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Kyle McCandless always loved doing fun STEM-related projects around the house with his dad. They would build submarines that had a camera on the bottom to view their pond, create boats out of milk jugs and make launchers for water balloons.

Four-Star Senior Kyle McCandless Has Committed to Caltech
© Contributed Photo

Becoming enamored with tennis took a bit longer for McCandless. He started playing at age 10 by taking classes on Saturday mornings at the local courts in Lexington, Massachusetts.

"I hated it. I didn't want to get out of my room. I wanted to stay on my butt and stay in my room. But my mom made me go out,” McCandless said. “After a year, I started to like it and really liked the competition. I wanted to win, and got mad when I didn't."

McCandless is combining his love for tennis and science by committing to Caltech. The four-star senior considered staying closer to home by attending MIT - the alma mater of his parents - Tufts or RPI, but decided California was the more attractive option.

"I loved the weather. I am a big shorts and T-shirt kind of person and I love outdoor tennis. I didn't want to play indoor tennis,” McCandless said. “I took a visit there and loved it. The coach is super outgoing and I liked the relationships that everyone had with each other."