LOCKPORT – Lockport's badminton team edged Lincoln-Way East 11-10.5 to capture the championship of Thursday's Plainfield East Sectional while the Bengals (7.5), Bradley-Bourbonnais (6) and Lemont (5) were next in line. As a result, Coach Stacy Sparlin's champions won their 18th sectional title in 25 seasons
Leading the way for the Porters were the doubles team of senior Felice Espada and junior Sawyer Hollatz, who captured a 21-18, 21-11 victory over Bradley. Lockport seniors Leigh Beland and Tess Peckman took third with a 21-12, 21-16 win over Plainfield East juniors Grace Carlson and Roochi Shah. Hollatz was also a singles state qualifier in 2018.
In singles play, Lemont senior Karla Pulido won the title after claiming a 24-22, 21-13 victory over Lincoln-Way East senior Paige Carlson, which marked the first time that a girl from that program qualified for the state finals. And Griffins senior Casey Kirschsieper was a 21-15, 21-19 victor over Plainfield East's Melissa Witczak for third place.
Lincoln-Way West Sectional: The hosts gave retiring head coach Donna Thompson a going-away gift as they won their sectional title (12.5 points) while Joliet Central (11) and Oswego East (11) tied for second place. It was West's second-straight sectional title and its fourth in the last five seasons. While at Lincoln-Way Central, the veteran coach won five sectional titles in seven years and claimed a second-place showing in 2008.
West's first doubles finals saw junior Allison Hullinger and senior Shaunna O'Malley beat senior Emilia Evans and junior Kayla Wojcik win 23-21, 21-17. Wojcik was also a doubles qualifier a year ago and Hullinger and O'Malley made state after taking fourth. Bolingbrook seniors Michelle Gonzalez and Lily Torres won 21-17, 21-12 over Oswego East for third.
Homewood-Flossmoor Sectional: The hosts beat Lincoln-Way Central 14-10 for the title. Central senior Gillian Underhill won the singles title 22-20, 21-12 over Stagg's Nikki Marsh.