Buffalo Grove duo a successful combo

Working as one is what separates the best doubles teams from the rest.

Buffalo Grove seniors Michelle Byjos and Nell Boyd were able to quickly find that synchronicity as they finished fourth at the state badminton tournament a year ago. Not bad considering this was a brand-new racket for Boyd, who is an accomplished tennis player.

So, where are they at now in their second season in tandem? A strong indicator came during an off-the-court conversation.

“Nell and I have each other to keep our…” Byjos said.

“Composure,” Boyd quickly interjected.

“Composure,” Byjos said almost simultaneously. “We get along really well. We started becoming friends in high school and became really close last year.”

Their bond will be tested even more this year since they are now the most recognizable figures from a team which finished second in the state. Last year the spotlight was on BG teammates Ashton and Heather Nisbet, who bookended second-place state doubles finishes around a title in 2009.

It doesn’t appear to be an uncomfortable glare for Boyd and Byjos.

“It’s a good spot to be in,” said BG coach Chris Van Grondelle of last year’s Mid-Suburban League champions at No. 2 doubles. “It’s much better to be in that spot.”

And they have found a perfect alternative to prepare on a daily basis now that the Nisbets are playing tennis at Illinois State. Carl Watschke, who had been a head coach at Wheeling and Conant, has joined BG’s coaching staff as an assistant along with Serge Penksik.

Boyd and Byjos regularly play against Watschke and Penksik. Boyd won the MSL No. 6 singles title last year and said their battles have also boosted their solo efforts.

“We’re definitely more comfortable now,” Byjos said. “Watschke is one of the top coaches in the state.

“Those three (BG’s coaching staff) really make us work hard and push us to the top. It helps with our skills and it really helps mentally and physically.”

They have the athletic tools to succeed. Boyd won her first three matches at the state tennis tournament in the fall and played basketball.

Byjos has played softball, soccer, volleyball and was an ice skater. Her sister Olivia finished fourth in state doubles in 2006 and her sister Eve played volleyball at BG.

“They’re both strong and quick and two of the best athletes in the state,” Van Grondelle said. “I can’t imagine anybody hitting harder than they hit. They’ll certainly be able to compete with everybody.”

That includes Van Grondelle’s daughter Maggie, a two-time state medalist at Palatine who is teamed up with Tomoyo Tsurumi this year. Defending champion New Trier returns the duo of Mari Georgiadis and Dora Saclarides, who beat Boyd and Byjos in last spring’s third-place match.

Boyd, an honor roll student who is going to Drake to play tennis and possibly study marketing, is glad she finally came out for badminton last year after years of coaxing by Byjos and the Nisbets.

“Right now there isn’t as much pressure, but once it gets close to conference, sectionals and state it will kick in a little bit,” Boyd said. “When we got fourth it was really great. We were nervous but once we got through the first day we thought, ‘We can totally do this.’”

Byjos is a member of the National Honor Society and is going to Illinois, where she may study biology. She hopes to add to her badminton resume since she plans to try out for the school’s club team.

“We’re striving to meet our goal, which is to end high school with a memory of a victory,” Byjos said. “That’s what we want.”

What they could end up with together is something special.