Oak Forest's Johnson, Luciano Prepare for Whirlwind Weekend

For Oak Forest’s Kelly Johnson and Sammie Luciano, the end of the high school badminton season will signal the beginning of the next chapter in their young lives. A trip downstate also will act as a celebration of a successful partnership that brought the two together on the court this season and taught them lessons that will serve them well in life.

Johnson and Luciano will be playing together for the final time on the IHSA’s biggest stage Friday and Saturday in the state tournament at Lantz Gym on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

Then, before long, it’s off to college for the two Bengal seniors. Luciano will attend St. Ambrose University in the fall. Johnson is headed to Saint Xavier. Both are National Honor Society students. Both also are active in a number of activities outside of badminton at Oak Forest.

Luciano is a Freshman Mentor and co-captain of the Pom Dance team that qualified for state earlier. She performed with the poms and the marching band at halftime of home football games. She also is involved in Pep Club, Interact and Snowball and was director of the Snowball retreat last fall.

Johnson is a member of the Oak Forest Running Club and Pep Club. She and Luciano will depart for Charleston on Thursday and then make a quick turnaround for another once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“Oh, did I mention that they leave Thursday for state and, after competing (on Friday), will race home to attend prom, which is being held at the Field Museum (in Chicago)?” said Sammie Luciano’s mother, Dawn. “Hair and makeup will be done in the car ride.”

Johnson and Luciano qualified for the state tournament by placing fourth in doubles competition at the Hinsdale South Sectional. The two split four matches and saw a dramatic run come to a halt in a 22-20, 21-5 loss to Sana Soni and Christine Stella of Hinsdale South in the third-place match.

Oak Forest placed third in the sectional with 8 points. Hinsdale South took the team title with 17 points.