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John Kessler was a bit skeptical when he heard about the new transfer.

Kessler is the tennis coach at University High in Irvine, California. He’s also the AP U.S. History teacher.

Over the years, he’s seen many players struggle to handle a competitive playing career with a demanding academic load. Former homeschooled students transitioning back to public school had produced mixed results.

Five-Star Aditya Gupta Has Committed to Penn

Aditya Gupta restored Kessler’s faith.

“Adi is a breath of fresh air,” Kessler said. “He came into class with a great foundation and was an unbelievable participant. From the very first day, he was eager to be involved in all the conversations. He is a really special young man.”

Gupta has never wanted to sacrifice his academics to play high-level tennis, and the same mindset applied during his college search. The five-star senior with a 4.4 GPA explored many schools before deciding to commit to Penn.

“I just feel like their tennis program is showing a whole lot of growth,” Gupta said. “Their recruiting has gotten better. They have a couple of five-star players and they are trending in the right way. It’s a good chance to play for a team that is improving and could make NCAAs really soon.”