Following huge shadows from parents' accomplishments can be very intimidating while growing up, especially when your father is world class professional squash player. But it seems that Rohini Gupta and her brother, Rohit, flourished under that pressure. Rohini is currently a senior captain for the Quakers and Rohit competes for the Cornell Big Red. A native of Nigeria, Gupta uses her tremendous leadership skills to influence the Quakers.
Any student-athlete at the University of Pennsylvania knows from experience the pressures of performing both in the class room and in athletics. One of the key factors to a team's success is how the freshmen make the conversion from high school to college and how they handle that pressure. As part of her senior role, as well as her role as captain, Gupta has stepped up remarkably to help the team.
"We have a very young team this year,” she said. “I think one way to help is through the mental aspect. I also help to give academic guidance.”
The freshman experience can be quite overwhelming, but to have upper-classmen help you to relax and have more confidence is very important. But also when you make the high school transition as a student athlete, there is a whole new playing field you must adapt to.
"College squash is completely different,” Gupta said. “There is a whole new mental and physical aspect to the game. I try to help the girls adapt to that game.”
Most importantly, you will see Gupta keep the spirit of the team high and positive.
She explained, "I have gone through...the highs and the lows. I try to help the girls stay confident and keep their confidence and composure.”
The combination of remaining relaxed, confident and composed will lead most collegiate student-athletes to success, especially the Quakers.
Although the Quakers are a very young team, there is success this season that shows possible Ivy League crowns in their future.
"I think the team is doing very well,” said Gupta. “This year, we lost our No.1, No. 4 and two other former starters to graduation, but we are working well and making the transition well," said Rohini. The Quakers are currently 4-4 on the season and looking to make some noise at the Howe Cup later this month
"My fondest memory at Penn is when we beat Dartmouth 5-4,” said Gupta. “That was such a great feeling that day. The entire team had the same attitude and the same goals. We clicked.”
Another great sign of a true leader is consistency; consistency in performance and overall improvement. Consistent improvement represents the hard work an athlete puts in during season and off season. Gupta’s statistics speak for themselves as she is performing her best yet.
"I think I am definitely playing the best of my four years," said Gupta. She has wins over Williams, Cornell and Franklin & Marshall so far this season.
With hard work and records aside, it is the love of squash that Gupta enjoys the most.
"I began playing squash at Milton Academy,” she said. “My dad got me into it. I caught on quickly because I played tennis previously. It is something I have enjoyed in my life.”
Experiencing so many memories throughout her career, another is how squash has brought her and her brother closer.
"We get to see each other through squash, which is nice. We both understand exactly how each other feels. How intense it can get, but we are there for each other,” she said.
As a senior, her life after college is already mapped out. After graduation, the economics in health society major with a concentration in marketing and advertising will move to San Francisco to start her career with a utilities company.
One thing is for certain, Gupta’s leadership and personality will be missed by the Quakers next year.
~Written by Matt Lambach,a sophomore in the College and a member of the Penn wrestling team
