Meadows' Martini counts on experience in quest for state glory

Kim Martini is well-prepared for a run at a state badminton medal.

The Rolling Meadows senior already has the experience of a trip to the state tournament. She also has experienced plenty of tough competition on the way to a fifth-place medal at No. 1 singles in last weekend's Mid-Suburban League tournament.

"Just being in this conference, every match is such good practice," said Martini, who made it to Saturday's final day of competition at state last year. "It might make us feel down, not getting first every time, but when we get downstate it will be huge for us.

"It's crazy, (Wheeling's Shannen Chechang) gets sixth here and didn't get a medal and downstate she could get a medal there."

Martini is 26-8 going into the Deerfield sectional at 5 p.m. today. She has lost twice to Palatine's Katie Van Grondelle and Buffalo Grove's Heather Nisbet and once to Conant's Selina Imamura.

"I've definitely had good matches (outside the MSL)," Martini said. "But I don't know if it compares to the MSL. The competition here is so good."

Martini figures to get some tough tests today. Stevenson's Wan Wan Liu qualified for state in doubles last year, and Deerfield's Taylor Lundberg is a returning singles qualifier who was second to New Trier standout Courtney Lai in the Central Suburban League tourney.

The top four qualifiers in singles and doubles advance to the state tourney May 14-15 at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

Looking to continue another streak: After winning its fourth straight MSL title, defending state champion Fremd now takes aim at its ninth straight sectional crown at home at 4:30 p.m. today.

Fremd senior singles standout Erica Lee is looking to match or exceed her third-place state finish of last year. And the doubles teams of Claire Lee and Jackie Tiangco and Annie Huang and Alice Liu are looking for return state trips.

"The way we practice gets them mentally and physically strong," said Fremd coach Bob Hanson. "We put them in pressure situations and they come through in pressure situations.

"We definitely feel confident going into the sectional."

Especially with all of the tests the Vikings faced - including this weekend in their tough team battle with Buffalo Grove.

"Everyone really wanted it," Erica Lee said. "What it comes down to is we wanted to win for ourselves and the team.

"That's what drives our team. That drive to want to be the best."

The doubles competition also features Palatine's Katie and Maggie Van Grondelle, who were sixth at state last year and were second in the MSL No. 1 to BG's Heather and Ashton Nisbet.

Wheeling's Shannen Chechang is also looking to make a return state trip.

Boyd makes big progress: Buffalo Grove junior tennis standout Nell Boyd admitted her introduction to badminton wasn't easy.

"At first I couldn't block a smash at all and I couldn't pick up the bird with my racket, which was the joke with the team," Boyd said with a smile. "But once practices got going I got better. We have such a strong team it definitely helped me improve and get better, too."

Now Boyd will try to help Buffalo Grove win its second straight sectional title and fifth in its history at home at 4:30 p.m. Friday. Boyd and Michelle Byjos, who won the MSL No. 2 doubles title, will be looking for a trip to state.

"I didn't think we'd win conference when I went out for the team this year," said Boyd, who also won the No. 6 singles title. "It's unbelievable that I actually won and Michelle and I are doing well in doubles."

Byjos made it to the consolation semifinals last year with Kate Meyers. Deanna Guyton is also looking for a return trip to state in singles while Heather and Ashton Nisbet continue their quest to defend their doubles title.

Prospect and Barrington are also at the BG sectional.

Quick shots: Conant hosts a sectional at 5 p.m. today with Selina Imamura and Ayaka Yoshinari looking to get downstate. Imamura and Yoshinari finished third at Nos. 1 and 2 singles respectively in the MSL - Hersey is at the sectional hosted by state-title contender New Trier at 5 p.m. today - Other sectionals today have Leyden and Hoffman Estates at York (5 p.m.) and Schaumburg at Glenbard East (4:30 p.m.). Elk Grove is at Willowbrook at 5 p.m. Friday.