.

I think we played the best match of our lives.

You left, I felt, and I have never said that in my life, to any player in my life, you left everything you had in that court.

>> Renato: Today, so today they toured the tournaments.

We had a great match, we lost it 5-2, and today we play in about an hour from now.

We play a team called Kaft, a traditional strong team.

They played this--they had this recruit from Malaysia's playing number one.

But I think it says a good match up front again.

>> Renato: So today you go after them.

The idea, guys, the idea today is to get in the lead--in the lead of the whole match.

Seven matches, we've got to get one, two, three wins early.

Because it would be really, really bad if you let one or two matches slip away from us and then we cannot come back.

>> Renato: You have enough squash to handle her.

So get at the game and start enjoying it.

I want you to understand this.

Main court, glass court, is your future.

So today is when you're gonna learn to embrace the moment.

And your best squash is gonna happen right now.

>> Renato: That was too early, that was too early.

Stay in the game a little longer, Reyna.

Stay in the game.

Remember what Sarah said?

If someone's better than you, stay in the game?

Okay.

>> Renato: It's very important to get schooled here and there.

It's a humbling experience.

So I thought it was good, but that's what happens when you play someone that level.

Same way you go to Urban National and school some kids.

They come back at you and just school you as important.

So--but I thought you put a right fight.

That's the most important thing, put a right fight.

If you wanna play high level squash, Reyna, that's what it is.

People clapping, people--Marissa, do me a favor and embrace the moment.

Enjoy the moment.

>> Marissa: Might be the only time I'm gonna play in a glass court.

>> Renato: At a Yale and a glass court, you're gonna enjoy and embrace the moment.

>> female: Go Marissa!

>> Renato: All right, so listen up.

Here's my comment about today.

I think I have put too high of a bar for you guys and I think my bar for you guys, you don't think you belong where you think you belong.

But as the bottom line I think I have expected too much of you.

For that I am sorry.

There was no heartbeat inside Access today.

And that's sad because I think we are the most passionate group that I've ever worked with.

But the great thing about mistakes is that you can always come back and do a better job, okay?

So let's do a better job.

We're competing now from 13 to 16th place.

We can end up in the draw at 16th or 13th.

>> Reyna: I'm not even--what I'm gonna say, it's gonna be really short and I'm really frustrated.

I'm frustrated because we're a team and I think that we have two captains here and I think we should listen to one just as much as we should listen to the other.

I think that we need to be a team.

And I can't tell you that I'm gonna go out there and win every match.

I can't because there really, in Urban Squash, I can tell you to count on my matches.

I can't tell you that now.

I just got bageled against a really good girl out there and I still can sit in front of you here today and tell you that I gave my heart out there.

Your teammate is really tired and she needs rest.

And I was trying to make us be a team.

I don't care about how I'm feeling, okay?

I'm trying to make sure that we're all okay and that we're all excited about this.

And that we can all laugh about this, yet be really motivated about it.

Lawrenceville asked me to play for them last year.

They asked me to leave this team and play for them.

I would never switch any one of you to play for anyone else because I believe in each and every one of you, again, this is why I get frustrated.

This is my last year here.

It's Sharon's last year here.

So I'm not telling you to go out there and win.

I'm just telling you to go out there and give your best and think about your teammates.

So always, when you're under and you feel like you can't run anymore, Tiff, 'cause your legs are dead, remember that each and every one of us are proud that you're part of this team and I wouldn't change any of you for that.

So just go out there and show that 'cause that's why you wear this T-shirt.

>> Renato: So Lawrenceville is a great school, a lot of tradition in squash and they beat us last year pretty easily.

But I think the girls are taking this to heart and making it half personal, meaning that they wanna really wanna play them back.

And in--and it's the last time if they lose today they are done with playing together.

So if that's not enough for you to play hard, what is it?

>> Renato: Okay, so quick little comments.

Number one, end of a tournament, mid to the end of a tournament is always tiring.

Everyone has issues.

Your trainer is taping three guys right now.

Everyone has issues.

People drop out, things like that, okay?

We're still--we're still good, we're still alive, correct?

So let's make sure that we count.

Everything that we have has got to count.

And my two comments for this game is I'm gonna shut my mouth and let you guys play, and let you guys speak through your racquets today, okay?

>> Renato: Here we go.

>> Renato: Here we go, Sharon.

>> Renato: So this thing was much better because the only thing you did wrong--everything did right.

Only thing that wasn't great and you made three--drops too early.

Okay, hold on.

So what I would like to do is continue to maintain the focus.

>> Renato: Yeah, girl.

One more!

>> Renato: Here we go!

>> Renato: Well done.

>> Renato: So today, you had attitude.

