Sommers/Jambrone win doubles title for runner-up Buffalo Grove
The most memorable season in history for Buffalo Grove's badminton program came to a thrilling conclusion Saturday at the state tournament in Charleston.
Buffalo Grove's Katelyn Sommers and Julie Jambrone won the state doubles championship with a convincing 21-10, 21-11 victory over the team of Emily Spoolstra and Hannah Spoolstra of York.
The duo led BG to a second-place team finish, with the Bison placing just a half-point away from champion Neuqua Valley.
"It was a great day for sure," said Buffalo Grove coach Chris Van Grondelle. "The kids were on mission. Julie and Katelyn were focused and energized all day. They played awesome."
Stephanie Lin of Lyons won the singles championship, rallying from one game down to Judy Yang of Hinsdale South to win 16-21, 21-18, 21-13.
It was Lin's third consecutive crown, the first time that's been done in the 38 years of the badminton state meet.
"She's a strong kid and a great player," said Van Grondelle.
Two more Mid-Suburban League teams took home hardware from Eastern Illinois.
Stephanie Venturelli and Jessica Hirsh of Prospect defeated the Fremd team of Stephanie MBI and Suzy Choi in the third-place match.
MBI/Choi took home the fourth-place medals, while it's the second consecutive season that Venturelli/Hirsh finished third.
Venturelli and Hirsh were just 2 points away from advancing to the title match, but fell to the Spoolstras in the semis by a score of 21-15, 18-21, 23-21.
After finishing second in 2014, seniors Jambrone and Sommers of BG swept to their title without dropping a single game in 6 matches, holding their opponents to under double digit points in 7 of the 12 games.
"This means a lot to us," said Jambrone of the title. "I couldn't ask for a better partner than Katelyn."
Jessica Schwartz helped contribute to BG's second-place overall finish with 4 singles wins in the two day tourney, while teammate Kristen McClellan had 3.
The Bison doubles team of Tori Applet and Stephanie Mayer also took 3 wins.
"I couldn't be more excited," said Schwartz of the Bison's second consecutive runner-up team placement. "Of course we would have preferred to win the championship, but to come in second two straight years is quite an achievement."