GLENDALE — Prescott’s Riley Crockett became the first badminton player in more than two decades to win an individual state championship for the Badgers program, defeating Hannah Winschel from Sunrise Mountain in straight sets this past weekend.

The senior opened the Division II Singles Championship bracket Oct. 21 at Independence High School with victories over Angelica Medel (21-7, 21-6) of Ironwood, and Pravindi Gurusinghe (21-19, 19-21, 21-12) of Mesquite to advance to the finals.

Crockett, the No. 1-overall seed, went back and forth with Winschel in the first set to come out on top, 21-17, and made quick work of the No. 6 seed from Sunrise Mountain in the second set, 21-4, to claim the title.

“Riley Crockett is a four-year varsity player in the program and has put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into improving her game and into continuing to grow this program,” Prescott head coach Bobbi Yoder said via email to AzPreps365.com.

“It is a pretty awesome thing to see one of your kids achieve one of their biggest goals athletically and win a state championship,” Yoder added.

The last singles champion to come out of Prescott was Krysta Martinez in 2001, according to Yoder.

Crockett said it “felt good” to win the title this year, especially after finishing second in doubles a season ago.

“I knew how it felt to finish second, so this year I feel accomplished to win,” Crockett said, adding that her commitment to her craft is what got her over the hump.

“My success came from the last four years, and the girls before me, who I learned from. … The time and effort I put in, I did the things to get better,” Crockett said.

She also loved seeing her coach after the win.

“Seeing Bobbi [Yoder] and how proud she was of me. It was a fun accomplishment. It was an exciting part for everyone,” Crockett said.

BADGER UPDATE

In doubles play, Elena Gonzalez and Maryn Schmitt made it to the Sweet 16 before losing in three sets to Thunderbird, 21-13, 20-22, 21-17, while Reese Sorensen and Ashlynn Reed lost in the first round in three sets to Greenway, 11-21, 21-16, 21-12.

As a team, No. 2-seeded Prescott defeated No. 15 Saguaro 5-1, then used a 5-2 victory over No. 10 Mesquite to advance to the Final Four of the Division II Badminton Team Championships.

The Badgers are scheduled to host No. 3 Chaparral on Thursday, Oct. 26. Official start time is set for 4 p.m. The team championship match is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, at Desert Vista High School.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on Twitter @AzPreps365Brian. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.