By Matt Browning

Maize South’s Hudson Grizzell is a unique position.

Yes, he’s a junior on the Mavericks tennis team, but he is planning on graduating a year early, so this is his last go-around. There is a bittersweet feeling as the season nears.

“For the upcoming season, I’m most excited about the potential for a second team state championship during my high school career,” Grizzell said. “We have the potential to perform very well. That brings with it mixed emotions, but definitely includes excitement.”

Grizzell has devoted so much of his time becoming one of the top tennis players in the state and it culminated in a fifth place finish in the 5A doubles.

“Beginning in my seventh grade year, I devoted a huge amount of time to training and becoming better at tennis,” Grizzell said. “The summer before my freshman year was very intense and filled with individual and group training, camps, and tournaments. Several of us varsity players, my freshman year, set a goal to win state and didn’t stop until we achieved it. During the off-season my sophomore year and this year I have continued individual and group training. Training and match play during the off-season is crucial to success during the school season.”

Grizzell has a passion for doubles, so his offseason training was focused on being a better doubles partner.

“I love playing doubles, and something I’d like to improve on this season is my quickness, agility, and dominance at the net,” Grizzell said. “I’ve worked on this during group and private training, and I will continue to focus on this.”