The Sentinel

Fighting Illini Open women's tennis tournament starts November 6

Lorilei Yau lines up a winning shot while playing a high school match against Centennial in August. The Urbana senior and a state-qualifier in tennis this season, along with other area tennis players and fans, will have the opportunity to watch some of the top female tennis athletes in the world compete at the Fighting Illini Open from November 6-13 at Atkins Tennis Center.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

URBANA - Atkins Tennis Center, located on the University of Illinois campus, will host the area's final women's professional tennis tournament of the year on November 6-13. The Fighting Illini Open will be a unique opportunity for central Illinois tennis players and fans to see rising stars on the ladies' side of the sport and top players from all over the world. Thirty-two singles players and 16 double pairs will compete for a $15,000 purse during the first full week of November.

Last year's title was won by China's Fangran Tian, who defeated Ania Hertel from Poland in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. The 20-year-old rolled through the bracket without dropping a set.

Fangran, who was ranked 1,138 in the world by the International Tennis Federation, has won three more W15 hardcourt tournament titles since visited the home of the Fighting Illini Womens Tennis program. Now a sophomore on the UCLA roster, she picked up titles and prize money at tournaments this summer in Rancho Santa Fe (CA), San Diego, and Los Angeles, pushing her international ranking to a career-high 512.

Katherine Duong, a junior at the University of Illinois last November, battled her way from a wildcard entry to a semifinal match against Sara Daavettila, who is currently ranked 525 by the Womens Tennis Association. Doung fell 6-3, 6-2, ending her 2022 run but not before winning matches over Swiss Sophie Luescher (6-4, 6-1), Great Britain's Tiffany William (6-3, 6-3), and Wisconsin University frosh Maria Sholokhova (7-5, 6-4) from Sochi, Russia.

This year's tournament draw and results can be found on X (formally known as Twitter) at @illiniProTennis or on the official tournament website at https://www.illiniprotennis.com/. For more information contact Atkins Tennis Center at (217) 244-8562.

4 tips for a healthier Halloween

Illustration by S. Bartels/Pixabay

Brandpoint - Candy, sweets and seasonal treats - it's officially dessert season, and you may be starting to think about how you'll stay on track with your nutrition goals this year. While there's nothing wrong with a little indulgence, it can be overwhelming when the kids bring home their overflowing bags of candy.

"We're coming up on several months of holidays and it's so fun to celebrate with our favorite candy and treats," says Kristin Kirkpatrick, M.S., registered dietitian and Quest endorser. "But there can be too much of a good thing, so it's important to take some proactive steps to stay on track while also enjoying yourself."

Kirkpatrick is dishing out her tips on how to make this year's trick-or-treat season festive while sticking with healthy behaviors when it comes to candy and sweets.

1. Watch out for "snack-sized" portions.

A "fun-sized" or "snack-sized" piece of candy may seem harmless, but a common misconception is that this smaller candy is healthy for you, according to Kirkpatrick. However, even a snack-sized candy bar is high in sugar. And because they're small, you may be tempted to eat several pieces, sometimes even more than a standard-sized serving. Instead, be mindful. Keep track of how many snack-sized treats you eat to ensure you're not overindulging.

2. Opt for smart swaps.

Choosing a candy option that has more protein and isn't packed with sugar and net carbs, such as the Quest Chocolatey Coated Peanut Candies, can allow you to stick to your nutrition goals while still enjoying a sweet treat. With 10 grams of protein and 1 gram of sugar per serving, this treat delivers the crunch, sweetness and might help "scare" away the candy cravings you might experience during Halloween. If you prefer traditional candy, choose a kind that has a little fiber (such as nut-based candy). This can help fill you up quicker, meaning you may eat less overall.

You can also stock up on healthier options for snacks and treats for your kids - and yourself. For example, you can find snack servings of popcorn, pretzels, cheddar crackers, trail mix and dried fruit.

3. Fuel up before trick-or-treating. Before you head out the door for a night of spooky fun and candy hunting, be sure to serve your family a nutritious, balanced meal with protein and fiber. This can help your kids feel full and energized and may prevent them from overindulging on sweets later in the night.

4. Share your sweets with others.

After a long night of trick-or-treating, sit down with your kids and help them go through their stash. Have them pick out a few of their favorite candies, then talk to them about the benefits of sharing and allow them the opportunity to give to others. Ask your local food pantry or shelter to see if they are accepting Halloween candy. This can help your family make healthy choices after Halloween while also donating to a good cause.

If you're not able to donate the treats, consider freezing it for later or using it for baking during the holiday season.

Consider these tips to make managing Halloween candy in your house a little easier this year. And for more sweet swaps, check out questnutrition.com.