Lepcin's return helps lift Wheeling

Before every big meet, Wheeling badminton coach Karl Watschke gets a little pessimistic about his team's chances.

That could be the result of losing top singles player Ashley Lepcin before the season began, or worrying about finding effective doubles teams.

But by the time the meet ends, Watschke usually has a more optimistic look on his face.

In only his team's second invitational of the spring, Wheeling finished first at the Prospect Invitational on Saturday afternoon. A week earlier, the Wildcats placed fourth at the Schaumburg tournament.

There were a number of reasons why Wheeling elevated its game in just one week. Lepcin returned to the lineup at Schaumburg and placed third, then the Wildcats won two dual meets -- against Schaumburg and Rolling Meadows.

At Prospect, Lepcin won all six of her matches to capture the top spot.

It took her time to find her game at Schaumburg.

"It was," said Lepcin, whose team compiled 35 points, followed by Hersey with 32. "It was the most movement I've done in two months. That (Schaumburg invite) was the 'getting-the-feeling-back meet,' something Lepcin virtually has to do now that Wheeling has lost No. 3 singles player Jenn Moss for the season with a broken hand.

"Today I split twice, against Palatine and New Trier," Lepcin said. "Once I got into the match, I started moving."

"We were confident in singles," Watschke said. "Our first doubles, we just put them together. They struggled today. We have a lot of work to do on doubles. If we're going to do anything at state, we have to do better in doubles."

Placing first at second singles was Wheeling's Karolina Sabaliauskaite.

"New Trier," Sabaliauskaite said of which was her toughest match. "I just don't think I was following my strategy in that match. She was good. She was able to get to the bird and move me around, too."

Second singles is the highest level Sabaliauskaite has played for the Wildcats.

For Hersey, Katie Meyer and Hailey Miller placed second at first doubles, while Sonal Patel and Amanda Joseph did the same at third doubles.