As the tennis season swings in, junior Maddie Harms prepares in the scorching hot weather for her upcoming matches. For her, competition is not the hardest thing in tennis, it’s the weather.

“Probably the heat,” Harms said when asked about the most challenging aspect of the sport. “During the summer it can be bad cause like the heat reflects on the concrete.’’

Harms didn’t always have the passion for tennis that she does now, but after returning from the summer, she realized how much she loves the game.

“I forgot I actually liked playing, and once I started playing again, I was like, oh, I actually like this and it’s actually fun,” she said.

A huge part that keeps Harms on the court isn’t just the competition; it’s the friendships she made along the way.

“All my favorite moments are when I’m with my friends because I built a lot of connections there, a lot of my closest friends are in tennis,” Harms said.

Her advice to future Bulldog tennis players is to have fun playing it and not to treat it like a requirement.

“Just have fun doing it, because a lot of people start to force themselves to play,” she said. “Just make friends so it makes you want to go out more.’’

Harms balances fun and being in focus mode comes during her pre-match routine.

“I kind of sit by myself, like just thinking a little bit, especially on the bus if it’s an away game,’’ Harms said. “But if I’m playing with my partner (Ethan Do), I just talk to him about things we need to focus on, our plan and what we want to happen.”

As the season plays out, Harms knows the challenges she will face such as the heat, long practices and tough competition. But, her mindset of being better than others will push her forward.

“I’m competitive; I want to be the best,’’ she said with a mentality that makes her a standout player to watch this year.