By Alyssa Zediker
Executive Sports Editor
The state tournament was hosted at Eastern Illinois University May 13 and 14. Freshman Noreen Caporusso, junior Shea Gallus, and seniors Kelly Lawless and Maxine Venturelli, qualified for state at the sectional tournament, and they competed Friday in order to continue onto Saturday’s matches. As a second year varsity player Gallus also competed in her second state badminton tournament and said she was not as nervous because she knew what to expect. Gallus qualified for the the state tournament last year, but did not make it to the Saturday competition, so she knew which teams were good and which ones would be a challenge to beat.
Although for freshman Caporusso, Gallus’ partner, this will be her first state tournament with the badminton. “I would tell [Caporusso] to treat it like any other tournament.” said Shea “Obviously it would be good to get a state medal, but if you don’t just have fun with it.” After 104 matches called on Friday Caporusso and Gallus won 4 and lost 1 of their games and was able to qualify for Saturday. Qualifying for Saturday is difficult because the competition continues between the top badminton players in the state. The State meets are double elimination, and teams can play on Saturday if they do not lose more than two games.
Gallus and Caporusso lost their second round match on Friday, but they made it to three games in the consolation bracket. Also by qualifying for the Saturday competition the girls finished in the top sixteen.
“We are in one of the toughest conferences in the state,” said Rezny “I think it prepares us for the next level because we play a tough conference they are ready for sectionals and the are ready at the state tournament.”
