Student Athlete of the Week Manan Gangwar

It wouldn't be a stretch to describe Manan Gangwar as an eternal optimist.

Despite taking some lumps early in his Niwot High School boys tennis career, the senior has remained positive throughout it all and even values those difficult times.

"When you lose a lot, it helps you gain a new perspective, which is why losing is really important," Gangwar said. "You just know what to do better next time."

Gangwar is now giving out lumps far more than he's taking them. Through Sept. 17, his varsity match record stands at a pretty 6-1 with time at the No. 2, 3 and 4 doubles spots.

"It definitely feels great, because after years of playing tennis, you start to learn how to get better," Gangwar said of his recent success. "Now, it's not like you get on the court and hit a couple of balls. Now, you can actually efficiently train and get better at what you're bad at. [For] my partner and I, practice is something we take seriously. It's cool to see us getting better every day at a much higher level than we played at before."

His optimism remains a critical part of his game. No matter the opponent, Gangwar enters the match with the mindset that he's unbeatable.

"I always go into a match thinking that we're going to win, there's no possible way that we could lose," Gagnwar said. "But, I'm also pretty adaptable. You play against a bunch of different types of players –- people play with different spin, different power, different tactics and that's something you have to get used to."

Alongside partner Lauritz Stranzenbach, Gangwar's most recent match was a 6-2, 6-3 No. 3 doubles victory over Thompson Valley on Sept. 12. When together, the two Niwot seniors have been key to the Cougars' 5-2 start to the season.

And it makes sense why they've found success in conjunction.

"We're both pretty good at lifting each other up," Gangwar said of his partner Stranzenbach. "Sometimes, we'll miss really easy shots, but we still don't get mad at each other because that's not what it's about. The most important part is keeping your mood up because if your opponent knows that you're angry at yourself and you're frustrated, that's going to be a leg up for them."

While his goal is to make some noise at the upcoming state tournament, he's also focused on enjoying his final few high school matches.

"Winning is important to me but if I'm not having fun while doing it, then there's really no point," Gangwar said. "I want to make sure that everybody's having fun and everyone gets a chance to show everyone how good they are."