Palatine village council salutes badminton, basketball champions

Palatine has had a lot to cheer about lately when it comes to girls sports.

Fremd High School's varsity girls badminton team captured the IHSA state badminton title last month. That was preceded by state and national championships by Immanuel Lutheran School's varsity girls basketball squad.

Mayor Jim Schwantz and the Palatine village council saluted the Fremd girls during a meeting this week, at which they received certificates of recognition. It was the third state championship in girls badminton for Fremd, with the others coming in 2007 and 2009.

The council honored the Immanuel Lutheran team last week. The squad repeated as champions at the 73rd annual National Lutheran Basketball Association of America Invitational Tournament at Valparaiso University in March. It was the school's sixth national title since 1994.

Before reaching the national tourney, the school won its fourth consecutive Lutheran Sports Association Illinois State Basketball Championships in Arlington Heights.

Schwantz said the Immanuel Lutheran girls basketball team has represented Palatine well.

"Going out, playing the right way, playing with integrity, playing the game hard and knowing that it comes back to your community, OK?" Schwantz told the team. "So, it's a reflection on the community how you guys put yourselves out on the court."