Davis Field’s towering lights never shine brighter than during Harker’s annual homecoming football game. Hundreds of students, staff, alumni and parents watch from the metal bleachers adjoining the field as senior lineman Siddharth Sundar readies himself at the line of scrimmage alongside other members of the defensive line for the fourth down. 

Energized home fans chant “DE-FENSE” as the opposing quarterback takes the snap, fakes a pass and shovels the football to a crossing running back. Reading the play, Siddharth rushes to close the gap in the Eagles’ defensive line and prepares to tackle the ball carrier. Wrapping his arms around the runner, Siddharth brings him down to end the drive and return the ball to the Eagles. As the offense takes the field, he strides off, takes a seat on the team bench and smiles in response to the deafening roars of support from the crowd.

Although routine, this play captures the essence of Siddharth’s eight-year-long career as a member of Harker’s football teams. Now a captain of the varsity team, he attributes his enduring passion for the game to the strong bonds he’s built with teammates throughout lower, middle and high school.

“My teammates are family at this point,” Siddharth said. “Since we’re such a small team, a large commitment is required in all aspects. You have to be committed to yourself in order to be the best player that you can be and be committed to those around you to support them through their journey: that’s what has kept me coming back to the sport.”

Football’s physicality presents a unique challenge and demands incredible effort and dedication from all who compete. The mental challenges that come with competing are similarly daunting, but the fortitude and determination Siddharth’s developed over his football career have enabled him to push through.

“Football is much more of a mental sport than people give it credit for,” Siddharth said. “It’s trained me to shift my mindset from ‘I don’t think I can do this’ to ‘How can I get myself to do this?’ As a sophomore center, I had to persevere to deal with a knee injury that persisted for almost the entire year. The perseverance I developed from that really influences my game now.”

Team traditions have also helped Siddharth adjust to changes like senior leaders graduating and passing the torch to other players. These rituals bring the team together before games and keep them focused on the challenges before them.

“Our traditions have really stuck with me and help bring me back to center,” Siddharth said. “They help me remember that we play as the school and the people that we are. The number 75 has been historically delegated to the captain of the line, and finally earning that number this year has been really meaningful to me. I feel really proud to wear that number and maintain that tradition. Even though there are a lot of shifts within the program, the few things that we can come back to and call a part of our team help us persevere and stay determined and disciplined.”

Siddharth has rapidly grown into a key leader on the team and plays crucial roles on both offense and defense as center and nose tackle. Football head coach Danny Reidenbach (‘17) notes that Siddharth’s unique approach to mentorship means that many enjoy working with and learning from him.

“He’s the silent leader type: it just goes with his personality,” Reidenbach said. “He’s going to go out there and do the right thing because he wants to and the other guys just pick up on that and want to emulate that good behavior. Someone who shows up, does the right work, sets the right kind of example for ‘This is how everything should be done’ that goes beyond individual drills. It’s something that can extend beyond football.”

Close friend senior Farhan Ansari finds Siddharth’s willingness to drop what he’s doing to help or just talk to someone else particularly impactful and expressed that his presence made even a relatively slow English class enjoyable.

“We had English class and our free periods together, back to back, and so we’d often have situations of panic studying right before,” Farhan said. “I definitely wouldn’t have liked that English class if he wasn’t there; Sid is just that guy you can always talk to, and he’s so friendly I’ve really enjoyed everything we’ve done together.”

Senior Mikhil Kiran has viewed Siddharth as one of his closest friends from the moment the two met in middle school, and he’s shared memories with Siddharth at events ranging from robotics tournaments to game development competitions. He hopes to keep in touch with Siddharth in the future, even as the responsibilities associated with post-high school life pull them apart.

“He’s impacted my life in that I’ve always had at least one person to go to, no matter what’s happening, no matter who I have problems with,” Mikhil said. “As we graduate, and as we go to college, most people are going to break off from each other. Regardless of where we both end up, even if it’s at different colleges, I want to maintain our relationship.”

When looking back at his journey at Harker — from taking on a lead role in the play “Dig It!” as a new fifth grader to leading the line of the varsity football team as a senior — Siddharth expressed that his friendships played an outsized role in his development. He hopes that his teachers, coaches, friends and teammates remember his dependability long after his final snap for the Eagles.

“I want my legacy to be one of loyalty and helpfulness,” Siddharth said. “I’m never afraid to step up and provide help for someone, and I’m always there for my friends. One of my biggest strengths is that, if I have a connection with someone, it’s really strong. I’m not very good at keeping acquaintances but I’m very good at keeping long lasting friendships. Being faithful to and honoring those long-lasting friendships is what I want to be remembered for.”