Northwest/Scouting area badminton teams

By Marty Maciaszek

mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com

Mid-Suburban East

Buffalo Grove — What do the Bison do for an encore after last season’s historic second-place finish at state to New Trier? They lost the talented duo of Ashton and Heather Nisbet at doubles (two seconds and a state title in 2009) but they return fourth-place doubles finishers Michelle Byjos and Nell Boyd. Alanna Zawlocki and Jenny Krewer also look solid at No. 2 doubles and juniors Eleanore Chan and Kelsey Henrikson add singles to depth to the two-time defending MSL East champs. “We certainly have to be reckoned with in the East and we have some very good players back,” said BG coach Chris Van Grondelle. “I believe our singles players right now are better than we were last year. That could be a big positive as the year goes on.”

Elk Grove — Graduation gutted the Grenadiers of five state qualifiers from a year ago. Mia Kaim, Kerry Trotter, Jenna Ciesielski, Sonia Gandhi and Sierra Kane are big keys at the top of the lineup. “This year should be an interesting one for us,” said Elk Grove coach Joe Lennon, whose team was seventh in the MSL last year. “This will be a rebuilding year for us.”

Hersey — The Huskies always seem to be a factor in the MSL race and last year was no exception as they finished third. Seniors Stephanie Wong and Adriana Stavreva and juniors Jen Hall and Alexis Cole are returning starters and senior Olympia Pawlowski and junior Jean Ziegenhorn have tourney experience. “We are down on overall varsity experience,” said Hersey coach Jeanine Konkolewski.

Prospect — There is valuable experience as junior Shea Gallus teamed with graduated Carly Grouwinkel to win their first two state tourney matches and senior Jackie Hertrich also got a taste of playing in Charleston. Hertrich and Gallus are at Nos. 1 and 2 singles and Gallus has been paired with Noreen Caporusso at No. 1 doubles. Senior Maxine Venturelli also returns from last year’s sectional lineup.

Rolling Meadows — Graduated Kim Martini left quite a legacy as she finished fourth in state singles and became Meadows’ first medalist in 24 years. Laura Srnak and Taryn Hampton will lead the way at the top of the lineup for the Mustangs.

Wheeling — Senior Hannah Park will try to take things a step further this year after finishing 2-2 at state last year. Jessica Pena and Emily Tran also return from playing doubles together in last year’s sectional but Pena is currently with Park and Tran with Rachel Godlewski in the MSL lineup.

Mid-Suburban West

Barrington — Five of six players from last year’s sectional lineup return for Ted deBruin’s Fillies in seniors Hannah Gross, Maddie Johnson and Sydney Slager and juniors Kathy Ho and Shirley Ni.

Conant — Former Palatine player Erin Garrity-Duffey moves up from coaching the freshmen to take over a team that graduated all four of its state qualifiers from the school’s first sectional championship team in 15 years. She has high hopes for the No. 1 doubles team of senior Stephanie Chan and sophomore Emily Haney after they lost a three-set match to get to state last year and for junior Danielle Park at No. 1 singles. Freshman Natalia Migdal is also showing a lot of promise. “Badminton is such an individual sport but we’re really focused on being more of a whole team,” Garrity-Duffey said. “Rather than going out by yourself, you’re part of something bigger than you and your game.”

Fremd — The Vikings look to continue the hardware haul after winning a fourth straight MSL title last year and tying for third in the state after winning titles in 2009 and 2007. Two-time singles medalist Erica Lee has graduated along with Alice Liu, who made the consolation state semis in doubles with junior Annie Huang. Freshman Angela Wu is playing No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles with Huang and sophomores Kelly Owens and Momoka Shimizu are playing well at No. 2 doubles. “We’re trying to figure out our doubles teams,” said Fremd coach Bob Hanson. “We’re young and our doubles need a lot of experience. Angela is really competing.”

Hoffman Estates — Four players who got to experience the state tourney in Charleston are back for the Hawks. Seniors Amruta Bhatt and Maiko Matsubara won their first-round match and went 2-2 at doubles and the junior duo of Auni Bavishi and Meran Liu also played two matches. They are also among the Hawks’ top singles players.

Palatine — Junior and two-time state medalist Maggie Van Grondelle lost sister Katie to graduation from last year’s fifth-place state doubles team. But so far the pairing of Maggie and sophomore Tomoyo Tsurumi has worked well. Tsurumi just missed getting to state last year in singles. Senior Stephanie Anderson is another factor in singles and sophomores Emily Anderson and Jenni Tucker could have an impact before the season is over for last year’s fourth-place finisher in the MSL and division runner-up. “We’re definitely rebuilding,” said Palatine coach Alison West, “but there is some talent on our team I didn’t expect on the roster before the season started.”

Schaumburg — Football assistant coach Anthony Belmonte has brought a different mentality in his first year as a head badminton coach. The difference is showing in agility and conditioning. “The last three weeks I pushed them pretty hard,” Belmonte said. “It’s worked both ways. They’ve taught me a lot of things to come from football with no badminton experience.” That’s something senior Sara Partington has after qualifying for state in singles last year. Seniors Amanda Levin and Roshni Patel and junior Jessica Hale round out the Saxons’ top four.

Central Suburban North

Maine West — Seniors Sarah Gangl and Katrina Mira are the only varsity returnees but the junior varsity newcomers lost only to New Trier in the CSL last year. An 11-7 loss to Deerfield was closer than past years and showed a lot to coach Maggie Weber. “They were pretty upset because they’re used to winning,” she said. “They were down about it but it’s a huge jump to make and a huge transition.” Gangl and Mira look to get to state after just missing last year. Juniors April Escobar and Cindy Wong have showed improvement and already moved up to No. 3 doubles.

West Suburban Gold

Leyden — The Eagles lost one state qualifier to graduation in Maggie Liskowicz but return another in junior Adrianna Sanchez, who went 1-2 in Charleston. “She’s the type of girl who gets it,” said Leyden coach Brian O’Grady. “She really wants to get better and has a tremendous work ethic and is an intense competitor.” O’Grady has already seen that rub off on sophomore Sam Dowiarz and he thinks he has a potential state-qualifying No. 1 doubles team of third-year seniors Lillian Armoush and Katie Kowall, who needed thyroid surgery in mid-April last season.