USD-Magazine-Summer-2023

she says. “We hadn’t done that since I’d been here, and that field has the best programs in women’s tennis. I think we all were really excited about that.” While Colling is buoyed by team success, she also knows — and loves — the fact that tennis is a predominately individual sport. There’s no one to blame for your errant forehand. Or double fault into the net. The successes and failures fall squarely on your shoulders. “I’m a really aggressive player by nature. I like to try and end points quickly and go for big shots. And I feel freer to take those chances when I’m playing singles, because I know it’s all on me.” Becoming a successful tennis player requires a robust interpersonal toolkit. Perhaps chief among those skills is the ability to — as the saying goes — embrace the suck. The hours upon hours of on-court work refining both your strokes and serve; the early-morning workouts; the long car rides from tournament to tournament. The ability to put the time in to improve often separates good from great, something Colling knows all too well. “Honestly, I love practicing. I love the work,” she says, with a grin, “I might love it too much.” Her dedication to improving her game has not inhibited her ability to excel in the classroom. Colling is a three-time recipient of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Scholar-Athlete Award and plans to pursue a career in real estate if she’s unable to pursue her primary goal of playing professional women’s tennis. “Both of my parents are in commercial real estate, and I took an appraisal class that was life-changing,” she says. “I’m also studying to get my real estate license in addition to continuing to play tennis for USD, and training to play at the professional level after I’m finished at this level. It’s a lot … but I love it!”

TOM CHRISTENSEN

CREDENTIALS: Kingsley has amassed an impressive set of laurels since transferring to USD in 2019. Perhaps most significant among them was his win at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, where he stopped a stellar field from some of the nation’s best golf programs. “Having to wait to see if I won or would be in a playoff … that was probably harder than the golf.” PUTTING WITH POPS: When it came to developing a love for the game of golf, Kingsley didn’t have to look far for inspiration. Dad David Kingsley gave Harrison his first club to swing at the tender age of 2, and the younger Kingsley was “all-in from day one. I remember waking up early in the mornings when I was young, jumping on his bed and begging him to take me to the practice range.” GRIN AND BEAR IT: Kinglsey’s hometown of Murrieta, California, has been a wellspring of golf talent for several decades. It’s also home to one of the most challenging courses in a state replete with them; Bear Creek Golf Club. “I started playing Bear Creek when I was in high school, and I remember thinking how hard it was after the first time I played it; like, I was really frustrated,” Kingsley recalls. “But learning how to play such a tough course helped me learn to stay focused and patient, which is critical if you want to play golf at the highest levels.” LIVING THE DREAM: And speaking of highest levels, Kingsley is hoping to continue pursuing his dream of playing professional golf after he graduates this spring. He got a small taste of what PGA tour life might be like when he qualified for the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines last February. “Qualifying for the tour event at Torrey Pines was awesome, and I learned so much from the tour players while I was there.” — Mike Sauer GETTING TO KNOW … HARRISON KINGSLEY

15

Summer 2023