No. 13 … and counting

In Mid-Suburban League girls tennis competition over the last decade and a half, the Barrington Fillies have been like the New York Yankees in baseball -- totally dominating.

Saturday was no different.

For the 13th consecutive season, the Fillies won the MSL title as they advanced all of their singles and doubles players into the finals and only lost one of those matches.

For Barrington senior Kelsey Linden, although Saturday marked her fourth conference championship, she's never taken them for granted.

"We have to prove ourselves every year," Linden said. "It's not that easy to do. Most people don't like to see us win all the time. People are always gunning for us."

It was that point Barrington coach Tracy Waters stressed to her team heading into the tournament, which began Thursday.

She told them despite their success during the regular season and their previous dominance of the conference tournament, if they weren't focused someone would knock them off.

With some depth and talent, Buffalo Grove appeared to be the favorite to contend with Barrington this year. While the Bison did finish second Saturday, BG coach Kevin Schrammel could only tip his hat to Barrington once again.

"We needed to win some matches we weren't supposed to, and they needed to lose some matches they weren't supposed to," Schrammel said. "That didn't happen. Barrington's a good team."

The Fillies' winners included Linden and freshman Kristy Dodge at No. 1 doubles, Meg Crowley (No. 2 singles), Amanda Schnack (No. 3 singles), Dana Pierce and Sonam Jaglan (No. 2 doubles), Jenny Schnack and Theresa West (No. 3 doubles) and Roshni Khurana and Sonali Khurana (No. 4 doubles).

"We really played aggressive and played to win," Waters said.

Barrington's lone defeat in the finals was at No. 1 singles, where Fremd's Jenna Langhorst beat Alli Linden in straight sets.

For Langhorst, it was a championship she's been shooting for the past few years. Despite finishing among the best in the state as a freshman and sophomore, Langhorst just missed out on a conference title in both years.

"I was really pumped for it," said Langhorst, who lost only once during the regular season. "I lost the last two years. I wanted to win conference."

Finally as a junior, she prevailed, and though Langhorst's emotions were in check as always after her victory Saturday, Fremd coach Ken Goettsche knew how big it was to her.

"It's a huge deal, and she'll never let you know," he said.

Buffalo Grove's Jen Immen (No. 2 singles) and Conant's Stephanie Wang (No. 3 singles) were runners-up in singles. In doubles, second-place finishes went to Buffalo Grove (No. 1 doubles), Rolling Meadows (No. 2 doubles) and Prospect (Nos. 3 and 4 doubles).