Northwest: Scouting girls badminton sectionals

By Marty Maciaszek

mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com

Scouting the girls badminton sectionals

What to know: The top four individual qualifiers and the top four doubles qualifiers from each sectional advance to the state tournament May 11-12 at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

What to watch: Fremd looks to extend its streak of sectional titles to 11 at home at 4:30 p.m. today. But what really matters is getting everyone downstate in good position for success with singles standouts Annie Huang and Angela Wu leading the way. Kelly Owens and Ji Young Seo also have state doubles experience. Also looking to get through in singles are Hersey’s Jen Hall and Glenbrook South’s Olivia Nelson.

Buffalo Grove also hosts at 4:30 p.m. today looking for its fourth straight sectional title and seventh since 2003 behind the doubles team of Jenny Krewer and Kelsey Henrikson. But Prospect is a threat for its first sectional title since 2007 and 15th in history behind Shea Gallus and Noreen Caporusso, the Mid-Suburban League champs at No. 1 doubles. Cindy Wong looks to make a return trip to state for Maine West.

Palatine doesn’t have an easy trip to perennial power and Central Suburban League champion New Trier at 4:30 p.m. today. Maggie Van Grondelle, last year’s doubles champion, looks to continue her drive toward singles success for the Pirates. Audrey Mang, Usuma Khainark and Nikki VanderPal lead the way for New Trier and Barrington hopes to get Shirley Ni and Kathy Ho to Charleston.

Conant and Rolling Meadows are at Deerfield (4:30 p.m. today), where Stevenson has high hopes with standout Wan Wan Liu. Leyden is at York (4:30 p.m. today) and has West Suburban Gold runner up Adrianna Sanchez looking to return to state. Schaumburg is at Glenbard East at 4:30 p.m. today and Elk Grove is at Glenbard West at 4:30 p.m. Friday.