Girls badminton: As usual, Miller Place on top

By KAELA MAHONkaela.mahon@newsday.comApril 10, 2010

The Guinness Book record for longest high school winning streak is held here on Long Island. The Miller Place girls badminton team set the bar at 504 consecutive wins in 2005 and the Panthers are back this spring to try for a new streak.

Senior Liz Paturalski and sophomore Joceyln Romonoski won in the team tournament last season and they will be returning as the No. 2 doubles team. The No. 1 doubles team is seniors Ashley Bua and Bailey Kirkpatrick.

The Panthers' continuous streak has ended but the girls refused to relent and took home their 37th Suffolk team championship last season with a record of 13-1. The singles-heavy win was attributed to the stellar "Broom Brigade" that consisted of four girls who won 63 singles matches in a row. Since they have all graduated, Miller Place looks to dominate the county with its rising doubles game.

"Our girls team will be totally different this year, but I still tell them that fast feet comes first," coach Don Pranzo said. "Agility to move about the court with never-ending stops is important. Endurance in singles is a major factor in a long, close match."

The talent in Nassau is spread among 37 teams, compared with Suffolk's eight. The teams are split between five ability-based conferences, one being the strongest. This is the first year that there will be only one county champion in singles and doubles; in the past, there was a winner in each classification.

Defending Nassau team champion Calhoun remains the team to beat after it won No. 2 and No. 3 singles and claimed all four of the doubles individual titles last season. Farmingdale is expected to be Calhoun's toughest competition and Great Neck South and Bellmore JFK have risen to Conference 1 from Conference 2.

Senior Christina Strezenek of Calhoun is an individual to watch and she will face strong competition in Mepham senior Jenna Cavuto, who had seven wins last season in No. 1 singles and was named All-Conference in Conference 1.

Junior Melanie Pavels of Valley Stream South was undefeated during the regular season in No. 2 singles and was named All-Conference in Conference 2 and All-County. Also look out for East Meadow senior Katie Klobus, who has a career record of 24-2. Nassau will face a new opponent in Long Beach, which has joined the competition in badminton for the first time. Sophomore Brigitte Gilbert earned the Marines' No. 1 singles spot.