West Point, to thee
Anant Mundra, Men's Tennis
What's Next…
It’s easy to take things for granted. You don’t know what they mean to you until they’re gone. Sure, this may be cliché. But, as I’ve recently come to learn, there is no greater truth.
Not too long ago, I was laying in the warm sand of Miami Beach and in the blink of an eye, my world changed. Our world changed. On March 12th, 2020, the Patriot League elected to cancel all athletic competition. A few hours later, the NCAA announced the cancellation of all winter and spring sports. This effectively retired all senior athletes. When I heard the news, my world stopped. There was no more next season. This was IT.
I immediately called my parents and told them the news. They could hear the sadness in my voice, but they could not relate. While our world was experiencing a pandemic, how could I worry about my tennis season? Instead, they congratulated me on a fruitful 15 years and expressed their pride in all I had accomplished in the sport. They recommended I do the same. And I did. I felt sorrow but I also felt relief. It was finally over. I would miss fighting on the courts with my brothers, but I welcomed the beginning of new endeavors. So, I said my goodbyes and walked off the courts with my brothers, one last time.
But, through all its negatives, COVID-19 has provided me with the greatest resource: time. Time to spend with my family, time to catch up with old friends, and, most importantly, time to reflect.
COVID-19 has affected everyone. Heck, here I am writing this note between virtual classes, confined to my California home. But, through all its negatives, COVID-19 has provided me with the greatest resource: time. Time to spend with my family, time to catch up with old friends, and, most importantly, time to reflect. Through this, I have been able to reflect on my journey to and through West Point. And there is nothing else I can say but thank you.
My Journey
I was amazed by West Point’s and Army Tennis’ culture. I knew it was somewhere I could succeed and become a better version of myself. So, I committed to the unknown.
Throughout my childhood, Saturday mornings meant tennis. And I hated the sport. Tennis was my enemy. My parents would drag me to the courts, tolerate my tantrums, and reward me for simply hitting the ball over the net. Little did I know it would shape me into who I am today.
Slowly, it grew on me. I began to play twice a week, then four times a week, and then every day. Ultimately, rain or shine, I would be on the courts. I vividly remember my mother and I playing during a downpour. When the rain got heavier, we would sit under the bench, hoping for it to pass.
Senior year came around and I had not yet chosen a college. Coach Poling and Coach Rowley had both flown out to watch me practice, but my heart was not fully set on Army. It was during my visit that everything changed. I was in awe. I was amazed by West Point’s and Army Tennis’ culture. I knew it was somewhere I could succeed and become a better version of myself. So, I committed to the unknown.
Lessons Learned
Tennis has shaped me. Through all the ups and downs, I owe who I am to tennis. It taught me to wear my heart on my sleeve, to never go down without a fight and to be gracious in victory. But these lessons did not come easily.
Hard work:
I was never the most talented. I was never the smartest. But I know how to work. My work-ethic truly developed at West Point. In the classroom and on the court, hard work, grit, and dedication is what provided me with results. And tennis taught me this. It taught me to work until I could work no more, and then some.
Live in today. Tomorrow is uncertain:
In 2017, we defeated both Air Force and Navy, securing a berth in the NCAA Tournament. In 2018, we beat Air Force. These victories were sweet but left much to be desired. Last year, we lost to Navy in the finals of the Patriot League Tournament, after holding a championship point. This final year, co-captain Myles Conlin and I agreed to go all-in. Tennis was our #1 priority. We would not have anything left to give to Army Tennis by the end of it. This meant beating Air Force. This meant beating Navy. And playing in the NCAA Tournament, one last time.
Throughout this past season, we embodied the motto “Ock Wants A Ring” in honor of our senior teammate Will Ockerman, who did not win a ring with us in 2017. But we did not get to see this play out. What we got to see, however, was our plebes flourish from new cadets to elite players. Our yearlings, grow and prepare to lead the team after our departure. We were able to celebrate Army-Navy and Spring Break together, as one. At the time, we were so focused on our goals. But what was important was each victory, each loss, and each moment we had together.
We are the future:
Our generation is society’s future. Many may scoff when hearing NCAA seniors’ sorrows about the cancellation of intercollegiate athletics. What they don’t understand, however, is that these sports gave us our identities. They were our best friends and our worst enemies. They taught us the hardest lessons. And, most importantly, they made us the people we are today. In the future, may it be in the Army, or in a civilian career, we will use these lessons. Therefore, it is our responsibility to pay this forward.
Thank you Army Athletics
Thank you, Army Athletics. Thank you for the moments, lessons, and the people. Thank you, Sam Lampman and Grant Reichmann for shaping Myles and I. Thank you for being great leaders. Thank you, Mikey Sienko for showing us all what “blue collar” truly means. Thank you, Grant Patterson for showing us what it means to be a great teammate. Thank you, coaches for the guidance and mentorship. And, finally, thank you to ALL my brothers whom I have fought with over the years.
So, one Patriot League Championship and 3 star-match victories later, I say goodbye to the sport that has given me so much … What’s next?