Ailynna Chen of Hinsdale Central is the state’s only undefeated girls badminton player. | Jon Langham~For Sun-Times Media.
Hinsdale Central senior Ailynna Chen received the No. 1 singles seed for the state badminton meet, which begins Friday at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.
Chen, who went 2-2 in last year’s state meet, has been dominant this season as the only undefeated singles player in the state with a 40-0 record. The No. 2 seed is Fremd junior Angela Wu, whom Chen defeated earlier this season. Chen opens the state meet against Buffalo Grove sophomore Jessica Schwartz.
The top seeds and complete pairings were released Tuesday by the IHSA’s badminton seeding committee.
One of Chen’s club teammates with the Woodridge-based Midwest Badminton Club is Lyons sophomore Stephanie Lin, a 5-8 seed along with Hinsdale South senior Emma Adcock, who won last year’s state doubles title with graduate Brittany DeClouette.
The committee ranked Downers Grove North seniors Emily Buhle and Emily Planek as the No. 1 doubles seed.