Garden Grove Hoping the Magic Returns

Garden Grove couldn’t have written a better scenario for last year’s high school badminton season.

When Villa Park announced it was starting a team, one that would include several members of the U.S. junior national team who were training at the nearby Orange County Badminton Club, things looked bleak for the Argonauts.

However, first-year Coach Prat Mallawong never lost faith, and the team drew inspiration from him. Garden Grove achieved one goal after another, culminating with a 10-9 victory over top-seeded Villa Park in the Southern Section final.

That was Villa Park’s only loss of the year and gave Garden Grove its second title in five seasons.

A team victory in every way, unlikely heroes helped the Argonauts topple the Spartans. Michael Tran and Scott Lee secured the title in the final match, defeating Neilson Ku and Nao Teshima in boys’ doubles.

Cynthia Tran, The Times’ Orange County player of the year in 1998, upset Amy Nguy and Bonnie Wong, each a junior national team member, in girls’ singles. It was the only time either lost all season, and Nguy was a section singles champion.

But the new year has brought many changes. Cynthia Tran has graduated, along with Tam Nguyen, The Times’ Orange County boys’ player of the year, and Rosie Pham and Jamie Kong, strong girls’ doubles players.

But Mallawong isn’t about to lose faith. He is banking on his team’s experience. After all, eight starters are returning, along with 10 others from last year.

“I think the whole team will [take over for Tran and Nguyen’s absence],” Mallawong said. “The team’s strong point is its depth. My ones and twos are almost at the same level, skill-wise. The only difference is their experience.”

Many county coaches expect Garden Grove and Villa Park to meet in the section finals again this year.

“We will be as good, if not better than last year,” Mallawong predicted.