Badminton: Fremd frosh flourish at WW South
While the Fremd badminton team awaits the return of its most experienced player, senior all-stater Stephanie Mbi, freshmen Jenny Li and Hannah Chen already look like veterans.
"It's actually an easy transition (to high school) because I've been training outside of school," Li said.
"I think I'm most proud of beating someone that I've never beaten before because I've met some people that beat me in previous tournaments outside of school. Now I can beat them during the high school season."
On Saturday, Li and Chen continued their winning ways as they swept the No. 1 and 2 singles titles at Wheaton Warrenville South's annual Birdie Bash.
The format had six teams playing round-robin duals of four singles and four doubles. Senior Jenny Chu also earned top-three individual honors by placing second at No. 3 singles.
Hinsdale Central took the team title with 29 points. WW South, Deerfield and the Vikings were second through fourth with 23, 22 and 21 points, followed by Naperville North with 19 and Glenbard South 6. Most lineups were affected by absent players because of college testing.
Li has only lost once this season to Hinsdale South junior Judy Yang, second at state singles in 2015. Chen is undefeated in the No. 2 spot.
"That is just like winning the lottery, getting two top freshmen like that," Fremd coach Bob Hanson said. "Jenny is probably going to be a top-four seed in the state (tournament), at least top 10. They work hard and they've very mature for their age. Even at practice, their battles are pretty intense."
Li and Chen helped each other improve in singles and even sometimes as doubles partners during their off-season training at Egret Badminton Training Center in Schaumburg.
Li's closest matches Saturday were against two other freshmen who were second and third, WW South's Julianna Rylko 21-18, 21-14 and Hinsdale Central's Cindy Tang 21-17, 21-17.
Fremd tied for fifth at state last year but graduated everyone but Mbi from the six-player sectional lineup.
"Yeah, I was pretty eager (for high school badminton). I was really happy to join the team and play," Li said. "My goal is probably to get in the top four or five in the state for singles."
At state, Mbi took fourth in doubles with graduated Suzi Choi - the highest state doubles finish in program history. Mbi was the only non-senior among the top-four state finishers and is among only six from all top 12 finishers.
Mbi began this season coming off a sprained left ankle during her offseason at Egret. She has been sidelined since straining her left Achilles heel March 18 during a doubles match against Buffalo Grove.
Before the forfeit, Mbi and sophomore Vanshika Ramesh had been undefeated. Wearing a protective boot Saturday, Mbi said she hopes to return to practice in two weeks.
"I'm excited but also worried. Hopefully I can heal 100 percent by (state) and I won't have to worry about my ankle or anything," Mbi said.
It'll be close, but Hanson said Mbi should be healthy enough to compete in the Mid-Suburban League Meet. Hanson still may keep Mbi out until sectionals.
"We're going to see if she plays in the conference meet, but as a senior, I want the main focus on her to be able to go down to state again," Hanson said. "Sectionals is more important than conference. We like our sectional team - if we get healthy."