Community college badminton: OCC’s Tran wins state titles

IRVINE - Orange Coast College freshman Cynthia Tran swept to the

state badminton singles crown and also teamed with Rosie Pham to to win

the state doubles title Saturday at Irvine Valley College.

Tran, the top seed, defeated Phyrun Than from El Camino, 11-3, 11-2,

in the title match, after besting San Diego Mesa’s Katsue Takahashi,

11-5, 11-2, in the semifinals.

Tran and Pham earned a 15-7, 15-1 win over Takahashi and Rachelle

Manzano in the title match, after eliminating Christine Lee and Diana

Chuang from De Anza in one semifinal.

Tran, the Orange Empire Conference MVP, will move on to the Boston

School of Pharmacy, according to OCC Coach Barbara Bond, who guided the

Pirates to second place in the OEC in the program’s inaugural season.