Two of the best girls tennis players in Orland Park have taken each other on several times over the years during various tournaments.
But they never had a match like this one.
Marist’s Helena Klooster and Sandburg’s Estela Loureiro – both sophomores — met in the IHSA Class 2A state tournament consolation quarterfinals on Oct. 25 at Rolling Meadows.
However, darkness forced the match to be postponed after Kloster won the first set 6-2 and the two were tied 2-2 in the second.
They got up bright and early for an 8 a.m. continuation of the battle on Oct. 26 and Klooster pulled away with a 6-4 victory and went on to win two more matches to finish in fifth place.
“I’ve played her many, many times, but this was a lot different,” Klooster said of Loureiro. “The whole vibe is different.
“But in some ways, it’s the same because you really want to place and do well.”
Klooster avenged a three-set loss to Loureiro during the regular season,
Last year, Klooster finished in sixth place at state while Loureiro and her sister, Maia, finished second in the state in doubles.
At the time, there were thoughts that Estela Louriero would be moving to Texas. That didn’t happen, although Sandburg coach Brian Ostrander said she will skip her junior season to concentrate on national competition and will likely return to high school play in 2026.
Meanwhile he and Marist coach Brian Burns marveled at the two area stars after they battled.
“They are both equal in talent,” Burns said. “They are both marvelous players. They are so good. And when they play each other, they don’t mess around.”
“That’s the battle of the Southland,” Ostrander said. “I wish they could have met later and battled for fifth place.”
Sandburg, which had singles player Laila Browne reach the fourth round of the consolation bracket, finished in an area-high tie for 12th place. Marist finished 19th.
Sandburg’s Estela Loureiro returns a shot against Marist’s Helena Marist’s Helena Klooster at the state meet in Oct. 26 in Rolling Meadows. Photo by Jeff Vorva
Running to sectionals
Sandburg won its 24th regional or district boys cross country title scoring 36 points at the Class 3A Hinsdale Central Regional. Reavis’s Santiago Chavez won the race at Legge Park in Hinsdale with a 14:40.48, Sandburg’s Luke Atzman was second with a 14:42.32 and Marist’s Matt McKee was third with a 14:57.44.
Lyons won its own regional as Morton’s Miguel Flores took first with a 15:45.91, Lyons’ Benjamin Wuggazer was second with a 15:45.91 and Riverside-Brookfield’s Brady Normal claimed third with a 15:47.37.
In Class 2A, Brother Rice won the Crete-Monee Regional as Gavin O’Connor took first with a 16:33.55 and teammate Andrew Straley was second with a 16:41.5.
St. Laurence’s Luis Flores claimed third at the Hinsdale South Regional with a 14:40.32.
In girls competition there were no team champions and only one area athlete placed in the top three as Sandburg’s Annika Trehan won the Class 3A Hinsdale Central race with an 19:15.74.
Sectional action is scheduled for Nov. 2 at various sites.
Soccer champs
Chicago Christian scored three goals in the final 16 minutes to beat Momence 3-2 on Oct. 25 to earn a spot in the Class 1A Manteno Sectional final, scheduled for Oct. 29.
The Knights reached the sectional with a 3-1 regional-final win over Joliet Catholic in Palos Heights.
Universal claimed a Class 1A Regional title with a 5-2 win over Carver on Oct. 23 at Illinois Lutheran but fell 5-1 to Manteno on Oct. 25.
The area had four teams win regional titles in Class 2A.
Brother Rice knocked off Washington, 3-1 to win the Washington Regional.
St. Laurence won the Mansueto Regional with a 2-1 victory over the hosts.
Solorio won its own regional, 2-0 over Westinghouse.
Joshua Lawson and Alex Panduro each had a goal and an assist as DeLaSalle won its own regional, 5-0 over Back of the Yards.
In Class 3A, Lyons topped Downers Grove North 1-0 at its own regional and Morton beat Argo 4-1 at the Argo Regional.