Riverside Brookfield High School sophomore Mariana Lozano experienced intense emotions entering as the No. 1 seed at No. 2 singles for the Upstate Eight Conference East Division Badminton Meet.
“I felt a lot of pressure to deliver and proved that I deserved to be the No. 1 seed,” Lozano said. “But I think that also gave me confidence that I won against these girls and I’d be able to do it again if I put my mind to it. I definitely felt more tense than relaxed, even when I was playing my hype music.”
Her success continued. She also made team history by winning twice in straight sets, Saturday, at West Chicago, including over Glenbard East’s No. 2 seed, Tailor Washick, 21-14, 21-16 for the title.
Lozano becomes the first UEC Meet champion for the Bulldogs, who made their conference debut last season. At the 2025 UEC Meet with the two divisions combined, Lozano was third at No. 5 singles.
“I felt very accomplished. Winning conference made my season feel complete, that the work I put in allowed me to accomplish the goals I had and more,” Lozano said. “(This season) I think I’ve improved my mentality for badminton, learning how to manage the adrenaline rush from the stress I feel when I play and overall learning to recover on the next point, only thinking forward and not staying on the previous point. I started training more physically, lifting weights and getting in better shape, doing more strenuous private lessons with better people to learn from.”
The Bulldogs finished fourth overall with 18 combined points from UEC East and dual meet results with a 1-4 dual record.
Sophomore Demetra Foster was second at No. 3 singles as the No. 2 seed. In doubles, senior Rhea McDonald and Lozano were second at No. 2.
Riverside-Brookfield’s Demetra Foster returns the serve during a number one doubles match against Glenbard South Thursday, April 16, 2026 in Riverside, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s Rhea McDonald returns the serve during a match against Glenbard South Thursday, April 16, 2026 in Riverside, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s Aubrey Kaczmarek returns the serve while playing number one doubles with Demetra Foster against Glenbard South Thursday, April 16, 2026 in Riverside, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s Aubrey Kaczmarek returns the birdie during a number one doubles match against Glenbard South Thursday, April 16, 2026 in Riverside, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark)
Lozano was excited that her family was able to watch her triumph, Saturday. Surprisingly, she thought the regular-season dual with Washick was “more stressful crowd-wise” because they were the final match and players from both teams were watching courtside.
“I did feel (Saturday) was harder – less stressful but more physically demanding than our earlier match,” Lozano said.
Her joy carried over to doubles. As the No. 3 seed, Lozano and McDonald, won a three-set semifinal over No. 2 seed West Chicago 21-17, 15-21, 21-7.
“I think that was my favorite doubles match. There were ups and downs but I think that was the best (we) ever played,” Lozano said. “Our spacing was good. Our shot selection was properly executed and we stayed positive and in a good competitive mindset. We didn’t lose focus of what we wanted together.”
Lyons Township finished fifth at the West Suburban Conference Silver Division Meet Friday at Hinsdale Central and fifth in the final overall standings after a 2-3 dual record.
LTHS senior Juliet Dillenbeck and junior Sophia Dalgety were second at No. 2 doubles as the No. 2 seed.
Taking third in singles were Dalgety (No. 3), senior Luci Mini (No. 5) and juniors Ella Gryfakis (No. 4) and Sophia Gonzalez (No. 6).
The Bulldogs and Lions compete at sectionals Thursday, May 7. RBHS is at Naperville North and LTHS is at Glenbard East.
The top four finishers in singles and doubles at each sectional advance to the state meet. In 2025, RBHS senior Aubrey Kaczmarek and the doubles team of McDonald and Lozano each finished 1-2 with victories in the consolation bracket.
