In his time as the Buffalo Grove badminton coach, Chris Van Grondelle has coached two state doubles champions.
He thought he might have a third this spring in seniors Megan Gamber and Katie Jarosz.
“They put the time in and work so well together,” Van Grondelle said.
A four-year partnership culminated Saturday at the state meet in Charleston.
Gamber and Jarosz won their first four matches without dropping a set. But in the semifinals, they lost to eventual state champions Joyce Chen and Shrinithi Venkatesan of Neuqua Valley 21-14, 19-21, 21-15. They dropped another tough match and finished fourth.
The Bison’s other doubles team of Gabby Yordanova and Sarah Katz finished the tournament 4-2. Singles players Claire McLoone and Emma Boyd won one match each.
Buffalo Grove, which won a sectional title, placed sixth as a team.
“The kids played phenomenally,” Van Grondelle said. “Even when we lost, we were in every match.”
It may be a while before the Bison see another doubles team like Gamber and Jarosz. They first played together in 2014 and won a junior varsity tournament in their first outing.
“Everyone ran onto the court after we got first place,” Jarosz said of that first tournament. “At that moment it clicked, and we’ve been partners every since.
“Megan is a super strong player who can hammer and smash down shots. I’m more technical and very good at putting shots where I want them to be.”
Gamber, who also plays basketball, and Jarosz first competed on varsity as sophomores. That year, Julie Jambrone and Katelyn Sommers won the doubles state title. Gamber and Jarosz made the state tournament last season and won a sectional title as seniors.
“Every year the competition goes up times two. It gets better and better, and we knew we had to take it up a few notches (at state),” Jarosz said. “I’m super happy with how we finished up. We will always have that connection.”
Mid-Suburban League notes
Prospect qualified a singles player and two doubles teams for the state tournament.
Serena Zhang won one match in the consolation bracket. Colleen Stanford and Katherine Ponzi won three doubles matches, and Katie Cooper and Catherine Martin also participated in the meet.
Barrington’s doubles team of Vivian Xu and Ariana O’Connell won two matches in the consolation draw before losing to Stanford and Ponzi. Hersey singles player Mary Xu also made the field.
Jon J. Kerr is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press
