Lincoln Fights Back To Win First-Ever PSAL Tennis Title
Heading into this season, the Abraham Lincoln Railsplitters were a motivated bunch. After being defaulted in the playoffs in 2023, the team was determined to prove itself this fall.
The girls from Lincoln proved it belonged the city’s best, and captured the PSAL New York City 1A Championship, edging out the High School for Environmental Studies Eagles in a 3-2 comeback on the indoor courts at the Queens College Tennis Center.
“I promised myself and these girls that we would come back this season and dominate the division to get what we felt we deserved,” said Lincoln head coach Vincent Garcia. “We absolutely could not wait to get the team together this year, and we fought hard and we did it.”
Garcia’s team would have to fight hard in the championship match, especially after Environmental Studies won two of the final’s first three flights to move within one court of the title. First, Lian Wacspress won 6-0, 6-0 at second singles to give the Eagles the early advantage.
Soon after, Lincoln responded thanks to a 1-6, 6-2, [10-5] come-from-behind victory from Katelynn Espinosa at third singles to knot the match at 1-1. But Environmental Studies would win first doubles, a 6-3, 6-3 win from Catherine McIntyre-Polner & Shay Fairweather, and needed to win one of the final two remaining courts to clinch the city title.
But as it had vowed to do from the beginning of the season, the Railsplitters continued to fight, specifically Deandra Smith who found herself in a battle at first singles. The senior was down a set, and began to feel sick during the second set when she had to take a medical timeout.
“Deandra knew what was on the line during her match. As a senior, she knew that her situation to be a city champion was now or never,” said Garcia. “I wanted her to use the full 15 minutes to be sure that she was more than ready to return, which she was. She never gives up, and knows the match is not over until the last point. Her presence and attitude sets a great example for all the other girls on the team and I’m glad they could witness that.”
And her teammates had a front row seat to Smith demonstrating that. She returned to the court and while she would lose the second set, was recharged for the ensuing decisive super tiebreaker. Smith used her big lefty forehand to dictate the play and secured the win in the tiebreaker, winning the first singles court for the Railsplitters and leaving the city title to be determined by second doubles.
With the championship on the line, and the eyes of players, coaches and supporters of both teams looking on, Jazell David & Shayna Weekes held their nerve, winning 6-3, 7-5 to win second doubles, and clinch the title for Lincoln.
“I am extremely proud of the resilience and calm composure that both Jazell and Shayna showed in such a high-pressure situation,” said Garcia. “In a typical match during the season most matches are played simultaneously, so it isn’t common for many spectators to be as engaged on what court as they were on that day. The fact that they were able to lock in and get the job done was remarkable to watch. During changeovers, I just kept reminding them that they were in control of the match and to keep fighting to stay on top.”
Lincoln concludes its season on an 11-match winning streak and brings home the program’s first-ever tennis championship.
