East duo hoping to place at state

Most teams would probably consider it a terrible weekend. But for the East Aurora badminton doubles team of Janey Villa and Melissa Valenzuela losing three matches this year at the Naperville Invitational was an overwhelmingly positive experience.

That's because the pair, which is seeded 5-8 this weekend at the state tournament, kept it close in all three of those matches, which just happened to be against the top three teams in the state.

"I think we got seeded exactly where we should," said East Aurora coach Wendell Jeffries. "I was afraid that tournament would hurt us, but I think it actually helped.

"They hung in their against the team from Hinsdale Central (Deepa Ramadurai and Anjylla Foster), which is the No. 1 seeded team at state, the team from Naperville Central (Hanting Wang and Renee Cheng), which is No. 2, and the team from Downers North (Rose Binder and Shannon LaVallie) which is No. 3. So I think they actually got credit for that."

And, more importantly, they learned they can compete with the best teams in the state.

Villa and Valenzuela will be looking to put that knowledge to work today in the 64-team bracket when they open with Evanston's Nakimera Moore and Rachel Kamienski.

"(Winning a state title) is in the back of our minds," Villa said Thursday from Charleston. "We are definitely going for it. But our goal right now is to finish in the top six."

Getting seeded should help. The duo would not have to face another seeded opponent until the final 16. Still, they are taking nothing for granted.

"Everyone at state is really good," said Valenzuela. "We have to be on our toes no matter who we play."

That focus could help the pair achieve school East Aurora history. The best Tomcats finish in singles play at state was fifth. No East Aurora team has ever placed in doubles.

If they are to accomplish that, chances are they will have to again face one or more of the teams they fell to at the Naperville Invitational. Jeffries thinks they will be up to the task.

"Janelle had gotten hurt that week playing volleyball, and they only had one practice," he said. "They didn't play their best. I think if they get another chance they could have a different result.

"I know one thing for sure. They'll be ready." Badminton