Sommers, Jambrone pace BG's big sectonal effort

Last year as a sophomore, Katelynn Sommers went to the state badminton tournament in Charleston as a spectator.

She was there to support her Buffalo Grove teammates, including Julie Jambrone, who wound up taking home a doubles medal by finishing sixth.

This season Sommers will be going back to the state meet - not only as a participant, but also as a sectional tourney champion.

The junior and her doubles partner, Jambrone, won the Bison sectional tourney Friday on their home court by defeating another BG team, Mady Berns and Madison Fortman, in straight sets.

Sommers and Jambrone were down to set point in the first game but came back from 20-18 to triumph.

"This is going to be exciting - I love my teammate," said Sommers as the duo rallied in both sets to win 24-22, 21-16. "We work so well together."

It'll be Jambrone's third consecutive trip to state. Only a junior, she also qualified as a frosh - the only BG freshman ever to do so.

It was an all-Bison final in sectional singles as well, as junior Jessica Schwartz got the better of senior Binu Kolenchery.

"It's tough to play against your teammate," said Schwartz, "but it's awesome at the same time. We're good friends and we were able to work on a lot of things out there in this match."

The junior, who has plans to become a veterinarian and will visit the Illinois and Michigan State over the summer, is looking forward to her second trip to Charleston.

"I worked very hard in the off-season," said Schwartz, "and my motivation is going out and playing every point like it's the last point.

"I've been working on my technique throughout the season - like long rallys and keeping points going - and my goal (at state) this year is to make it to the second day."

BG easily won the team title, and it wasn't too disappointing of a day for Berns, Fortman and Kolenchery, who will all be going to state as well as the top four individuals in singles and doubles advance.

"I think it's harder to play against your teammates than it would be to play another school (in the championship match)," said Fortman. "We knew all their tricks, and they still got us."

Other local qualifiers for next weekend's tournament at Eastern Illinois included the partnership of Emily Knapp and Dhun Patel from Schaumburg, and singles player Divya Singh of the Saxons.

But the evening belonged to the host Bison.

"I look at this as a reward for all of their hard work," said BG coach Chris Van Grondelle of his team. "They've been beating each other up for the last two months."

"The kids have had an incredible year," added Van Grondelle. "This results of this sectional is just an indication of how good they can be."

Schwartz was in total agreement with her coach.

"We're a very close team," said the junior. "We cheer each other on no matter what the situation. We're there for each other."

Hersey sectional: Prospect took top honors in both singles and doubles and claimed the top team finish with 16 points, ahead of runner-up Hersey (13.5).

Kiley Walsh won singles and Emma Menich also advanced to state with a fourth-place finish for Prospect. The Knights also got doubles champs Jessica Hirsch/Stephanie Venturelli and fourth-place tandem Kendall Dawson and Zoey Dolsen-Groh to state.

Hersey's state qualifiers are Carly Pisano (third) and in doubles Paula Yang/Megan Salt (2nd) and Justyna Jalowiec/Lisa Norling (3rd).