SouthtownStar badminton note

Lincoln-Way Central’s Maria Brown and Margaret Kolyvas have backgrounds as singles competitors.

For the sake of the team, the senior duo paired up on the doubles side this season and the results have been positive.

Brown and Kolyvas won the sectional at Central last week, qualifying for the state tournament at Eastern Illinois in Charleston on Friday and Saturday.

“We’re really excited, and we know that this week of practice is going to be really, really important for getting ready,” Kolyvas said. “We want to perfect shots so we can hit lines and corners. That will be a big deal for us.”

The seedings and brackets for the state tournament will be released early this week. Whatever stands in its way, Central’s No. 1 doubles team is ready.

“Much more difficult teams and a lot of teams we haven’t seen before,” Brown said. “We have to be ready for new shots and shots we haven’t seen. Expect the unexpected and be ready for anything.”

Also qualifying for Lincoln-Way Central were senior Jana Mudrock, who won the singles title at the sectional, and junior Claire Hilgenbrink.