Four individual badminton players advance to the state championships held at Pasadena College May 10-11, 2019.
After competing in the conference tournament Friday, April 26, GC's Huyen Lam, Mickaela Carlin, Drew Mendoza and Jazlynne Napoles advance to the state championship. Huyen Lam and Mickaela Carlin both advance as individual singles players while Drew Mendoza and Jazlynne Napoles advance as part of a doubles pairs.
Huyen Lam was the fifth (5) seed going into the Pacific Coast Conference tournament and finished in the semi-finals after losing to conference first (1) seed and champion Sum Yin Ngai from SD City College. By qualifying for the quarter-finals in the conference tournament however, Lam secured her place in the state championship. Additionally, Lam will compete in state as a doubles pair alongside Drew Mendoza.
During winter season, Mendoza played guard for the women's basketball team at Grossmont. She decided to play badminton spring 2019 as inspired by her father, a high school badminton coach.
Mickaela Carlin also also qualified for the state championship as a singles player. Carlin joined the team late in the season, but has clearly earned her position as the tenth (10) seed in the conference tournament and now advancing to the state. Carlin will compete as a doubles pair with Jazlynne Napoles also.
This is Napoles' second season as a GC badminton player. Her coaches often describe her style as very technical and trained.
The state championships are held at Pasadena College May 10-11, 2019.
Congratulations to our singles and double badminton state qualifiers!