Fremd primed for another title run
Everything Fremd’s badminton team has done this season has been geared toward this weekend.
And the Vikings appear to be in high gear as they try to win their third state title and fourth top-three trophy since 2007 at the state tournament today and Saturday at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.
“I feel the girls are peaking at the right time,” said Fremd coach Bob Hanson after his team’s 11th straight sectional title. “They’ve all come together as a team and the doubles teams have come together.
“The girls are confident and they aren’t nervous this year and we’re expecting great things down there.”
Sophomore Angela Wu (33-5) is a 3-4 seed with Palatine’s Maggie Van Grondelle and senior Annie Huang (39-3) is a 13-16 seed. The doubles team of Kelly Owens and Ji Young Seo (38-3) is seeded second and unseeded Maya Sugikawa and Rina Seo are 38-3.
“The team dynamic and chemistry is just great,” Hanson said. “Our schedule has been so intense but the girls are really driven to complete their goals.”
Van Grondelle will give it a shot: Palatine senior Maggie Van Grondelle’s drive toward a singles title and fourth straight medal took a rough turn when she injured her back and couldn’t play in the sectional title match.
But last year’s doubles champion is expected to give it a shot after suffering a strain when she was going for a shot over her head.
“She’s been to more doctor’s appointments over the last five days than she’s been to in her whole life,” said BG coach and Maggie’s dad Chris Van Grondelle on Wednesday. “She’s certainly moving a lot better. The doctors said the good news is by playing she can’t hurt herself anymore. It’s all what you can deal with in regards to pain.”
Palatine also qualified Jenni Tucker and Sai Bhalerao in doubles.
Looking to continue the tradition: Kelsey Henrikson and Jenny Krewer (35-7) look to become BG’s seventh doubles medalists since 2006 as a 9-12 seed. They beat Fremd’s Kelly Owens and Ji Young Seo three weeks ago.
“There’s nobody they haven’t seen and they’re not going to be shocked by anything that goes on out there,” said Chris Van Grondelle.
BG also qualified Julie Jambrone and Mary Zawlocki in doubles and Eleanor Chan in singles.
Ending the drought: Prospect’s Shea Gallus and Noreen Caporusso got a 3-4 doubles seed and will try to become the program’s first doubles medalists since 1988.
“They’re a fun team to watch,” said Prospect coach Jean Rezny. “They’re very capable of definitely winning a state medal.”
Allison and Kiley Walsh also qualified in doubles.”
Warrior pride: Maine West singles qualifiers Cindy Wong (16-11) and Brittany Gorski (19-7) were instrumental in the program’s first sectional title since 1992.
“It was pretty exciting,” said Maine West coach and former Palatine player Maggie Weaver. “When you look at programs like Prospect and BG ... to take first place against that type of competition means so much to me.”
Tough draws: Hersey’s qualifiers didn’t get an easy start as they open play against the top seeds in singles and doubles.
Jen Hall faces Stevenson’s Wan Wan Liu and Lexey Cole and Steffi Antony meet Hinsdale South’s Brittany DeClouette and Emma Adcock.
Schaumburg’s Vrunda Patel faces second-seeded Andrea McNally of Hinsdale South.
Double the fun: The MSL’s deep group of doubles qualifiers includes Barrington’s Kelly Ho and Shirley Ni and Elk Grove’s Taylor and Sam Marquardt. And Leyden has a pair of singles qualifiers in Adrianna Sanchez and Samantha Dowiarz.