North Stars double up Saints

If preseason tryouts mean anything, St. Charles North badminton coach Michael Smith welcomed more than 40 girls to the practice sessions held earlier this month.

"There's more word out there that badminton is for real and we had to let girls go," said Smith. "Last year, we had to cut five or six girls. This year, a total of 28 girls made the team.

"We're getting more athletes out versus people who just want to try badminton."

The North Stars (2-0, 1-0) displayed their improved athleticism and experience during Tuesday's 10-5 Upstate Eight Conference victory over cross-town rival St. Charles East, spoiling the Saints' home debut.

After taking a slim 3-2 lead in doubles competition, the North Stars pulled away by capturing 7 of the 10 head-to-head singles matches. A year ago, it was the Saints' 7-3 singles edge that lifted them to an 8-7 triumph over the North Stars.

"More than half of my girls are either returning starters from last year or they're the top-level girls from JV last year," said Smith. "Most of them have at least two years experience, if not three, which adds a whole lot to the team."

St. Charles North swept the first six singles decisions, led by Ashley Nelson's 21-11, 21-16 win over St. Charles East's Sarah Johnson at the No. 1 position. Other singles winners for the North Stars were Valeri Cannon (No. 2), Kelsey True (No. 3) Jocelyn Jessop (No. 4), Kathryn Husar (No. 5), Michelle Terwilleger (No. 6) and Ashley Chinderle (No. 8).

In doubles, the North Stars took the first three matches behind Nelson/True, Cannon/Husar and Jessop/Terwilleger.

St. Charles North opened its season last Saturday with a 14-1 thrashing of Plainfield North.

"We have a lot of returning varsity players this year," said Nelson, who advanced to the state tournament in 2008 alongside doubles partner True. "Last year, we only had two singles players who were returning seniors. I think we're going to go far this year."

Nelson, a senior, and True dropped the opening game of their No. 1 doubles match, 14-21, before rallying past the Saints' top pairing of Johnson and Jenny Lewellen.

"We really weren't on today," admitted Nelson. "We haven't been practicing together that much because we've been focusing on singles a lot so far. After the first game, we said, 'Try not to think about that first game and just play like we did last year.'"

Nelson is planning on making a return trip to state in May.

"We hope to get back to where we were last year when we made it to state," she said. "And we're hoping to bring a lot more of our team along this year."

"We're hoping they qualify again and go a little further - they were two-and-out (games) last year," said Smith. "And I think our second doubles team could make it, too, and maybe a singles player."

The North Stars open their home season Thursday against Streamwood.

First-year head coach Tricia Denorio's Saints received singles wins from Addy Stoll (No. 7), Lizzy Stefan (No. 8) and Haley Fenlaciki (No. 10). Doubles victors were Stoll/Stefan (No. 4) and Anushi Trivedi/Faarina Khan (No. 5).

"It's just the beginning of the season," said Stoll. "It was our first home game and first conference game, and it put a lot of pressure on us because it was (against) North.

"I can definitely see us coming back and beating them at conference."