MSL badminton preview
Badminton
Mid-Suburban League tournament
Where: Buffalo Grove
When: Doubles at 4:30 p.m. today; singles at 8:30 a.m. Saturday
What to watch: Fremd and Buffalo Grove took care of the first part of business with the regular season counting 50 percent toward an overall title. The Vikings won the West in their quest for a third straight MSL title and the Bison won the East for their first division crown. "BG is tough and it will be interesting because they're solid at one through five doubles," said Fremd coach Bob Hanson, whose team shared the overall title with Hersey last year. "I consider us pretty solid at one through 10 singles." BG hopes to continue its historic season as it looks for its first MSL title. "Fremd obviously has a very good team, but my doubles teams have been just on fire," said BG coach Chris Van Grondelle of a meet that rewards depth.
At singles, Fremd senior Jenna Langhorst hasn't lost and looks for a repeat title at No. 1 after winning the No. 2 title as a sophomore. "Jenna is at the best I've seen her play since she's been in the program," Hanson said. "From last year to this year she's stronger and faster." No. 2 Erica Lee, No. 3 Alice Liu and No. 7 Jackie Tiangco are also seeking repeat titles. BG's Heather Nisbet won at No. 5 last year and will be a factor with twin sister Ashton and Michelle Byjos won at No. 8.
Also figuring to make an impact in singles are BG's Melanie Driscoll, Rolling Meadows' Kim Martini, Schaumburg's Amanda Hardt, Wheeling's Karolina Sabaliauskaite, Prospect's Melanie Walsh, Conant's Selina Imamura and Hersey's Sonal Patel (last year's No. 7 champion).
First doubles figures to be a real battle starting with the Nisbets (22-2), last year's state runnerup. "Truthfully they're the two best athletes in the state," Van Grondelle said. "If they're on and they get hot there's nobody who can beat them." But it won't be easy with Langhorst and Lee, Wheeling's Jennifer Moss and Ausrine Rakauskaite and Van Grondelle's daughters Katie and Maggie from Palatine in the mix. "That might be the most exciting part of the weekend," Hanson said. BG has also had strong doubles play from Kate Meyers and Byjos (32-1 at No. 2) and Driscoll and Deanna Guyton at No. 3.
Central Suburban tourney: Maine West's Amanda Czekaj hopes to continue toward a state berth in the CSL tourney this weekend at Evanston.