uses tennis as a road to his passion of directing film

University of Illinois.”

“I watched him play and I was like ‘hey, I want to do what he’s doing,’” Dev said. “He definitely inspired me to pick up the racket.” college that has a tennis team,” Dev said. “I was looking around all over Southern California and Pierce was the only junior college that had a tennis team.”

Schedule

March 30- April 13

Softball

Thursday, March 31 vs. Moorpark 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 2 vs. Barstow 12 pm. and 2 p.m.

Tuesday, April 5 @ Oxnard 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Wednesday, April 6 vs. El Camino Torrance 3 p.m.

Thursday, April 7 @ Santa Barbara 2:30 p.m.

Swim and Dive

WSC #3 @ LA Valley 10:30 a.m.

Men’s Volleyball

Wednesday, March 30 vs El Camino 6 p.m.

Student athletes often dream of making it as a professional athlete, which would catapult them into a lifestyle worthy of an MTV Cribs episode. However, Kiran Dev is using his tennis talent to send him in a different direction.

Dev has his goal set to become a film director.

“If you look at becoming a pro tennis player versus becoming an actor or director in the film industry, only a small percentage of people in the world can do it,” Dev said.

Dev is originally from Chicago and started his tennis career at a young age.

“I started playing tennis when I was in 7th grade,” Dev said. “I was getting a little bit too chubby, so I stepped out on court as a way of getting a workout.”

Dev’s passion for the sport stretched beyond a weight loss program after being inspired to take his performance to the next level by one of his early mentors.

“Because of one coach, I actually fell in love with the game and I started competing in Chicago,” Dev said. “His name is Austin Solis, he played [Division 1] tennis for the

Along with the inspiration found from his prior coach, Dev also had family who inspired him to take to the court.

“My cousin was in the top five in India for tennis, so I guess you could say tennis runs in the family,” Dev said. “He was a lot better than me and he’s also one of my inspirations.”

“His name is Mangal, he played for the University of Hawaii at Hilo, he played division two tennis here,” Dev said Dev, knowing that his potential to become a professional tennis player was limited, sought to take his talents into the film industry.

“Every kid who starts playing sports, they want to play professional, which I couldn’t do,” Dev said. “By the end of my senior year in high school I realized my calling was film, so I wanted to concentrate on film and that’s why I picked Los Angeles.”

Deciding Los Angeles would be the location to start a career in film, Dev looked to increase his opportunities for success in Los Angeles by seeking a school who, along with film, also offered a program in tennis.

“When I picked Los Angeles, I said I might as well find a junior

“It was one of the best decisions ever,” Dev said.

Along with finding an appreciation for the school, playing tennis and studying film at the college has helped Dev distinguish the difference in sports and the film industry.

“One thing about sports is, if you’re successful you’re going to climb the ranks and you’re going to become professional,” Dev said. “In film you can be the greatest actor or greatest director but if you don’t have the right context it doesn’t mean anything, you’re not going to get the chance to perform.”

Reflecting on his time as an athlete at the college, Dev expressed his gratitude for the relationships he has built.

“This is my last season of tennis and I’m very fortunate to have worked with two great coaches,” Dev said.

“He’s our motivator,” teammate Nick Kerhulas said. “He’s our Captain America.”

Comparing his coach from last season, Rajeev Datt and his current coach, Long Dao, Dev can see the strong contrast in the coaching styles.

“Dao is the exact opposite of Rajeev. Rajeev has got that drill sergeant mentality, I like to call him fire, and I like to call Long, ice,” Dev said. “Long is very cool and he’s very simple. He likes to keep things very short, and he tells us what we need to do on court to win, so he’s a great coach.”

“One thing I have to mention about Long is he is a great role model for all of us,” Dev said. “Because he’s working full time, he’s coaching at Pierce and he’s getting his masters degree at California State University Long Beach.”

The tennis team practices at the Warner Center tennis facility due to eroded courts at the college, according to Dev.

“I wish they could do something about the courts, because the condition of the courts is terrible,” Dev said. “It’s very bad, we cannot play. It has gotten to the point where if somebody plays on those courts they could get injured.”

Bob Lofrano, the director of athletics for the school recognizes the need for repair of the tennis courts on campus.

“Repair is definitely needed,” Lofrano said. “At one time repair was supposed to be three courts every year.”

A lack of funds required to repair the courts is what is holding back the completion of a much needed overhaul, according to Lofrano.

“I think the only thing that’s going to save those courts is if we get another bond passed,” Lofrano said. “When you have a crack in the surface and you’re not looking because you’re looking at the ball, that’s dangerous.”

Dao, also recognizing the need for repairs to the courts, aspires to upgrade and update all courts on campus.

“The courts definitely need some work. I know it’s been over 10 years since any court had been resurfaced,” Dev said. “I would love to have all nine courts redone with additional renovations to ensure their longevity.”

Friday, April 1 @ Long Beach 6 p.m.

Wednesday, April 6 @ Santa Monica 6 p.m.

Friday, April 8 vs. Moorpark 6 p.m.

Wednesday, April 13 vs LA TradeTech 6 p.m.

Baseball

Thursday, March 31 vs. Oxnard 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 2 @ Oxnard 1 p.m.

Tuesday, April 5 @ Moorpark 2:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 7 vs. Moorpark 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 9 vs. Hancock 1 p.m.

Tuesday, April 12 @ Hancock 2:30 p.m.

Women's Beach Volleyball

Friday, April 1 vs. Antelope Valley and Ventura @ Ventura 10 a.m.

Friday, April 8 vs. Rio Hondo and El Camino @ El Camino 10 a.m.