Environmental Studies Wins PSAL 1A Championship

A year ago, the High School for Environmental Studies came up one victory short of winning New York City’s PSAL 1A Division championship, losing a heartbreaking 3-2 match to Abraham Lincoln. 

While it was a difficult loss, it only hardened the team’s resolve and deepened their desire to get back to that point in 2025, and set out goals for itself.

“Last year’s disappointment in the finals was the motivation that we needed,” said Environmental Studies’ head coach Daryl Warfield. “The next day in school, the girls were already planning to train and be ready for this season. With the addition we had on this year’s team, we knew we had a chance to succeed this time around. Our first goal was to be the number one seed, which we were, then our goal was to get to the finals and win it.”

And in a thrilling 3-2 victory over the High School for American Studies inside the Queens College Tennis Center, the Eagles accomplished their goal and became this season’s PSAL 1A Champions. 

Led by Grace Mahabir and Lian Wachspress at first and second singles, respectively, the Eagles took two of the three singles flights. Mahabir won 10-8 in the first spot, while Wachspress won a crucial 11-10 match at second singles. 

Myla Choi won 10-5 at third singles for American Studies. 

In the two doubles flights, Alisa Terauchi & Valentina Narvaez-Smith won 11-10 at first doubles for Environmental Studies, while Kareena Mehta & Lucille Poots were 10-7 winners at second doubles.

The win marked not only an undefeated 10-0 season for the Eagles, but also redemption for the past couple of seasons.

 “I’m extremely proud of this team because of the past couple of years of disappointments, and our seniors being anxious about winning,” Warfield added. “We’ve been lucky with staying healthy, and building a chemistry to the point of being a team that genuinely enjoys being around each other. After 23 years of coaching, this is my all-time best team. Not a lot of tennis teams or coaches get the chance to be called Champions, and I’m extremely proud that we’re a part of PSAL history.”

SCENES FROM THE PSAL 1A GIRLS TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP