1. Chicagoland Players/Teams in the news (5 articles):

A. Andrew badminton excels
The Andrew badminton program, which owns five
state titles — including three in a row from
2000-02 — once again appears to be a state title
contender.

On Saturday, the Thunderbolts claimed the
championship of the Evanston Invitational. Senior
singles player Jenny Maziarka (26-3) led the way,
taking second in "A flight" singles.

Andrew won the team championship with 69 points.
Downers Grove North was second with 51 while
Hinsdale Central and Evanston (40 points) shared
third place in the 16-team field.

Head coach Terry TerHaar is at the helm for
Andrew, which took second in state in 2003 and
third in 2004. TerHaar will retire from teaching
at the end of this school year, at which time he
also plans to end his 28-year coaching career.

"The kids have worked hard, and to get to the
state tournament would be special," TerHaar said.
"If the kids play up to their potential, who
knows what could happen."

Joining Maziarka in singles play is Kate Greune
at No. 2. Maziarka and Greune competed at the
same singles spots last season.

Kaitlin Curran and Kelli Eble (No. 1) and Sarah
Reidy and Kelly Doyle (No. 2) are the top two
doubles teams.

"Our top six players can go a long way at the
state tournament," TerHaar said. "They're that
good. If they continue to improve, we'll be a
legitimate contender for a state title."

[Source: http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dssports/pro/253sd4.htm ]



B. Srinivasan showing badminton dominance
Though she downplays her success, Meghna
Srinivasan has established herself as an elite
badminton player.

The Hinsdale Central senior won the A flight
singles championship at the Evanston Invitational
on Saturday by beating two other top players.
Srinivasan edged Downers Grove North junior Kim
Jaros 13-12, 11-9 in the semifinals before
routing Andrew senior Jenny Maziarka 11-3, 11-5
in the final.

"I guess I had a lucky day,'' Srinivasan said. "I
was playing really good players, so it could have
gone either way.''

Srinivasan improved to 33-3, with all the losses
coming to players she since has beaten. She has
2-1 records against both Jaros (37-3) and Maziarka
(26-3).

"I guess it's just about staying focused on the
court and learning from your mistakes,''
Srinivasan said. "I wouldn't be where I am today
without my coach [Mike Stevens]. He keeps me
confident and makes me believe in myself.''

Andrew gained confidence by winning the team
championship with 69 points. Downers Grove North
was second with 51 points while Hinsdale Central
and Evanston shared third place in the 16-team
field with 40 points.

"We had good, solid play from everybody,'' Andrew
coach Terry TerHaar said. "I think the only
disappointing thing was not winning a
championship in the A flight because at the state
tournament you need to be able to win those top
matches.''

Downers Grove North's Katie Batkiewicz and Meghan
LaVallie won their second top invitational title
in as many weeks, knocking off New Trier's Naomi
Miller and Sarah Haas 15-10, 15-7 in the A flight
doubles final.

[Source: http://www.suntimes.com/output/prep/cst-spt-spring24.html ]



C. World of silence is no obstacle

Lyons sophomore Claire Pedziwiatr impresses and
amuses her peers with her athletic ability and
outgoing personality.

But that is not what is inspiring. Pedziwiatr is
deaf, the result of a bout with spinal meningitis
when she was 6 months old.

Many people would call that a disability, but
Pedziwiatr believes it is just a disadvantage
that must be overcome.

"I don't want people to have doubts about deaf
people,'' Pedziwiatr said. "They can't judge
[deaf people] just because they can't hear. I
have confidence in myself.''

An honor-roll student, Pedziwiatr is a standout
on the sophomore basketball and badminton teams.
Next year, she will play on the varsity in both
sports.

Interpreters Monica and Claudia Nygaard assist
her in the classroom and after school,
respectively. Because Pedziwiatr was not born
deaf, she speaks well enough for people to
understand her. And to see her interacting with
her teammates, you would never know she is deaf.

"It's not that hard,'' Pedziwiatr said. "A lot of
people here know sign language. In basketball,
the referees have some signs they use, so it's
really easy for me to understand. The only thing
that's difficult is when I'm in a big group at
school or in a crowd. There are lots of times I
feel like I get left out.''