You agree?

Now there's spark.

Now there's blood in their mouth.

That's good.

>> Renato: Reyna's playing Jenny and they have played in the past and Reyna has lost in the past, 3-1.

>> Reyna: When I was playing Jenny Sherrill, that's her name, I'll never forget.

Last year, like, we played High School Nationals, I lost against her, 3-1 or something, or like, 3-0.

She crushed me.

>> Renato: Very good fight.

Very good.

In the beginning, you feel a little tense so you establish a little bit more patient game.

Doesn't have to be a silly game.

But pick your spots when you go back, okay?

Okay, when you go back in there, a little bit more positive, a little bit more focus, a little bit more sharp.

[clapping] >> Renato: Thank God.

>> Reyna: It was a very physical match and then I thought that she had won the game already and then they played a let instead of giving a stroke.

>> female: Play.

Reyna!

>> female: Reyna!

>> female: It was just a let.

>> Reyna: 'Cause there were so many things going on on court that wasn't just squash.

Like, it was like--it was very physical game.

I was really tired so when I'm tired I just get more angry and then all these, like, calls were being thrown at me and, like, the girl, like, was running into me and I was running into her and it was just--it was very physical.

And so when I looked outside of court, I don't know if it was the fourth game, but Renato had left and then Tim had sat down.

>> Renato: I'm finished.

She's looking for answers on me.

I come back, she's looking at me.

See, she's looking at me.

I wanna get out of here.

>> Tim: Just go, don't even look at her.

>> Renato: No, well, I'm out of here.

>> Reyna: So when that happened, I thought that Renato had sent Tim to coach me and that he was, like, done coaching me 'cause he had told me, "You're looking outside for answers."

>> Renato: Reyna.

>> Reyna: You gave up on me.

>> Renato: Reyna.

>> Reyna: You left me, Renato.

>> Renato: Reyna, I don't have--I don't have the answers for you.

If I watch the game, you look for the answers on me.

Are you listening?

I don't have the answers for you.

>> Reyna: You told me you would support me.

>> Renato: I am supporting you but you're looking at me as I am playing for you.

I cannot play for you.

I have zero power off the court.

Now, the reason I left is the only way you're gonna try to figure out the way to win.

You're gonna go to Jenny there.

You won the first game actually quite easily.

You're gonna go back in there and do the same thing.

Take the breath out of her lungs, then beat her, okay?

I don't know how, order of shots to beat her.

I don't know.

You're gonna find out on your own.

And I'm gonna sit down.

I'm gonna actually go upstairs, I'm gonna cheer for you.

I'm gonna only cheer for you.

You get that?

Okay, c'mon.

If you don't think you're gonna win, sweetie, you're not gonna win.

I'm gonna go there and cheer for you.

C'mon.

>> Reyna: Renato expects so much from me all the time that I wanted to deliver and I wasn't able to--like, I felt like it was impossible for me to deliver and at some point in my mind I kind of was just like, "I'm not gonna deliver it."

>> Reyna: Then when the match was over and I went to talk to Renato, he started to say to me about, like, how I'm gonna be able to grow a lot more when I'm in college by myself.

>> Renato: You want me be honest with you again, correct?

>> Reyna: Yeah.

Don't be nice.

>> Renato: If you were trying to win a match like that, in a level like that--girls from 1 to 4, top 17 in the country.

She'd be 1 to 4, top 19 in the country.

She'd be a high college player.

You're going to play her in college.

She was the one arguing for let.

She was the one pushing and shoves you.

What were you doing?

See, you get teary-eyed, where's Renato?

That was your worry.

My point is the mental aspect is huge, Reyna.

I'm not criticizing if I was up or not.

One having mental issues, one's fighting.

Who's gonna win?

It's obvious.

And that's the thing.

You've got to be doing it.

You've got to find the consistency in your mental ability.

>> Reyna: My coach leaving me when I feel like--I didn't feel like it was the right thing.

Like, for that game, that I feel like if you would have stayed--I just didn't feel--felt like when you left me, I just felt like-- >> Renato: Why is anything--why is anything about to do with me?

Reyna, you're completely off.

You're completely off.

You're--it's not a novella.

For you, it's a novella.

For you, it's got, like, twists and turns to a movie.

It's not.

This is how you handle games.

I handle professionally.

A, B, C. Play like Marissa now.

She lost to-- "We're gonna do this," you know, we handle it.

"Is Renato watching me?"

It's off.

That's the reason you're falling behind on the pack of great players.

That's the reason.

That's why you need to go to Columbia and play squash because your mind is not in the right place to play the high level you wanna play.

Do you understand that?

That's it.

You should have won this game.

And this game's gonna haunt you for a long time.

