By Randy Whalen

Despite losing key players from last year and a coaching change, the Joliet Central badminton team continues to shine. 

The Steelmen did great things again this season, winning the Southwest Prairie Conference championship for the third straight year. Then they followed that by capturing a share of their own sectional title. 

It was the second straight sectional title for the Steelmen and fifth in school history. 

"We are the only Joliet Central team that was not a Township team (from 1993-2010) that has won a sectional championship since 2010," Joliet Central badminton coach Gia Gomez said. "In fact, the last time a Steelmen team won two straight sectional titles, it was also in badminton."

Yes, the last time they won two straight badminton sectionals was in 1989 and 1990. That capped a great stretch of three sectional titles in five years, as they also won one in 1986. Those were all accomplished under coach Ed Lewandowski.

After last year's success, which included a seventh-place Illinois High School Association State finish, the Steelmen faced some questions this season. Analiese Gudeman and Audrey Rodriguez, who had four wins and three points at state last season, graduated. Plus, longtime coach Lisa Luangsomkham moved into a full-time assistant athletic director role. 

But, showing that Steelmen spirit, they had a great season and earned the right to host a sectional. That took place on Thursday, May 7, at the Joliet Central fieldhouse and was very competitive.

"The girls continued that competitive spirit and were really great," Gomez said. "It was really exciting, and we've been able to continue that momentum that we built up."

In the end, the team standings were Joliet Central (11.5 points) and Plainfield South (11.5), tying for first. Stagg (8), Romeoville (7.5), Oswego East (3.5), and Plainfield Central (2) also scored points.

While the two teams tied, the Steelmen had both champions. Those were senior Sarai Contreras-Perez with a hard-fought 21-19, 21-18 victory over Plainfield South junior Aurora Thorson in singles. In doubles, seniors Ja'Mya Chestnut and Erika Saenz-Lata defeated Plainfield South seniors Caroline Jankowski and Jillian Bientum 21-11, 21-18.

Senior Alyson Contreras also won an opening-round singles match, while senior Sadie Johnson and junior Dayana Castillo also played doubles in the sectional for the Steelmen.

Contreras-Perez, along with Chestnut and Saenz-Lata, were state qualifiers last year. So, to repeat, the state experience was great. However, the matchups at state this season were tough. That took place on Friday and Saturday, May 15-16, at DeKalb High School

Perez lost both of her matches, while Chestnut and Saenz-Lata fell in a close opening-round match. The duo won their consolation bracket match 21-13, 21-17 over junior Kata Gyorgy and senior Sahana Shah from Deerfield, but fell in their second round consolation match. 

"Just getting to state is an accomplishment," Gomez said. "It showed that their hard work paid off."

It also paid off on Thursday, April 30, and Saturday, May 2, at the SPC tourney, which Joliet Central also hosted. There, the Steelmen won the league title with six conference champions and seven All-Conference performances. 

All in all, it was another great season for Steelmen badminton. They won the conference, a share of the sectional, and continued their tradition even with a coaching change. 

"I was an assistant coach for three years before I took over this season," Gomez said. "Lisa gave me complete space to run the program. But I knew she was there if I needed her. We put in some new drills, some new, and I was able to grow the program the way I wanted."

The badminton team also had the highest grade point average of all the Joliet Central spring sports teams.

"We had 11 seniors graduate, showing how much passion they had that they were all 4-year players," Gomez said. "We had a freshman-only tournament this season, which we won. I'm really hopeful for the girls on the younger level to move up to varsity and continue that tradition."

The Joliet West badminton team was at the Lockport Sectional and registered a pair of points.

Senior Kimberly Alvarez-Alvarado captured a first-round match 21-16, 22-20 before losing in the quarterfinals. Junior Isabella Hebrard-Flores also played singles for the Tigers.

In doubles, seniors Ariel Smith and Grace Orth won their first-round matchup 21-12, 21-16, but lost in the quarterfinals. Senior Iris Thammavongsa and junior Willow Perruquet also competed in doubles for Joliet West.