Moe captures singles, Badaracco/Nguyen are doubles champs at 3C2A Badminton Championship
Singles Bracket l Singles Consolation
Doubles Bracket l Doubles Consolation
Photo Gallery
SAN DIEGO - De Anza College sophomore Madison Moe defeated a familiar foe on Saturday to win the 2023 3C2A singles title. The second-year international student from Burma finally captured the medal that eluded her in 2022 when she fell to teammate and eventual champion Vanessa Dinh.
Similar to last year, Moe faced De Anza teammate Anna Lac, but this time, Moe won decisively 21-10, 21-12.
“I really was not expecting to win singles this year,” states Moe. “Last year, I got to the semifinals and it did feel good getting that far. I told myself that it would be nice to experience that again, and so my attitude this year was just to go out and try my best.”
Her “try my best” wasn’t just good, she simply dominated, all despite injuring her quad on the first day of team competition on Thursday against Pasadena City College. Rhea Zhou from Pasadena City College came the closest to taking a set from Moe, taking 18 points in their fourth-round match.
Badminton takes a toll on the body: constant stop-and-go bursts of speed, jumps, shoulder acceleration for overheads, and non-stop lunging. Not only do players have to be in great cardio shape, but they must also anticipate and create patterns that open up alleys and drops. After many years of high-level competition, finishing a career as a state champion might be the best way to call it a career.
“I am transferring to San Diego State University next semester,” adds Moe. “I’ll see what options they have for badminton, but to be honest, I don’t think my body can take it anymore. I have too many injuries and my body might be telling me to call it a day.”
Although her athletic career might be coming to its end, Moe speaks highly of her experience at De Anza College. “De Anza means so much to me. From all my teammates, to the coaching staff, to our support staff back on campus, they made me who I am. Everyone is an extended family and for me to be able to leave a team championship along with an individual title means so much. I will miss not only my teammates, but since I am moving to San Diego, I will also miss my community as well.’
In the doubles championship game, the San Diego Mesa College pair of Erica Garcia Badaracco and Megan Nguyen defeated Ha Tuyet Nguyen and Ella Trinh of Evergreen Valley College in an exhilarating three set match, 21-18, 11-21, 21-16.
The duo from Mesa College didn’t have high expectations going into the tournament. Once the draw was released, they saw a potential semifinal clash against De Anza’s Malaya Paras-Mangrobang and Madison Moe, last year’s state doubles champion. After defeating De Anza’s Renee Ou and Anna Lac 21-8, 21-11 in the quarterfinals, the anticipated match was next. The semifinal battle was fairly even with Garcia Badaracco / Nguyen coming out victorious in a nerve-wracking 21-15, 17-21, 21-16 match that would propel them into the championship round.
On the other side of the doubles draw, Evergreen Valley College Ha Tuyet Nguyen and Ella Trinh steadily defeated the pair out of City College of San Francisco, Carolyn Nguyen and Kayla Mann, 21-15, 21-14.
“This championship means so much to us,” states Megan Nguyen. “This is my first year playing for a college team, and to accomplish something this big is amazing. It goes to show you what all the hard work is all about.” Garcia Badaracco also explains that it took quite a bit of effort to convince Nguyen to join the team: “I told her to just come out and I promised her we would have fun. I’m sure glad she said yes.”
Heading into the third and final set, the Evergreen Valley College contingent of supporters were loud. Garcia Badarraco and Nguyen used this as motivation. “They were loud and I could hear the cheers against us, but that only fired me up more,” says Garcia Badaracco. “It felt great to kind of quiet people when you win a point, and that totally helped us find another level to close the match in the third set.”
The state doubles championship is the second for the San Diego Mesa College badminton program. They brought home their first team state championship in 2001.
“I can’t thank everyone at Mesa enough, and we are both proud to be able to bring this home,” says Nguyen. “Coach June Andrews and Thai Lay have been amazing. They motivate and teach us in so many ways, this is for our school, teammates, and coaches.”
(Bo Navarro, CCCSIA)
3C2A BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS
SINGLES SEMIFINALS
Madison Moe (De Anza College) d. Heather Lee (De Anza College) 22-20, 21-14
Anna Lac (De Anza College) d. Ella Trinh (Evergreen Valley College) 14-21, 21-10, 24-22
SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIPS
Madison Moe (De Anza College) d. Anna Lac (De Anza College) 21-10, 21-12
2023 SINGLES CHAMPION
Madison Moe (De Anza College)
DOUBLES SEMIFINALS
Garcia Badaracco / Nguyễn (SD Mesa College) d. Moe / Paras - Mangrobang (De Anza College) 21-15, 17-21, 21-16
Nguyễn / Trinh (Evergreen Valley College) d. Nguyễn / Mann (City College San Francisco) 21-15, 21-14
DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP
Garcia Badaracco / Nguyễn (SD Mesa College) d. Nguyen / Trinh (Evergreen Valley College) 21-18, 11-21, 21-16
2023 DOUBLES CHAMPIONS
Garcia Badaracco / Nguyễn
SD Mesa College