Badminton: Expectations sprout with Lockport duo’s seed

Lockport's badminton doubles players (from left) Hannah Hollatz, Jorie Gorski, Amy Benes and Becca Krzyszkowski. | File photo

Updated: June 11, 2012 10:16AM

As practice started this week, Lockport coach Denise Hadley asked her state qualifiers what goals they had heading into the state tournament.

When the doubles team of Becca Krzyszkowski and Amy Benes answered they wanted to make it to the second day, the top 16, Hadley was disappointed.

The seniors were setting the bar too low.

“I told them that I hope they realize how good they are,” Hadley said. “They can do it. Their goal can be to win state.”

Finishing second at the Wheaton Warrenville South Sectional, Lockport advanced six qualifiers — two singles players and two doubles teams — to Friday’s and Saturday’s state championships at Eastern Illinois.

Krzyszkowski and Benes have gone 42-5 this season, won their sectional and earned a 3-4 seed at state.

“You don’t want to put pressure on them, but you do want to show them that winning state is a reachable goal,” Hadley said. “Anything can happen. They can play well, and make that seed (finish fourth or better).

Also advancing to state for the Porters were singles players Sara Napoli and Kelly Miotti, both juniors, and a second doubles team, Hannah Hollatz and Jorie Gorski.

“Sara has done a great job for us at singles, and Kelly is a worker, always giving 110 percent,” Hadley said. “They’ll have to battle. If Hannah and Jorie are playing well, they can pull it off, win some matches too.”

Also advancing a full contingent of six state qualifiers was Lincoln-Way West, which finished second at its own sectional. The state draw was less than kind to the Warriors, though, as both singles qualifiers — Danielle Strayer and Melissa Newman — and the doubles team of Kristyna Marks and Emily Bowsher all drew seeded opponents in the first round.

“There can be upsets, and the girls are certainly capable of it,” West coach Donna Thompson said. “Everything’s on paper at this point. Hopefully, the girls can play well and pull off a couple of wins.”

The Warriors’ second doubles team, Kendelle Faber and Elizabeth Bradshaw, was the only West representative to not draw a ranked opponent. Playing the underdog role, Thompson knows her team is capable of pulling off wins.

“I know, and I hope they know that I believe they can win,” Thompson said. “They’re right there (playing well) so they just have to put it together, and they can do it and win.”

In just its third year of varsity sports, West has increased its state qualifiers from two in its first badminton season to five to this year’s six.

“We’re still a young team,” Thompson said. “I’m proud that we’ve (qualified) that many. They just have to prove what they can do at the state meet.”

Lincoln-Way Central’s Veronica Baldermann and Jana Mudrock earned a 9-16 seed in the doubles bracket.

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