Mangkalakiri’s Transition Game Unmatched

Two years ago Villa Park’s Mesinee Mangkalakiri had never played badminton, nor did she want to.

She was a basketball player, playing for Seyo, a Japanese club team in Gardena.

But, after a little arm-twisting and begging from Don Chew, a close family friend and the owner of the Orange County Badminton Club, Mangkalakiri gave badminton a shot, and now has hung up her basketball shoes for good.

“I didn’t want to play. I had no idea what the game was about and I didn’t want to do it,” Mangkalakiri said. “But Uncle Don always wanted me to play, because I was so tall. He showed us his plan for the future and convinced me to play.”

Now the 5-foot-8 Mangkalakiri, after only two years of playing--one year in high school competition--has been named The Times Orange County Player of the Year.

How does she feel about the sport now?

“I love it,” said the 15-year-old sophomore.

Despite playing with different partners in girls’ doubles and mixed doubles throughout the season, Mangkalakiri tallied an impressive 57-0 record in team matches.

In individual tournaments, she and freshman partner Mike Chansawangpuvana won the mixed doubles title in the Southern Section individual championships and with junior Bonnie Wong, she captured the girls’ doubles title, defeating teammates Alison Brown and Casey Peters.

She helped lead her team to the Southern Section Division I finals, where she and Chansawangpuvana won in mixed doubles and with Connie Hwang, swept in girls’ doubles, but as a team, fell in an upset to Garden Grove.

But, for Mangkalakiri, just being able to play high school badminton this season was a bonus.

She began playing in July 1996, and in only a few months, Mangkalakiri quickly shot up the ranks, winning the 14-and-under division at the Junior Nationals.

“That was why Don was so impressed,” said Siriporn Mangkalakiri, Mesinee’s mother, who works as manager of the club. “She was so good, so fast.”

As a freshman living in Garden Grove, she attended Pacifica High, which doesn’t field a badminton team. So when she was invited to become a member of the U.S. Junior National Team, which lives and trains at the club, and compete for Villa Park High, Mangkalakiri jumped at the chance.

Already registered at Pacifica for the 1998-99 school year, Mangkalakiri quickly pulled out and registered at Villa Park two days before school started.

“It was a little bit crazy, but I’m definitely happy I made the move.”

And so is Villa Park.

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BADMINTON

FIRST TEAM

Tam Nguyen: Sr., Garden Grove

Won section individual title and led Garden Grove to team championship.

Cynthia Tran: Sr., Garden Grove

Upset Amy Nguy and Bonnie Wong of Villa Park in singles at team final.

Anh Nguyen (Jr.) and Wen Mai (Sr.), Fullerton

Advanced to finals of section individuals, playing their first year of doubles.

Mesinee Mangkalakiri (So.) and Bonnie Wong (Jr.), Villa Park

Won the section individual title, defeating Spartan teammates in the final.

Mike Chansawangpuvana (Fr.), Villa Park and Mesinee Mangkalakiri (So.)

Didn’t lose a match all season, en route to section individual title.

SECOND TEAM

Mike Chansawangpuvana: Fr., Villa Park

Advanced to semifinals of section individuals, losing to Garden Grove’s Nguyen.

Amy Nguy: Jr., Villa Park

Won section individual title, losing only once in season, to Argonauts’ Tran, in final.

Mike Chov (Sr.) and Kiet Lam (Sr.): Loara

Won Empire League title and advanced to quarterfinals of section individuals.

Rosie Pham (Sr.) and Cynthia Tran (Sr.): Garden Grove

Led Argonauts to Division I team title and advanced to section individual semifinals.

Brian Nguyen (Jr.) and Kristen Wong (Sr.): Cypress

Won Empire League title and led team to first league title in 19 years.

Coach of the Year: Prat Mallawong, Garden Grove