>> Renato: First off, congratulations.

You know, it's a lot of sweat, a lot of tears.

It's hard to win a match.

Of course, it's cereb for us to beat someone that beat us last year.

It's awesome.

So, to the whole team congratulations.

Teams and coach, congratulations.

And give us one more chance to play as a team tomorrow morning.

>> Renato: So today, here's what I'm gonna ask you guys to do.

I'm asking you to give your best effort today, your best energy.

Better than the first game, better than the second or the third, because you owe it for the seniors.

So this is the last time you guys play for an Access team.

Bottom line is this.

We've got--it's five to eight.

We've got 2½ hours to show how strong Access is.

Every match, we've gotta show how strong Access is, okay?

So we're gonna get going and I would like to remember that this is our last match as a team and we're gonna prove to us that we can play the highest level and let's get the 13th place which is my lucky number.

>> Renato: Nice shot.

>> Renato: Good shot.

>> Renato: Keep your mind into it, you're gonna be fine.

Keep your fight, okay?

This one, it's gonna end up being the one that wants the most.

>> Renato: It was actually a good game.

It was a good game and the reason you lost once again is because-- >> Sharon: I didn't want it.

>> Renato: I think she wants it more than you, I agree.

But on top of that, you were making some stupid decisions.

>> Sharon: At that point, I was just done.

It wasn't--I felt bad but at the same time I just, you know, it was--I didn't even--it's kind of complicated because for the last five years of my life I've played squash and I've loved it and I was just fed up with it.

But I never expected to feel that way but I did and it's one of those things that you just can't explain but just happens.

>> Renato: Listen, you do well, and call well.

So the best ever will play this tournament, yeah?

Okay, breathe.

You played well, you played good.

And you're frustrated at losing it.

I know, I know.

But you fought well.

She was very good.

>> Renato: Good shot, Hanna.

>> Renato: So listen, listen to me.

Listen to me.

So we're 2-0 down.

I think Hanna's gonna win her match.

We'll be 2-1.

I'm taking Yan to lose her match.

We're gonna be 3-1 down, right?

The only way we're gonna win this is through both of three guys win.

So you gotta really, really put your battle game forward.

Don't worry about her match.

You worry about your match.

Your match and your match.

You know what you can do, correct?

You know what your strengths are?

And you know how good you are, yeah?

But listen, we are in the game.

We're gonna be--we are 2-0 down now.

You're gonna be 3-1 down and you're gonna win 4-3 if you believe that.

Believe in your strengths.

You've done great this tournament.

Now it's time to really play the point, and let's let the team feel the energy of you coming back.

>> Renato: Good play.

>> Renato: --we are down 3-1 so it's a tough day so far.

But Tiffany's playing okay and Reyna's stepping up so if we do well we can go 3 all and then Marissa has to decide the game.

So far it's been a tough match for us.

But we're still in the game.

I think we could have a shot.

>> Renato: I like much more when you push--the backhand.

Much more.

So I know that you're gonna play, you're gonna play some balls here, that's fine.

But don't be afraid to attack that side too 'cause she's much weaker.

She's much stronger here than she is there.

You know, if you take her out of the picture, they're done, okay?

And this--for 45 minutes just play great squash tonight, okay?

We discussed the major issues there in existence.

So it's just squash today.

>> Renato: Here's the thing.

When she came out, I heard her saying, "Oh, I can't do this.

I'm frustrated."

That's where you want her.

If she gets out of frustration, she maybe can play better.

No, you're on top of her now on two levels, yeah?

You got to keep the pressure on her.

You put the ball here more often.

She hates it.

And then when she thinks it's gonna go here, you go other way.

And then you play a drop shot.

I love it.

Now, finish it off as if you were 2-0 down, that's a good thing, okay?

You're gonna go after her.

Finish it.

Then if you win this win today, we are 3 all, okay?

C'mon.

>> Renato: Now, your energy level is great because it's above hers.

You've gotta maintain it that way, okay?

If you win the second game, sweetie, she's done.

You getting me?

This is the game you've gotta play well.

Play well.

[music] >> Renato: One more.

That's what I'm talking about.

>> Tim: That's match.

>> Renato: Yeah.

>> Marissa: So I knew it was 3 all when--you could tell when her match ended: everyone came to my court and it was really packed while I was warming up too.

>> Renato: And I wanna see you in that zone you always get, you know what I mean?

Where you play great squash?

You think you're gonna do it?

Tell me you're gonna do it.

>> Marissa: I'm gonna do it.

>> Renato: Okay, that's it.

I have full trust in you, girl.

Here we go.

>> Marissa: I think I was still kind of nervous just from that whole, like, sense that, like, my match, like, decided on if we were winning or not.

