PCC Badminton's Thaw Settles For 2nd In State Individual Singles
For the third straight season, the Pasadena City College women's badminton team qualified an athlete for the CCCAA State Individual Championships finals match. Freshman Sarah Thaw, who helped PCC win its first-ever state team title on Thursday, took the second place medal in a 21-16, 21-8 loss to state champ Yukari Naono of Grossmont. The tournament was played at Mission College in Northern California's City of Santa Clara.
For the third straight season, the Pasadena City College women's badminton team qualified an athlete for the CCCAA State Individual Championships finals match. Freshman Sarah Thaw, who helped PCC win its first-ever state team title on Thursday, took the second place medal in a 21-16, 21-8 loss to state champ Yukari Naono of Grossmont. The tournament was played at Mission College in Northern California's City of Santa Clara.
Former Lancer Rebecca Tzou made back-to-back state final appearances in 2015 (runner-up) and last year when she won the state singles crown. Angie Ortiz won the state title in 2012.
Thaw is the second person in her own family to earn a PCC state champion medal. In 2015, Tzou teamed with Thaw's older sister Sandra Maw to win the state individual doubles title.
Thaw made it to the individual finals with a 21-11, 21-8 semis triumph over Fresno City's Panhia Vang. On the first day of State Individuals Friday, Thaw swept San Diego City's Jennifer Thai, 21-7, 21-8 and De Anza's Tiffany Liao, 21-8, 21-17.
In state doubles, PCC's pair of Natalie Ong and Amy Huang played well but were eliminated in the semifinals by Grossmont's Tran Pham and Nicole Ortin, 21-18, 21-17.
De Anza's YuYu Liu needed three sets to beat PCC's Hong Yan Liu, 21-17, 11-21, 21-11, for the consolation singles title.
On the first day of State Individuals Friday, Thaw swept San Diego City's Jennifer Thai, 21-7, 21-8 and De Anza's Tiffany Liao, 21-8, 21-17.
"We were so excited and celebrated that state team title on Thursday, so to even have our ladies stay focused in the individuals was great," said PCC head coach Jen Ho. "Sarah is a terrific young player and is going to be yet again one of the state's best players next year. Natalie is becoming also one of the better players and could be much better as a sophomore. We have a young team and we should be in the running for the state team crown again next year."
PCC ALL-AMERICANS
Thaw in singles and Ong-Huang in doubles were selected to the inaugural CCCBCA All-American Team. The All-Americans are those that qualify for the final four in singles and doubles at the state tournament.