Oak Park and River Forest High School senior Lilianna Jasinska is headed to her fourth badminton state tournament in doubles and second in a row with junior Anika Gupta. The experience improves every year.
“Playing with Anika makes it feel better because we’re so supportive with each other and we’re such a good team,” Jasinska said.
“[State] feels great and every single time, I’m so shocked. I love going because you play such a variety of people with so many different skills. It’s completely different from [the regular season] and I think it’s going to be really fun to go with Anika.”
Jasinska and Gupta qualified again by taking third at the York Sectional Thursday with a 4-1 record. Top-four sectional finishers advance to state Friday and Saturday at DeKalb High School.
At 2023 state, Jasinska and Gupta were top-24 finishers with a 3-2 record after losing their first match. They were one victory from playing on Saturday last year.
“If we improve from last year, maybe make it to the second day [we’d be satisfied],” Gupta said. “[State] has been our goal the whole season so to finally be able to achieve it feels so good.”
This is the 12th straight season the Huskies have had state qualifiers, dating back to 2012 (there was no 2020 state meet). Jasinska is believed to be their first four-time state qualifier in at least 20 years.
“That’s a pretty big accomplishment,” OPRF coach Paul Wright said. “These kids put a ton of time in during the offseason and it just really shows. [Jasinska and Gupta] practice together in the offseason occasionally. They have a really good relationship.”
What’s most impressive about OPRF’s streak is that the majority of the players enter the program with little to no experience.
“Ninety-five percent of those girls have never played organized badminton until they came to OPRF,” said Wright, in his 12th season. “Our success is a testament to my coaching staff and the commitment from the girls and parents to get better during the off-season.”
The Huskies outlasted Lyons Township juniors Mia Graziano and Simone Brown 14-21, 21-19, 23-21 in the third-place match — fighting off three match points after trailing 20-18. They qualified by winning their previous match 21-18, 21-18.
OPRF’s other doubles team of seniors Kathelyn Wallace and Ella Papandreou was 3-2 and came one victory from state, losing to Graziano and Brown 21-11, 21-17 in the determining match. In singles, junior Alice Cadwell was 1-2 and senior Sophia Jozefczyk was 0-2 with both players receiving one bye.
Before last season, Jasinska and Gupta had never met. Jasinska played her first two state meets in doubles with 2022 graduate Amelia Hoog, going 1-2 both years.
Seeking a new partner, Jasinska quickly noticed the “sophomore prodigy” during tryouts. Gupta had been on the 2022 freshman team.
“I played her during singles [at 2023 tryouts]. That’s when we kind of established Anika was definitely really good and it would make the most sense for me to play with her,” Jasinska said.
“[Jasinska] just started hitting with me. I was an underclassman so I was like, ‘OK,’ ” Gupta recalled. “I learned [that state is] a lot of fun. But I think I learned a lot about the mental game because working with a partner under stressful conditions, it’s hard to do. I think I learned how to stay positive, cheer on your teammate and be in there.”
Wright said Jasinska has proven to be a great model for Gupta and the program, just as Hoog was for Jasinska, and Gupta is becoming.
“I’m kind of keeping up the tradition,” said Jasinska, laughing. “It’s super-fun [at state] and I definitely wouldn’t have been able to do it without my coaches and teammates. I’m shocked and really happy every time.”
Melvin Tate contributed to this story.
