A final smash and Derwin Guzman’s dream, four years in the making, was finally realized.

“This has been so long in the making that, for me, it's just out of this world. Being here and with my team, it's just crazy. I get emotional just thinking about it,” Guzman said with a smile.

What You Need To Know

  • Derwin Guzman hadn't played tennis in years when he entered high school. He was totally focused on basketball. But when he picked the racket back up he knew it was where he was supposed to be.

  • Guzman set a goal to win a PSAL championship title, something that had never been done in Frederick Douglass High history. Through his hands on leadership, he inspired his team to buy into the goal.

  • He also spends time coaching tennis outside of school and is always proud of the improvement he sees in his students.

When Guzman started at Frederick Douglas Academy in Manhattan, four years ago he was laser focused on basketball. His tennis racket had been gathering dust for years. But when his basketball coach, who doubles as the tennis coach, asked him to join the tennis team it was an ace.

“I picked up the racket again and I was like, whoa, I really like this. You know? Um, I think this is what I'm, what I'm gonna do,” Guzman remembers.

Guzman walked on the court and never looked back. Quickly stepping up as team captain, Guzman set the bar high; aiming for the PSAL Championship trophy. It would be a first for his school.

“Everything I'm doing has led up to this point and it's just like a dream to be able to like finally accomplish it cuz you know, that, that was, that was the goal,” Guzman said.

This high school senior has set and accomplished many goals over his four years. One of his favorites, joining the student government to make sure his classmates have a voice.

“He is the embodiment of a student that is not only committed to himself, but committed to how the school grows, how the school does 10 years from now 20 years from now, he was, he always talked about the legacy that he wanted to leave,” commented Ayisha Fullerton, the principle of FDA.

Guzman also coaches for the New York Junior Tennis and Learning where he cut his teeth as a young player.

“It's really gratifying," Guzman said. "Even if they don't say it. Like they've improved so much.”

Derwin Guzman is moving on and he’s taking his racket with him. He’s heading to Manhattanville College in the fall and joining the tennis team. Saying he'll. always cherish the lessons learned at the Frederick Douglass Academy which taught him how to be a champion.