[cheering] >> Marissa: I knew I could beat her though because when I win, like, 8 points over someone and then if I lose the last 2 based on, like, a really, like, stupid shot or something, I normally think, like, "Oh well, if I avoid this, then I can beat her."

And I think in the first two games I was trying out different ways to beat her.

>> Renato: All you gotta do is keep the ball in play, deep enough and good length enough that she cannot attack you.

>> female: Yes, Marissa!

>> Renato: Excellent.

>> Tim: Well done.

>> Renato: Excellent because you did what you were supposed to do.

Keep the ball in play, keep her moving, keep her going.

Very important to take a big lead in the beginning.

Why is that?

Her hope.

Don't let her hope.

If she feels good, she-- By the minute, she was getting tired, correct?

So what's she gonna do?

She's gonna go short.

You wanna shoot.

You know what shoot means?

Go hard and low at you guys.

Just make sure you cover that, okay?

She likes to go from the forehand to the backhand.

Make sure you cover that, okay?

Out of that, sweetie, you keep putting the ball--you know, like a back wall.

Do you know what a back wall means?

You hit the ball back.

Everything comes to you, you hit it back.

>> female: Nice, Marissa.

>> Renato: C'mon, Marissa.

One more.

>> Renato: If you can only do one side, you gotta make her go one side to the other, one side to the other, okay?

You're playing great.

If you do the same thing again, Marissa, take a good start, take her breath away from her, it's not gonna be on the rally.

It comes from your points, are taking the lead.

You heard me?

Take the lead, get the air out of her lungs.

>> Marissa: Like, I'll be honest.

When people were cheering against me in the last three games, I liked it because I was, like, "Oh, you know what?

Like, yeah, that's right, I'm gonna beat her and there's nothing you can do to stop that."

[cheering] >> Renato: One more now.

>> male: You got it, Marissa.

[cheering] [cheering] >> Marissa: When I won, I just felt really, really good because I knew it was Reyna and Sharon's last time playing with us.

For all of us it was kind of an important moment.

Once we won, like, we could say the last match we played at Yale we won, like, as a team.

And I just liked being able to, like, kind of give that to them in a sense.

[music] [music] >> Sharon: I think the energy I used to cheer was more than the energy in my own match.

It's been a good five years.

I think it's time for me to graduate, to go.

I'm tired.

>> Reyna: I'm really happy, but at the same time sad because, I mean, it was the last match for my team.

>> Renato: They took a leap like I did.

They deserve all the credit that I keep gaining from everyone in the community.

They deserve the same or even more.

And I think the original batch of 18 kids, they are pioneers and visionaries and I love them for doing that.

>> Reyna: So right now I'm ranked, I believe, 78 in the world for student squash professionals.

I did decide to do squash after college.

So five years from now I would have liked to have broken the top 30 in the world.

Hopefully, I have enrolled in a master's program.

I would like to pursue a career as a diplomat for the US.

Hopefully, I get started on that but right now the biggest thing for me is my development in squash-wise.

But hopefully I can also do a lot of all that cool stuff to impact our country.

[music] >> Chuy: Ever since sophomore year, I have been in construction management and I am currently entering my fifth year and hopefully in May I'll be able to get my diploma.

And you always wanna improve yourself and your situation and, growing up in this neighborhood, like, I see, like, how much my parents, like, work hard day after day and how they have given me a chance to actually get an education, finish my degree, and moving on to better things in life.

>> Ana: The most important thing that I got out of it was just a support system.

Like, even when I was in college, like, I would contact Renato or, like, Access staff like when I needed anything.

Just when I needed someone to talk to, like, when I needed help academically, like, they were always there.

So just having the support system.

>> Yan: Every tournament and every event that we've been to since I was in Access has been a fight.

It was never easy.

We prepared and we trained really hard.

And it sort of instilled a value in me: as long as I work hard and I train hard I can get to where I want to be.

>> Eric: It's honestly inspiring, getting to see other places, being from a place like City Heights or, you know, somewhere in Logan, you're closed into, like, this environment where you are set up for failure.

But being able to see other routes and being able to see the rest of the world and other places in the country is motivating because you know that there's something else besides your reality.

[music] [music] >> Renato: For me, I was driving the van, I was doing deck-to-deck mix, I was doing the squash, I was doing everything so it was very present, it was very raw.

So I think--and everyone felt that.

So this program now is not that way anymore just because of growth.

I couldn't keep up that intensity for 10 years or 20 years but I miss it.

I loved every bit of it.

I loved--I loved everything about it.

[music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> male announcer: Support for this program comes from the KPBS Explorer Local Content Fund supporting new ideas and programs for San Diego.