Badminton preview
State tournament
Where: Eastern Illinois University's Lantz Gym, Charleston
When: Matches follow opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. today; quarterfinals at 9:30 a.m. Saturday followed by semifinals and finals.
Area singles qualifiers: Fremd's Jenna Langhorst, Erica Lee; Rolling Meadows' Kim Martini; Wheeling's Karolina Sabaliauskaite and Shannen Chechang; Prospect's Melanie Walsh; Schaumburg's Amanda Hardt; Leyden's Maggie Liskowicz; Conant's Selina Imamura; Maine West's Amanda Czekaj; Stevenson's Zina Yun; Buffalo Grove's Deanna Guyton; Palatine's Kylie Kosulic.
Area doubles qualifiers: Buffalo Grove's Heather and Ashton Nisbet, Michelle Byjos/Kate Meyers; Wheeling's Jen Moss/Ausrine Rakauskaite, Belen Castillon/Leigh Anne Pena; Palatine's Katie and Maggie Van Grondelle, Colleen Maund/Lora Weiss; Stevenson's Kati McMillan/Wan Wan Liu, Ariel Kersky/Katie Franke; Fremd's Annie Huang/Alice Liu, Claire Lee/Jackie Tiangco; Hersey's Ashley Thomas/Jillian Cabrera.
What to watch: How much hardware will the Mid-Suburban League "family" bring back on Saturday? Langhorst, who finished third and fifth the last two seasons, got the No. 2 seed behind Lincoln-Way Central's Kelly Byar (second last year). The Nisbets, who made a surprise run to finish second in state last year, got the top doubles seed. Fremd hopes for its second title in three years as Erica Lee got a 3-4 seed, but doubles points will be a key as Liu and Huang don't have to open against a seeded team after their surprise sectional win. Buffalo Grove also has a trophy shot with the Nisbets and Meyers/Byjos grabbing a 13-16 seed. Palatine junior Katie Van Grondelle, who was on a fourth-place doubles team last year, and freshman sister Maggie got a 3-4 seed. Wheeling also has seeds in 9-12 Moss/Rakauskaite at doubles and 13-16 Sabaliauskaite at singles. Martini hopes to become Meadows' first medalist in 23 years as a 13-16 singles seed.
What they're saying
"Obviously there will still be some nerves there but we're ready to go. We have to play our hearts out and hope for the best."
- BG's Heather Nisbet on her and twin sister Ashton being the doubles target after taking second last year
"We're excited. Having all six headed down to state is huge."
- Fremd's Erica Lee
"At the first part of the season we didn't feel that way (state medal threats) - but coach (Chris Van Grondelle) kept telling us, 'You guys are good.'"
- BG's Kate Meyers about the doubles outlook with teammate Michelle Byjos
"Everyone says we have one of the best conferences in the state. Getting experience against them all will help with the pressure of playing really good girls."
- Meadows' Kim Martini
"We've already seen some of the best."
- Stevenson coach Mike Fitzgerald on the preparation for the state tourney
"I'm not even nervous - I'm just used to it."
- Schaumburg's Amanda Hardt on her third trip to state
"The fun thing is everyone cheers for each other and it makes each other better."
- Prospect's Melanie Walsh on the MSL
- Compiled by Marty Maciaszek