Torero tennis players compete during COVID-19

August Holmgren and Solymar Colling placed in summer tournaments in Denmark and Texas, respectively

Maria Watters / Asst. Sports Editor

While COVID-19 has forced most athletes at the University of San Diego to postpone their seasons and or significantly alter their training routines, two Torero tennis players have managed to continue competing in spite of the pandemic. Redshirt junior August Holmgren has been competing in his native country of Denmark since June, and redshirt sophomore Solymar Colling played in the International Tennis Association Summer Nationals in early August. 

Due to the more relaxed health restrictions in Denmark, Holmgren has been free to practice with his club team and compete regularly. 

“I’ve been playing as many tournaments as I possibly could since I got home because I didn’t know how long that would be possible,” Holmgren said. “My level has been better some days, and worse other days, but I feel like I’ve gotten a lot of confidence which helps me prevail in tough situations.”

Holmgren proved his ability to overcome tough situations numerous times throughout his summer competitions. In one match, he faced a particularly difficult opponent who won the first set 6-1. Despite feeling he played poorly, Holmgren was able to battle his way back, winning the second and third sets in a close tie-breaker. This mentality has led Holmgren to win more than twenty matches and four tournaments in just three months. 

Along with his competition overseas, Holmgren has continued to train with his teammates at the University of San Diego. As a captain, it was important for Holmgren to keep up his training regimen with the Toreros to preserve the team mentality that helped them achieve great success in past seasons, including back-to-back WCC championships. By tracking each others’ workout progress online, Holmgren and the rest of the men’s tennis team are able to push themselves to be in the best shape possible by the time they are able to reunite.

Despite the obvious challenges of long-distance team practice, Holmgren is confident that when the time comes, the USD men’s tennis team will be ready to work.

“I don’t think motivation is going to be a challenge at all,” Holmgren said. “I think getting back into the flow of things will be fairly quick because everyone wants to get back on course and start working hard again.”

Confident that lack of motivation won’t be a factor in the team’s productivity in the future, Holmgren believes adjusting to the Toreros’ playing philosophies will be their biggest obstacle to overcome. And individually, Holmgren will have to switch his playing style from that of his club team in Denmark back to the Torero style of play. Though he admits the adjustment will be particularly difficult due to his extended time away from the team, Holmgren is ready and eager to face the challenge. 

On the other side of the world, redshirt sophomore Solymar Colling placed second at the ITA Summer Nationals in Texas on Aug. 11.

Like Holmgren, Colling was able to practice daily, but could not compete in any tournaments for most of the summer. 

“In the beginning I felt robbed of my season,” Colling said. “I went back (to Texas) and was able to practice at the academy I trained at before, but there were mostly junior players, and I just felt a little out of place being away from school and my team.” 

The transition from the team environment at the University of San Diego to quarantined training was difficult for Colling. In the early days of the pandemic she found herself wondering what the point of training was if there was a possibility she wouldn’t be able to compete. 

But, as a Division I athlete with her sights set on playing professionally, Colling knew she had to overcome her doubts in order to attain her goals. 

“I just practiced every day, sometimes for six hours at a time, and I feel like I got better,” Colling said. “For me, the difference between the Division I and professional level comes down to work ethic and the mental game. We all know the basics, so for me to get to that next level, I used this situation to just focus on my game and try to remember why I love tennis and why I want to go pro.”

All her work paid off. The hours of practice and training, along with the time she spent on self reflection, allowed her to focus on her love for the game of tennis and reach a new level of play, culminating with her impressive performance at the ITA Summer Nationals in which she took second overall. She attributes her most recent success to her newfound mindset that allowed her to enter the tournament with no expectations other than to simply enjoy the experience and the ability to compete. 

But along with her individual competition, Colling has had her sights set on returning to the courts at the University of San Diego with her fellow Toreros in the spring. 

Like Holmgren, she has been able to keep up with her teammates virtually, but realizes there will be some serious obstacles they will have to overcome together.

“We really do get so close as more than just teammates but as friends,” Colling said. “It will be difficult to build up that relationship without having been together last season. But I think once we all get back together we will be ready to work to be as good of a team as we can.”

Both Holmgren and Colling have put in the hours to keep themselves competition ready throughout their time away from USD. While it is uncertain when Torero fans will be able to see Holmgren and Colling take the courts again, they can be sure that the men’s and women’s tennis teams will be ready for any competition that comes their way.