Wheeling wins 3rd straight sectional

Winning a third straight badminton sectional didn't figure to be a lock for Wheeling.

The Wildcats lost five of their top players from last year to graduation and another this year to injury.

Behind senior singles champion Ashley Lepcin, the Wildcats kept their success streak going and won their own sectional as they scored 13 points to top Palatine (10.5) on Friday night.

"I thought it was a rebuilding year," said Wheeling coach Carl Watschke. "But they worked real hard and we thought we could do something at sectionals."

Lepcin, who went to the state tourney in Charleston last year in doubles, had a tough 13-21, 21-17, 23-21 win in the title match over Palatine's Katerina Walker. Lepcin overcame a 7-point deficit in the final game.

"Somehow she pulled it out," Watschke said. "I give her credit for fighting back."

Wheeling junior Karolina Sabaliauskaite also qualified for next weekend's state tourney by finishing third. Its newly formed doubles team of sophomore Shannon Chechang and senior Sakina Khan took third to qualify.

Palatine sophomore Katie Van Grondelle and senior Nikki Patel won the doubles title. They took care of Evelyn Chou and Alex Winans of Glenbrook South 18-21, 21-12, 21-6.

At Evanston: Rolling Meadows' doubles team of seniors Francesca Himelman and Melissa Heller finished third to qualify for state for the second straight year.

After a tough 3-game loss in the semifinals, Himelman and Heller came back to win their next two matches. They beat Nakimera Moore and Rachel Kamienski of Evanston 21-12, 19-21, 21-16 for third.