Girls badminton: Fremd claims state championship

On the strength of a second-place finish and two third-place finishes, Fremd's girls badminton team claimed the IHSA state girls badminton championship Saturday at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

The Vikings scored 20 points in the tournament, one-half point better than two-time defending champion Stevenson.

The state title is the third in the sport for Fremd, which also won state crowns in 2007 and 2009. The Vikings, who were third at state the past two years, bring the eighth state trophy in program history back to Palatine.

"It's been 10 years since we won it and we've been knocking on the door," said 20th-year Fremd coach Bob Hanson. "Our girls pulled through and we're just really proud of them. It was a great battle with Stevenson and they're a great team. It's just very satisfying and I owe it all to the girls."

In the singles finals on Saturday, Fremd junior Kellie Liu finished second, falling to Naperville North's Bhaavya Manikonda in the championship match 21-13, 21-12.

Fremd sophomore Rachel Ye defeated Stevenson's Shibani Ram for third place via an injury forfeit.

In doubles play, the Vikings' senior team of Hannah Chen-Jenny Li defeated Naperville North's Stephanie Liang-Taylor Zhou for third place 21-16, 21-16.

"It's good to see them go out on top," said Hanson of Chen and Li. "As seniors and four-year varsity starters, to get them a state championship ... it was a special moment for them."

As it was for all the Vikings.

"These girls are so active in the community and in their classrooms," Hanson said. "They're great athletes and really full students at Fremd High School."