Nisbets' state badminton title sinking in

Ashton and Heather Nisbet didn't have the breakfast of champions Monday morning at Buffalo Grove.

The juniors were the reason for the school's breakfast with the champions with teachers, administrators and friends at the school.

And that's when it started sinking in for the Nisbets they are state champions after winning the doubles crown at the badminton state tournament Saturday at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

"We never expected it," Ashton Nisbet said. "It did kind of finally sink in (Monday) morning but it still hasn't completely."

Heather Nisbet said the shock and awe of taking the title was still there Sunday after finishing second a year ago.

"(Monday) morning kind of did it," Heather said. "Everyone congratulated us and it was all kind of cool.

"That's when it started to settle in. Before that we were still in shock and didn't believe it all."

A year ago the Nisbets sneaked up on everyone as they were unseeded en route to their runner-up finish. This year they were the target all season and came into the tourney as the No. 1 seed.

"We definitely knew people were out to get us," Ashton said.

"There was a lot of pressure," Heather said, "but it kind of made us play better when we needed to."

And they were at their best Saturday when they beat Naperville Central's Renee Cheng and Hanting Wang 21-13, 22-20 for the title.

"We played a completely different level of badminton than we had this season," Heather said. "We really stepped up and played the game we're capable of playing. That's what got us into the championship and helped us win the championship."

It capped a spectacular two-year run in Charleston for the Nisbets.

"It's so weird," Ashton said. "We get to that tournament and it almost feels like we have a completely different game.

"It's like something turns on, we don't get mad at each other and we do our best."

So, the Nisbets will be in a familiar position next year as everyone's target.

They'll try to become the first team to repeat as doubles champions in state history. Carol Wenzel of Arlington (1980-81) and Anne Mekel of Palatine (1991-92) won titles with different doubles partners.

"It will be interesting to see how we handle the pressure next year," Heather said.

"When we got the No. 1 seed there was a lot of pressure compared to last year," Ashton said. "This year everyone was expecting us to do so well and we didn't want to let everyone down.

"We tried our best and pulled it off. It's very cool and very exciting."

A championship ending: A few things out of Fremd's control had to go right for its second team title in three years.

But the most important things to go right Saturday were Jenna Langhorst claiming the school's first individual title and Erica Lee taking third.

"It was amazing how we did it, how strong those girls are," said Fremd coach Bob Hanson. "Jenna wasn't going to lose to that girl (Lincoln-Way Central's Kelly Byar).

"It was unbelievable. It showed how great a competitor she is."

Lee also displayed her competitiveness in rebounding from a semifinal loss to Byar.

"It's always a nail-biter but it was great," Lee said of the team title. "Every point counted and we were able to pull through."

Lee will be the top singles returnee next season and doubles qualifiers Claire Lee and Jackie Tiangco and Alice Liu and Annie Huang will be back. It won't be easy for the Vikings without Langhorst, who left a tremendous legacy in the Mid-Suburban League.

"It was a great way for Jenna to go out her senior year," Heather Nisbet said, "and I was really happy for Erica. Bringing the title back to the MSL was great."

Looking ahead: Fremd will suffer a big loss with the graduation of Langhorst but will have everyone else back for a run at another title - BG also loses senior doubles state qualifier Kate Meyers but has teammate Michelle Byjos and singles qualifier Deanna Guyton back with the Nisbets - Katie Van Grondelle earned her second straight medal in doubles and returns with sister Maggie for Palatine - Juniors Kim Martini of Rolling Meadows and Selina Imamura of Conant are back after making it to Saturday and Wheeling junior Shannen Chechang and Leyden junior Maggie Liskowicz return.