Buhler’s Sofia Spies finished last season with a 27-7 record, winning a league championship before placing second at regionals and second at state. This year, she is eager to see how her offseason preparation translates to competition.
“I am most excited about showcasing my work over the summer,” Spies said. “I want to see how much I’ve improved and how much better I know I can be this year.”
Spies spent much of the summer competing and training. She participated in several tournaments, including an ITA event, while also taking part in weekly group lessons through the Mac Advantage program in McPherson.
The program also gave Spies an opportunity to work with younger players, as she coached youth groups in the mornings before participating in her own training.
She also attended two camps during the summer. One was held at the beginning of the summer with Gregg Le Sueur, while the Craig Holman Academy at McPherson College provided another opportunity to develop her game toward the end of the offseason.
One of Spies’ primary goals entering the season is to become more consistent and confident with her hitting style.
“I have worked on this in the offseason by hitting with more experienced players outside of the high school setting,” Spies said. “That has allowed me to take the pressures and stressers off of me on a mental level and allow me to physically alter my game without inner distraction.”
Spies also knows that success on the court involves more than physical ability. Maintaining a positive mindset and learning how to respond when matches become difficult are areas she continues to emphasize.
“Having a positive mindset is always an area to improve on when in tough situations for me, and learning to reset when necessary has been key to keeping my head in the game,” Spies said.
Her goals for the season include carrying the lessons and skills from the summer into high school match play. As a team, Spies hopes Buhler can compete for a regional championship and earn a strong finish at state.
“As a team I would like to see us win regionals and place at state because I know it is very possible,” Spies said. “But at the end of the day, growing, maturing and doing our best as a team is what I value the most.”
For Spies, the lessons she has learned through tennis extend beyond wins and tournament finishes. She credits Buhler coaches Babcock and Goertzen for helping the team develop not only as athletes but also as people.
“Tennis is more than winnings and placings,” Spies said. “Coach Babcock and Goertzen have excelled at giving us the coaching and opportunities to achieve that, but most of all, they have showed us what our team should evolve around, and that is valuing our worth as people and working together to make the team more complete.”
With another season ahead, Spies hopes to use everything she learned during the summer to become a more confident, consistent player while helping Buhler reach its team goals.
“I want to see how much I’ve improved and how much better I know I can be this year,” Spies said.
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