Fremd takes no chances

Fremd badminton coach Bob Hanson had already been hit hard by the injury bug against standout Jenna Langhorst this week.

Hanson was at Thursday night's Buffalo Grove sectional in a walking boot after tearing a right calf muscle while playing Langhorst in practice.

So no chances were taken when Langhorst and standout teammate Erica Lee advanced to the singles final. In order to maximize the state tourney seed for Langhorst, who was fifth last year, she claimed the title as Lee took a default.

"It's not worth it," said Langhorst, whose closest game in her first two matches was 7 points.

"We've worked really hard this season," Lee said after her closest game was 11 points, "and to risk it one week from state wasn't worth it."

Especially since the Vikings have their eyes on a repeat state title in Charleston next weekend after winning their seventh straight sectional crown with 14 points. Stevenson was second with 11.5 points.

"It's a tough decision because they're both competitors," Hanson said of Langhorst and Lee. "As a coach, to lose one to an ankle injury or anything else wouldn't make any sense."

Fremd also advanced its doubles team of Marie Kania and Alice Liu to state. They lost a fourth-place match to Stevenson's Katie Lange and Ashley Gorson 21-15, 21-18.

For Buffalo Grove junior Melanie Driscoll, the toughest part in qualifying for her first trip to state came before a 22-20, 21-11 third-place match victory over Stevenson's Alexis Karigan.

After losing to Langhorst in the championship semifinals, Driscoll had to come back from a 22-20 loss to pull out a 21-16, 21-18 win in the consolation bracket semis and get one of the coveted four state berths.

"I just stepped it up a notch," Driscoll said. "The first game I'm not entirely sure what happened. The second two I was so tired I figure I wasn't going to make myself so tired and not go to state."

Driscoll will be joined by sophomore teammates Heather and Ashton Nisbet. They finished second at doubles to Samantha Wei and Kerry Sullivan of Stevenson.

At Hersey: Hersey had the top two finishers in singles and doubles for its seventh sectional title and first since 1997.

Hailey Miller beat Meagan Matias 21-13, 21-11 in singles. Katie Meyer and Stephanie Yang beat Jillian Cabrera and Ashley Thomas 22-20, 17-21, 21-11 in doubles.

Prospect was second as Ada Krzywicka beat teammate Stephanie O'Connor 21-10, 21-16 for third. Julie Provenza and Lindsay Miller took third in doubles.

At Glenbard West: Conant seniors Holly Anderson and Larissa Binkus finished second at doubles.