Coming from a successful high school tennis program in Fort Collins, Colorado, Arjun Gupta had his fair share of offers from NCAA Division I colleges. But after talking with Transylvania coach Kevin Calhoun, he got the sense that Transy values its athletes on a different level, so he made the long trip to central Kentucky. The decision turned out to be the right one — he won HCAC Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore and plans to play professionally after graduation. And he’s receiving a world-class education in health and exercise science, which will prepare him for a long career in the sport.

Transy cares about us as people — not just as athletes. The training staff is awesome, it is by far one of the best facilities I’ve ever played at, and the professors and coaches work hard to make sure we’re balancing everything. It is the highlight of my week to go practice and play for this team. Going to college is difficult, but if you’re looking for a place that feels like home and where you’ll grow, Transy is that place.

Arjun Gupta ’23

Cooper Theobald isn’t your average six-foot-one point guard. The fierce competitor does whatever it takes for his team to win—whether it’s leading the Pioneers in rebounding like he did as a junior or by drawing fouls and hitting 29 free throws in one game, an NCAA Division III record. And his determination carries over into the classroom. He’s a business administration major with a marketing emphasis and a Dean’s List student. Not one to shy away from bright lights, he plans to pursue marketing in an exciting metropolitan area after college.

 Transylvania fosters an environment where pushing individuals to succeed and to be the best version of themselves is encouraged by both students and faculty. I have learned how to be a leader while being positive and accepting of others’ views and ideas, which has made for effective teamwork both on and off the court. 

Cooper Theobald ’19