Table Tennis Club crowns fall champion
Editor-in-Chief
The Campus Center filled with the sound of bouncing and swatting ping pong balls on Sunday morning as the table tennis club held their fall semester tournament.
Thirteen students participated in the tournament, which was divided into two brackets based on skill level. The tournaments were played round robin style, where everyone plays each contestant once and the best record wins.
Rory MacAllister won the “elite” tournament, which had five participants. After round robin play, three players had lost one game so another round was required to determine a champion. MacAllister defeated both Adam LaBomberd and Joey Herrington to win. LaBomberd beat Herrington to win second place.
“It feels good. I’m really just happy to play,” said MacAllister.
Brian Flison won the “advanced” tournament, which was a lower skill level than elite.
Each winner received a new top of the line paddle.
“I have to decide whether I’m going to replace my current custom paddle. This one has lower control but higher spin,” said Fillmore.
While Fillmore was deciding how to use his prize, MacAllister was convincing runner-up LaBomberd to accept the paddle he’d won as a gift. LaBomberd’s paddle has a crack in it and MacAllister’s was in good shape, so he gave to prize away as a gesture to a friend.
He also noted that they thought LaBomberd would be crowned champion after the first round because he had lost fewer sets in round robin play, but it turned out the match records only counted and they had to play the second round.
“We’re all friends here so we should be able to get along like that,” said MacAllister.
Club advisor George Nagy said, “I think it brings friendship to the students because so many people come.
According to Nagy, about 250 people had signed up to join table tennis club and at any given time during the school day there are about 25 students playing or waiting to play at the tables in the campus center.
Danielle Gabel, club president, thinks playing table tennis helps students unwind from the coursework. She said, “I think it relieves stress.”
The club is competitive outside of tournaments as well. They maintain a top ten list and any club member can challenge those on the list to take their place.
According to Gabel, competing fosters good values. “ I think it teaches graceful humility,” she said.