TEMPE, Ariz. — Over the course of the 2025-26 college tennis season, members of the ITA Student-Athlete Council will be featured in monthly spotlights that will give the greater college tennis community an inside look at some of our Student-Athlete Council members and what they are accomplishing on and off the court.
The next spotlight of the season features Rohan Murali, a junior at Harvard University whose college experience and on-campus involvement has been built on helping others and bringing more awareness to the vast opportunities available to student-athletes.
“It is a privilege to play a role in increasing student-athletes’ awareness of these opportunities and in supporting them as they navigate the diverse pathways that college tennis can offer.”
Read more about Rohan in this spotlight below:
Why was it important to you to apply to the ITA Student-Athlete Council, and what does it mean to you to represent college tennis athletes from across all levels of play, as well as specifically the level of play where you compete?
Being a college tennis player over the past few years has been an unparalleled experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything. It has been a transformative experience that has allowed me to advance my academic and athletic aspirations, while developing as a person.
By serving on the ITA Student-Athlete Council I am deeply committed to giving back to my fellow student-athletes by helping ensure that current and future generations enjoy the strongest possible opportunities and support during their college careers. It is a privilege to play a role in increasing student-athletes’ awareness of these opportunities and in supporting them as they navigate the diverse pathways that college tennis can offer.
In your role as a Crimson Comeback Mentor, you work specifically with injured athletes. What is the most important piece of advice you give to players struggling to keep a positive frame of mind when they are sidelined from the sport they love?
For me, the most important piece of advice is to keep showing up for not only your team but also yourself. Finding ways to stay involved within your team, whether that’s supporting your teammates or being present at practices/matches, can help maintain that sense of belonging throughout the rehab process. I also encourage players to build healthy routines and explore some new hobbies since injury often creates some extra time in their schedules. By leaning into those habits and activities it can help them stay engaged throughout the rehab process finding a sense of peace.
You’ve spoken about the difficulty of managing the often intense challenge of balancing school and athletic demands. What is one practical boundary or routine you’ve implemented to protect your mental well-being during the peak of the season?
Being a student-athlete definitely comes with a demanding schedule so I have made it a priority to set aside a few days each week to catch a meal with different friends and teammates, whether that’s in the dining hall or off campus. College brings together people from so many different walks of life, and having the chance to build such amazing relationships is something I’m really grateful for. Taking some time to catch up over lunch or dinner helps me really enjoy the moment and recharge before locking back in on my other commitments.
You’ve mentioned that student-athletes often miss out on traditional professional networking opportunities due to travel. What is your vision for a “digital-first” networking strategy that fits into a student-athlete’s busy schedule?
As a student-athlete, I’ve definitely had to miss a lot of traditional career talks and networking events because of practices and travel. While watching recordings or joining on Zoom is a helpful alternative it doesn’t always offer the same one-on-one connection. At Harvard, I’ve noticed the Harvard Varsity Club has been a huge resource in bridging that gap by connecting student-athletes with alumni and offering professional mentorship opportunities. We’re able to tap into an incredible network of professionals right at our athletic facilities which makes it much more accessible. I think combining these in-person, athlete-focused resources with flexible digital options is a great model for fitting in valuable networking opportunities into a student-athlete’s busy schedule.
Student-Athlete Council Spotlight: Andrew Fang
Student-Athlete Council Spotlight: Caiden Baxter
Student-Athlete Council Spotlight: Samantha Parris
Student-Athlete Council Spotlight: Sahana Madala
Student-Athlete Council Spotlight: Rohit Jain
Student-Athlete Council Spotlight: Stella Fruijtier
The ITA Student-Athlete Council is a committee of student-athletes who play college tennis assembled to provide insights regarding the sport with a special emphasis on the student-athlete experience. The goals of this committee are as follows: Present a student-athlete voice within the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) (1), Offer input regarding matters pertaining to the sport, particularly issues impacting the lives of student-athletes (2), Work to enhance the student-athlete experience specific to college tennis across all divisions (3), Invest in the leaders of tomorrow by creating leadership and professional development opportunities (4).
