Poyyak Is Tough Enough to Play This Game : Boys’ badminton: After winning section title, he gains respect of opponents and athletes at Corona del Mar.

Jerome Poyyak is not your typical badminton player. His easy-going style, including long baggy shorts and cropped, red-dyed hair, stand out in a sport dominated by Asians. But his outstanding play on the court has gotten him noticed, more than his off-the-wall look.

Poyyak, 18, from Corona del Mar, finally earned the respect of others, as he won the Southern Section individual championship this season.

Poyyak, who has put up with ribbing from classmates, has had to prove himself not only to his badminton opponents, but to other athletes at school.

“The football players tease me sometimes,” he said. “But after I challenged them to a game and beat them, they shut up. One guy figured it was such any easy sport, he tried out for the team to prove a point. He didn’t make it. Now that I won the CIF title I seem to get a little more respect.”

Even after winning the Southern Section title, Poyyak stills seems baffled on how he did it. He admits, he can’t smash or drop shots as well as his opponents.

“I get lucky,” he said. “I run more and I don’t get tired. I think I win because I’m faster and I get to shots quicker.”

Whatever the reason, Poyyak wins. He lost only two matches this season. In mixed doubles, he advanced to the semifinals, where he lost to the eventual champions from Alhambra Keppel. He also had an opportunity to go to the junior nationals in Atlanta, but was unable to come up with the finances.

“I was really disappointed that I couldn’t go,” Poyyak said. “I think I could have done pretty well.”

Poyyak, who plays golf and baseball in his free time, didn’t begin playing badminton until his freshman year. Last season in his junior year, he was named the Orange County player of the year after reaching the individual semifinals. And he says he has accomplished this with little practice.

“I only practice during the mid-season,” he said. “I don’t really even think about it during the summer.”

After graduating this month, Poyyak plans to enter the Marines and continue to work on his badminton game. His boot camp training begins July 3 at Camp Pendleton. Poyyak thinks he got teased by the football players at Corona del Mar, what does he expect from a bunch of guys who pride themselves on being the toughest men in the world?

“I don’t worry about it. I’m going to keep playing,” he said. “It’s fun and the Marines help out anyone who wants to play sports.”

Poyyak, who wants to be a pilot one day, hopes his tenure in the Marines will help his game, and he plans to compete on the national circuit.

“The Olympics are completely out of my league,” he said. “It’s a totally different game. I’ve seen those guys play and they are unbelievable. But I hope when I get in better shape, start training again . . . [and] see how far I can go.”

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All-County Badminton Team

FIRST TEAM

Boys’ singles Name: Jerome Poyyak School: Corona del Mar Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Won individual title, reached mixed semifinals

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Boys’ doubles Name: David Nguyen School: Garden Grove Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Reached finals in boys’ and mixed doubles Name: Dung Cu School: Garden Grove Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Partnered with Nguyen, led team to Division I title

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Girls’ singles Name: Ying Chansawangpuvana School: Katella Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Won individual title, 61-0 on season

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Girls’ doubles Name: Kameron Shambeck School: La Habra Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Runner-up in Section finals Name: Deidre Vivanco School: La Habra Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Partnered with Shambeck in finals, lost, 18-17, 15-11

SECOND TEAM

Boys’ singles Name: Ed Soetanto School: Katella Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Reached individual finals, led team to Div. II finals

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Boys’ doubles Name: Patrick Lam School: La Quinta Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Reached semifinals, before losing to eventual champs Name: Dat Nguyen School: La Quinta Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Teamed with Lam, led team to Division I quarterfinals

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Girls’ singles Name: Judy Pak School: Garden Grove Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Reached individual finals and mixed doubles finals

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Girls’ doubles Name: Lien Ly School: Garden Grove Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Won both matches in finals, leading Argonauts to title Name: Huong Nguyen School: Garden Grove Yr.: Sr. Season Highlights: Partnered with Ly, swept Keppel for Division I team title