Athlete Spotlight: Nikhil Ramani

By Staff Writers Ekasha Sikka & Aaqib Zishan

Since his early childhood, Senior Nikhil Ramani has been honing his skills on the tennis court, now serving as co-captain of Varsity Boys Tennis. His dedication to the sport has earned him not only the title of team captain at MSJ but also a spot on the roster at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), where he will continue his tennis career at the Division III level. 

Ramani first picked up a racket when he was in kindergarten, influenced by his sister’s involvement in the sport competitively. Over time, tennis became more than just a family activity as he developed a strong passion for the sport and established a

challenging routine. “A typical day is probably wake up, go to school, and then eat lunch, and then after school, go to practice, probably from 3:30 to 6:30, and then come home, eat dinner, do some homework, and sleep,” Ramani said. His commitment paid off through numerous accomplishments in his thirteen years of tennis, from helping MSJ Boys Tennis become MVAL champions twice, reach NCS finals, and place third in CIF to maintaining his title as the reigning MVAL singles champion for two years. Ramani’s proudest moment came when he and his doubles partner, Senior Jayden Kim, won the NCS Boys Doubles title in the 2024 season.

However, his success is not just limited to high school tennis. Last summer, Ramani qualified for the United States Tennis Association’s National Level 2 Tournament in Michigan, a major junior tennis tournament, where he played alongside the nation’s top athletes, competing in front of college coaches. He reached the top 150 in the nation for this year’s recruiting class, a national ranking he has maintained throughout high school.

Off the court, Ramani learned to balance his athletic goals with a demanding academic workload. With tournaments often on the weekends, he has to stay consistent and disciplined throughout the week. “[Tennis has] forced me to be productive and stay on top of my work, so I don’t get too far behind … even if I’m really tired [after a tournament], I still have to finish it and get it done,” Ramani said. The sport has also fostered emotional growth in Ramani, as he’s learned how to cope with losses. “Something that I’m not good at is handling the loss … I’ve tried coping with it and just trying to focus on other things.”

Eager to keep growing as a student and athlete, Ramani committed to CWRU this year with plans to extend his tennis career throughout college. “I always knew that I wanted to play past high school, especially in college,” Ramani said. Part of his inspiration for following this path was his sister, who plays collegiate tennis at CWRU as well. His recruitment journey consisted of several back-and-forth emails with college coaches, calls with recruiters, and college visits before eventually getting offers. While his path was longer than others due to many visits and lengthened communication, Ramani believes it ultimately worked out. In college, Ramani hopes to continue pushing his boundaries by reaching the top of his team’s lineup and helping them win a National Collegiate Athletic Association title. 

Looking ahead, Ramani hopes to finish this season by winning NCS singles and helping MSJ Boys Tennis win the NCS title before moving on to college. While he has faced challenges throughout his career as a student-athlete, Ramani acknowledges the large part it has played in shaping who he is today. He encourages young tennis players to be resilient throughout their journey. “Just stick with it. It’s not gonna be easy the whole time. You’re gonna go through ups and downs, but then it’ll all work out, and you’ll end up getting where you want to be,” Ramani said.