Nicole Seymour

Seymour has been playing badminton since freshman year in high school. This is her third year at FCC and her second year playing badminton. Her favorite part about badminton is playing with the girls, “I love my team,” said Seymour.

Seymour said her favorite memories this season have come from the van rides because they are “very eventful. We eat, sing, and talk about all of our crazy superstitions.” Seymour said that she likes to read and considers herself a geek. She loves shopping and  playing soccer and football.”

After FCC, Seymour said she would like to continue working as a marketing assistant and gain more business knowledge. Then, she would like to go into human resources. Seymour said, “I like people, I like helping people, and I like to plan things, so hopefully I can get into some sort of human resources.”

Akinew Her

This is Akinew Her’s first year playing badminton at FCC, and plays both doubles and singles.

Badminton is an enjoyable but difficult sport, according to Her.

“It seems like a small court and seems easy, but so much work goes into hitting the birdie. Plus, I can get my anger out hitting the birdie.”

Her also enjoys singing, and says her favorite singer is Hmong. She also sings at parties for her friends and relatives.

She plans on playing more badminton and transferring to Fresno State. Her dream job is teaching 3rd grade.

Windy Hang:

This is Wendy Hang’s second year at FCC. She plays both singles and doubles, but prefers doubles because she says “there’s too much thinking in singles.”

Her favorite memories this season came from their out-of-town trips, because of the van rides and stories. Hang likes playing volleyball and watching “NCIS” and “Criminal Minds.”

After FCC, Hang plans on transferring to Fresno State, but is still undecided on a career.

Kellie Poindexter

Poindexter has been playing badminton since her freshman year in high school. She plays both singles and doubles, but enjoys playing singles more. Her favorite part of badminton is the sport itself because she is good at it.

Poindexter’s favorite memory so far this season has been playing with all of the girls because they get along well. Other than badminton, Poindexter has played soccer for 12 years and her favorite TV show is “The Office.”

After FCC, she plans on transferring to CSU Channel Islands to continue majoring in business. One day she dreams of owning a café.

Kia Her:

This is Kia Her’s first year of playing badminton.

She says she enjoys playing doubles because it is less challenging, and because she does not feel like she has enough experience to play singles.

She says her favorite part of badminton is that it is a very mental game.

Kia Her also enjoys playing volleyball and designing clothes, she has even completed a few small projects where she has designed and made her own clothes.

She plans on transferring to California State University, Fresno, to continue with her major in psychology. Her’s dream is to one day open her own boutique where she can sell her own line of clothing.

Manjot “M.J.” Pandher:

Manjot “M.J.” Pandher is a second-year student here at FCC and her first year playing badminton. She says the most enjoyable part of playing badminton is “the adrenaline rush that you get when you’re playing.”

Her favorite memories this season have been eating on the road trips, “because we order so much food and people look at us like ‘are you going to eat all of that?’, and we do,” Pandher said.

When she isn’t playing badminton, she likes to play soccer with her family and occasionally participates in the Indian culture dance shows.

After FCC, Pandher plans on transferring to either San Francisco State or Fresno State majoring in psychology. She said she wants to get her master’s degree and possibly open a clinic one day.

Melissa Vang:

Melissa Vang is in her first year of playing badminton. She plays singles at FCC.

Her favorite part about the sport is that it is very competitive.

“Overall, I really like bonding with the girls,” said Vang.

Outside of badminton Vang likes to play volleyball and has also been the assistant coach of freshman volleyball team at Hoover High School for two seasons.

After FCC, Vang would like to transfer to a four year university and graduate with her bachelor’s degree. She said she would also like to coach volleyball.

“That’s something I hope to do for a long time.”

Lauren Garcia:

This is Lauren Garcia’s first year playing for FCC’s badminton team.

So far, her favorite memories of the season came while traveling during the preseason games where, according to Garcia, she was able to get to know her teammates better.

Outside of badminton, Garcia plays music – the violin and guitar.

“I really like to sing too,” she said.

After FCC, Garcia plans on transferring to California State University, Fresno, and majoring in psychology.

Darlene Yang:

Darlene Yang has been playing badminton since her sophomore year in high school and this is her first year playing at FCC. She plays both singles and doubles, but likes singles better.

“You can take your time in singles,” she says, “in doubles it is very quick fast.” Yang said.

Her favorite memory so far this year was her first out-of-town game because “we killed the other team,” Yang said.

Other than badminton, Yang likes to play volleyball and watch “Ghost Hunters”. She also likes to draw and is considering majoring in art.

After FCC, Yang plans to continue her education by transferring to Fresno State.

Thao “Amy” Xiong:

This is Thao “Amy” Xiong’s first year of playing badminton, ever. She enjoys playing singles because she says she like the challenge that it brings. She also says her favorite part about badminton is practicing and having fun.

“I have learned a lot from the coaches,” Xiong said.

Xiong’s favorite memory this season is meeting all of the new teammates because they were very welcoming and fun to be around. Outside of badminton, Xiong enjoys playing flag football and acting. She attends acting club where she practices and learns from professional actors.

After FCC, Xiong wants to transfer to Fresno State and continue majoring in liberal studies. She plans on one day being a teacher and possibly teaching 6th grade.