Don’t bother looking for a weak link on T.F. South’s roster. There isn’t one.
The Rebels captured five titles en route to top honors at the 12-team Lockport Tournament on Saturday and continue to cruise like a top contender in the state.
Jessica Gomez (28-0) led the charge at No. 1 singles, putting on dominant display despite feeling under the weather. Gomez outscored her competition 124 to 50 and ousted a pair of returning state qualifiers in the process.
“Easy breezy,” Gomez said of her title run. “It does bring me confidence doing well against returning state qualifiers. I expect to do well for my coach [Bob Tengstrand] because he puts a lot of time in with me.”
Gomez downed Lockport’s Sara Napoli 21-8, 21-8 in the finals and Plainfield East third-place finisher Lakshmi Tatineni in the semis. T.F. South finished first with 31 points, Lockport took second with 26 and Buffalo Grove finished third with 24.
Also picking up titles for the Rebels were Andriana Johnson (27-1) at No. 2 singles, Cameron Crosby at No. 3 singles, Jenna Pasko and Shannon Pollard (28-0) at No. 1 doubles and Cassie Breshock and Jhennie Corpuz (27-1) at No. 2 doubles.
Pasko and Pollard defeated Reavis’ standout pair of Marissa Mangala and Dena Zayed 21-16, 21-16 in the finals. The T.F. South duo beat out Mangala and Zayed for third in state last season.
“This is the third time we’ve played them this season,” Pollard said. “They can’t stay away, clearly.”
“We’re like, ‘Oh, we play them again,’ ” Pasko said. “They’re the best team we’ve faced and we feel like this is a preview for state.”
Reavis finished fourth with 20 points, Lincoln-Way Central took fifth with 18 and Oak Lawn tied West Aurora for sixth with 12.
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