Senior Leo Canales made his second straight appearance in the Men's Open final at the Illinois Handball Association State Singles Championships over the weekend.
Canales outscored his first two opponents 84-41 before posting a 21-11, 16-21, 11-4 victory in the semifinals. After falling 21-7, 21-6 to Lake Forest College alumnus David Munson in last year's final, he made a far better showing this season. Canales won the first game 21-16 before Munson rallied to take the second 21-15 and the third 11-6.
Forester freshman Anthony Sullivan also found success in the Men's Open Division, posting a 21-14, 21-12 victory in the round of 16 before falling in the quarterfinals.
Senior Kyra Vidas prevailed 21-12, 21-13 in the quarterfinals of the Women's Open Singles bracket to reach the semifinals for the second year in a row. She was then eliminated 21-6, 21-11 by the eventual runner-up in the semifinals.
Several Lake Forest players recorded victories in the lower divisions as well. Senior Carter Kounovsky rattled off three consecutive wins to advance to the final in the Men's A Division while freshman Devin Peters made it to the semifinals and senior Max Roberts and sophomore Chandler Straw were quarterfinalists in the same bracket. Senior Jon Vargas and junior Xavier Higa prevailed twice before falling in the Men's B Division semifinals and sophomore Brandon Sanchez won in the Men's C/Novice round of 16.
On the women's side senior Frankie Corrado and sophomore Annabeth Gibbons each posted a pair of victories to reach the B Division semifinals. Junior Quinn Jagodzinski and Riley Frisbie advanced to the quarterfinals in the same bracket.
Lake Forest will host its annual Men's Invitational Singles event next Saturday and Women's Singles Invitational a week later.