Limitless Lady Lobsters

For the Lady Lobsters, Stuyvesant girls’ tennis team, success isn’t handed to them—it’s earned through hard work, perseverance, and making the most of every opportunity. From competing for limited court space to handling the pressure of self-officiating during intense matches, their challenges go beyond physicality and the game itself. Yet, the Lobsters have developed a tight-knit, resilient team culture that allows them to thrive under pressure.

One of the biggest challenges the team faces is limited court time. Finding a place to practice consistently is a sport in itself. There are limited public courts in the city, and for the few courts close enough to Stuyvesant for after-school practice, there’s competition with the rest of Manhattan for a chance to play on them. The Lobsters’ home courts, down along Pier 40, are two of the city’s most iconic and sought-after courts due to their waterfront view and prime location. The strict two-hour court time limit before those waiting in line get to play presents an additional challenge that most other schools in the league don’t have to face. “With only two courts and a team of close to 15, it was hard to make sure everyone would get to practice effectively. To overcome this, we played games that involved rotation to ensure everyone had time on the court,” junior and co-captain Sophie Shih said.

Even when they get court time, high school tennis isn’t a sport for the faint of heart. Unlike many other team sports, no referee is calling the shots. Usually, you’re playing one-on-one with no one on the court to vouch for you. It’s up to the players to decide whether the ball lands in or out of bounds. In the heat of the competition, especially when the scores are tight, the line between genuine mistakes and intentional bad calls can blur. “There’s nothing more frustrating than losing points because of a call you know was wrong. You can’t argue too much, though, or it just messes with your head,” sophomore and second singles player Mia Laks said. Regarding questionable calls, senior and co-captain Sabrina Xu said, “We try to handle match conflicts in as sportsmanlike a manner as possible, and usually, we simply replay the point or start from the last point that both players agree on.” When asked for advice for dealing with these tricky calls, Xu said, “Picture a white wall. Tennis is half a mental sport, and having too many doubts in your thoughts while playing eventually leads to you losing confidence in yourself.”

Mitigating the individual challenges of high school tennis, the bonds formed on and off the court have proved to be the cornerstone of strength and success for the players. “With the long train rides, two-hour-long game times, and the commute home, the team naturally gets to know each other and finds common interests and passions. We talk about anything and everything, and camaraderie is fostered through these shared experiences,” Xu said. The team naturally builds friendships and is brought together. Reminding her team of such support, Xu said, “We celebrate wins and losses together, so you’re never truly alone.”

Despite these challenges, or maybe because of them, the Lady Lobsters have developed a scrappy, resilient identity that is able to thrive under the pressure. In one of their biggest matches, the first game of the season against High School of American Studies, Shih said, “Our third singles player, Emily Harsono, battled for an hour and a half to win her match in a close tiebreak, giving Stuy our 5-0 victory.” This win set the tone for their tenacious season and embodied their ability to make the most of their few practice opportunities.

Although they weren’t able to dominate the scoreboard this season, they held their own with a 6-4 record, finishing fourth in the Manhattan/Bronx division. Despite falling to first-seed Beacon in the second round of playoffs, the Lobsters can reflect on their season as a success, having advanced to the playoff rounds. Until they chase the title of city champions again next season, they can hold their heads high, knowing they made an impressive run. In a sport where every mistake seems to be a personal reflection, they’ve built a team identity defined by adaptability, an iron mentality, and the ability to perform under pressure.