Thanks to her teammates, that rarely happens.
If badminton coach Garen Lazier begins practice
before Claudia arrives, the other girls make sure
Pedziwiatr understands the instructions. The
basketball team has memorized hand signals
denoting their set plays and uses them to
communicate with the 5-7 guard.

Pedziwiatr jokes that being deaf is an asset when
she shoots free throws because she doesn't need
to block out the crowd noise.

Blocking Pedziwiatr out, however, is impossible.

"She's so outgoing, there's never a dull moment
with her,'' said Sara Irwin, her doubles partner
in badminton, who has known Pedziwiatr since they
were 6. "I've never seen anyone like her.''

Pedziwiatr is the first deaf student Lazier has
coached in her 33-year career at Lyons.

Rather than attend Hinsdale South, which has a
specialized program for the hearing impaired,
Pedziwiatr enrolled at Lyons at the urging of her
friends, most of whom she met while playing
sports.

"I have really good friends here, and I have a
really good relationship with teachers,''
Pedziwiatr said. "They know how to communicate
with me. I don't really depend that much on
Monica.''

But the Lions do depend on her, treating her like
any other teammate despite being amazed at what
she can do. That's why Lazier is hoping
Pedziwiatr will become a teacher and coach, and
continue to be an inspiration for deaf
youngsters.

"I'd tell them to follow their heart, don't
listen to what other people say,'' Pedziwiatr
said. "You just have to believe in the talent you
have and just be who you are. I just want to have
a good life.''

Source: http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-spt-claire22.html ]


D. Pauly specializes in diversity
Amy Pauly is a girl for all seasons.

The Hinsdale South senior has excelled in three
sports. In volleyball, she earned a scholarship.

In badminton, Pauly is a contender to win the
state title and might go up against defending
champion Iliana Nikova of Maine East. Pauly
finished fifth last year.

"My main goal is to win state,'' Pauly said.
"That's a big goal but it's going to be hard.
There are so many good people, and everyone has
been working hard.''

Pauly, a setter on the volleyball team who led
the Hornets to a 31-win season and their first
regional title since 1997, will play defensive
specialist for Alabama. In basketball, she plays
point guard.

"To be as good as she is in those three sports in
unbelievable,'' Hinsdale South badminton coach
John Charters said.

"She's so small [5-5] but she's so good. Just to
come out on the court, pick up a racket and just
start beating people is pretty awesome.''

Pauly credits her father, Terry, a former
three-sport high school athlete who coached her
in middle school, for encouraging her passion for
sports.

Pauly didn't begin playing badminton
competitively until her freshman year. After
playing badminton during gym class in eighth
grade, Pauly dropped softball for badminton.

By her sophomore year, Pauly was the No. 2
singles player behind two-time state champion
Carissa Niemann. She reached the quarterfinals at
the 2003 state meet and the Hornets finished
fourth.

"I think [playing against Niemann] helped me
tremendously, not only working on my footwork,
but I learned how to place the bird and what
combo shots were good,'' Pauly said. "She helped
with the mental and physical stuff.''

Now Pauly is showing the way for her younger
teammates, as the Hornets seek a fourth straight
top-five finish.

"Her feet are what takes her to the next level,''
Charters said. "She never crosses them over or
crosses them up and they carry her in some
matches that she should lose. And she's got an
awesome smash. She pulls it out of the bag when
she needs it.''

Playing a high school sport and club volleyball
has been tough. But Pauly practices with her club
team twice a week and competes in several weekend
tournaments. She will miss only two meets this
spring.

"[Sports] have been a big part of my life for so
long, I just wouldn't be able to not play
[one],'' she said. "I think it helps you in the
long run because if you're playing three sports
and working on schoolwork, when you get to
college and you have a huge workload, you'll know
how to handle those types of things.

"I couldn't ask for anything more.''

[Source: http://www.suntimes.com/output/prep/cst-spt-bad15.html ]


E. Badminton Playoffs

The Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association
Second City Badminton league have a post-season
playoff tourney for the Cock-Curious Division
April 14 and the Cock Sure Division April 21.
There is also a summer singles league being
planned. For details, www.chicagomsa.com .

[Source:
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=7952 ]

Interesting write-up for 2006 Gay Games Badminton on:
http://www.chicagomsa.com/badminton/index.htm

[Thanks to Larry for the info!]

-- CLBP Moderators