Tennis captain adds professional experience Life-changing choices lead Indian

native to Pierce

parents encouraged him to pursue a sport in order to lose weight.

Derek Galvin - pitcher

How does it feel to be named Player of the Week?

“I think it’s pretty special and it’s an honor to be named player of the week. With all my hard work, I think it is finally starting to pay off. I am just happy to be where I am with the season ending.”

You pitched a great six innings against Santa Barbara on Saturday. Can you tell me about that game and how you were feeling?

“To start off the game I felt really good. My curveball was working really well and then as the game progressed my off speed started to fail me a little bit so I really had to compete with my fastball and I was able to locate on the inner half and outer half of the plate and I was just really able to beat them. Even though it was an off day I came out on top.”

How do you feel you have performed this season? How do you think your team has done this season?

“I think I have done extremely well this season. I am very satisfied with how I have performed and played this year. I have been working very hard and that’s a lot of the reasons why I’ve done so well. The team kind of struggled a little bit, being with our relief pitching and some other aspects but we just have a really great group of guys. It didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to, but I think we are better staffed than some of the games that we played.”

Do you have a favorite memory while playing for Pierce?

“Probably the one-run complete game against Ventura at their place that was pretty special and it was very memorable for me and I will always remember that.”

Most athletes attend community college to further their playing careers, but 20-year-old tennis captain Manish Kumar was a pro before he ever stepped foot on Pierce’s campus.

After having his tendon removed due to an elbow injury, Pierce College tennis captain Manish Kumar continues to pursue his love for the sport while maintaining a college education.

At 16 years old, Kumar started playing professional tennis. In his two years as a professional, Kumar went world for various tournaments.

“I’m glad that I chose to play professional tennis because it gave me the chance to travel a lot,” Kumar said. “I also played for the Junior Davis Cup in India, which was a really great experience. As a whole, I have been to 22 countries and have had the opportunity to learn new cultures and make new friends all over the globe.”

Kumar decided to move from his home in India to America to continue his education while playing for the Pierce College tennis team. After attending Pierce for only eight months, Manish believes that he made a good decision starting off at a community college.

“When I was in India, I originally wanted to go to UCLA,” Kumar said. “Pierce gave me a better option to transfer and save money. It is also one of the best junior colleges around.”

When he was 10 years old, his

“Back when I first started playing tennis, I was just a fat kid who needed to lose weight. I had a couple of options but I decided to stick with tennis. I never imagined I would play professionally, but I ended up loving the sport,” Kumar said.

Although Kumar never saw himself playing professionally at such a young age, his parents saw potential in him from the start.

Kumar’s father, Pravin Kumar, began noticing his commitment for tennis.

Scott Aaronson/Roundup

Saturday, April 11 Cruz watched his team start off strong against the Ventura College Pirates. They took an early lead and the momentum seemed to be in Pierce’s favor.

“I remember thinking ‘Good job guys, I won’t have to play today’,” Cruz said.

The Pirates went on to score four runs in the fourth inning and took the lead.

Cruz began mentally preparing himself to come into the game. He entered with the score tied up at eight apiece and the bases loaded. Cruz hit a walk-off single and his teammates immediately stormed the field.

“There is no other feeling like it,” Cruz said. “Having the team rush you, punch you, scratch you, congratulate you. That is what you play for.”