Mariia Vainshtein awoke to a world shattered by conflict, her mother's urgent words, "We're at war!" echoing through their home in Ukraine. Four years after Russia launched its invasion, this 17-year-old has transformed from a displaced teenager into a celebrated New York City high school tennis champion, with her sights set on collegiate achievements.
Escape from Conflict to a New Beginning
On that fateful morning, Vainshtein, then 13, was unaware of the nearby explosions that had rocked Odesa, a Black Sea port city targeted early in the war. Her mother, Anzhelika Kotliantseva, had been awake for hours, listening to the chaos. Within days, the family's dream of an American education became a rushed reality, as they fled first to a bomb shelter, then to Moldova, and finally to New York, where relatives lived. Kotliantseva and her two daughters made the journey alone, as her husband, Oleksandr, was forbidden from leaving Ukraine due to wartime restrictions.
Overcoming Adversity in a Foreign Land
Arriving in the United States, Vainshtein faced immense challenges. With no command of English, she struggled in school, pleading with teachers not to call on her to avoid ridicule from peers. "Really what people did, they said, 'You have to learn English. Go back to your country and learn English,'" Vainshtein recalled. "Like, what do you mean go back? My country is at war, so I can't go back." A turning point came when a teacher denied her request for translation help, pushing her to improve her speaking skills and gain confidence in the classroom.
Tennis as a Catalyst for Growth
Tennis has been a constant in Vainshtein's life, introduced at age five for medical reasons to help her focus her eyes. Hailing from Odesa, a city that produced professionals like Elina Svitolina, she played in junior tournaments in Ukraine before her family's displacement. In New York, she joined the free scholar athlete program at the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning in the Bronx, where coaching emphasized mental focus alongside physical skills.
Coach Rob Cizek noted her aggressive playing style and worked with her on handling adversity, both on and off the court. "We talk to them, 'OK, what happened here? How did you handle this? How can you handle it better next time?' and I think that's something that sometimes gets overlooked," Cizek said. "But to me it's a really important part of their growth."
Achievements and Future Aspirations
Vainshtein's dedication paid off spectacularly. She helped James Madison High School in Brooklyn win the Public Schools Athletic League championship in 2024, its first title since 1978, and also claimed the individual competition. Last summer, she added the Mayor Dinkins Cup trophy for her division. Beyond tennis, she excels academically, part of a school team that finished second in the state "We the People" competition, heading to nationals this spring.
Now applying to colleges, including Ivy League schools, Vainshtein is uncertain about playing tennis at that level but remains committed to the sport. "It's not like if I go to a school where I can't be on a team, it's not like I'm going to end playing tennis," she asserted. "I'm going to play no matter what." Her mother, Kotliantseva, expressed immense pride: "I'm very proud of her. Very proud. I'm so excited that she's going to college, and she's gone so far in this short time."
The family maintains connections with Oleksandr, who remains in Odesa, meeting him a couple of times a year in the U.S. or other countries, as Ukraine is deemed too dangerous for Vainshtein's return. From a war-torn childhood to a champion's resolve, Mariia Vainshtein's journey embodies resilience and hope in the face of upheaval.
