Portage's Multani works both as boy tennis co-captain and senior class president

Portage's Shubhkarman Multani has a commanding presence both on and off the tennis court.

On the court, Multani is a co-captain. Off it, he serves as senior class president.

"He's a great communicator," Portage coach Gary Hayes said of Multani, who plays No. 2 doubles for the Times No. 5 Indians. "It's very special to have a player in his position become the leader. He just knows how to deal with others and gain their respect."

First and foremost to Multani, he shows respect for his culture. Multani, who has lived in Portage since the age of 5 but was born in India, is a Sikh, and he wears his turban in public.

"That's how my parents have taught me," Multani said. "It's a way of showing respect for my religion."

Multani gains respect from his tennis coaches by providing an extension for their messages.

"He was there in the summer, making (phone) calls and making sure we had tennis balls," Hayes said of Multani, who's in his second year on the varsity.

"I'm old school, and I will push the kids real hard. (Multani) understands me, and he helps the other players understand."

Multani gains respect from his teammates in the way he handles potentially volatile situations.

Multani played No. 1 doubles last season, but underclassmen Tyler Soberg and Jeff McElfresh moved ahead on the depth chart this year. Instead of dealing with the decision in a negative fashion, Multani easily teamed with classmate and co-captain Zac Lundy, and the duo has gone 6-1 in the Indians' first seven matches.

"Being a captain, it's not always about what you want," Multani said. "I understand my limits."

Multani has limited his time on the court, making sure to maintain a balance with school activities.

"I haven't had private lessons and I don't hit balls eight hours a day on the weekends," Multani said. "I also need to focus on my education."

Multani believes the balance between school and athletics serves him well as class president.

"I understand what the school is trying to do and what the student population wants," he said. "I kind of think of myself as the middle man."

While Multani is dedicated to his non-athletic activities, he also shows allegiance to his teammates. The school's homecoming parade is Sept. 15, but the Indians travel to Chesterton for a Duneland Athletic Conference match that same afternoon.

"I have a prior commitment, so I'm entrusting the work on our senior float to someone else," Multani said. "It just comes down to knowing what you have in others.

"I want to be there for my team."