The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Second season set to start in January
by Than Acuff
Table tennis started out in the late 1800s as a parlor game played by the wealthy class of the United Kingdom. Thanks to their quest for global domination (i.e., India) the sport took hold in the Middle and Far East. It waned in interest worldwide (or at least at my house) with the advent of the Atari version, Pong.
Fast-forward to now, and here, where the game has seen a resurgence thanks to Josh Andrews and Julian Wozniak. Andrews honed his game in Alabama, while Wozniak grew up playing in Bermuda and the two brought their love for table tennis to share with Crested Butte, forming the Crested Butte Table Tennis Association complete with a mascot (King Pong), a motto (Live Long, Play Pong), a full-fledged season and a post-season.
Fifty-eight players signed up for the inaugural season and after three months of league play in local establishments throughout town, the top 16 advanced to the post-season tournament at the Public House Wednesday, December 12.
Looking over the room filled with players of all shapes, sizes and abilities, player Alex Fenlon commented, “You see these people on the street and you’d never know they had any skills.”
Prior to the start, Andrews expected an entirely different level with a handmade trophy and big-time bragging rights on the line.
“People are coming in a lot more serious tonight,” said Andrews.
The top 16 were a rich cross-section of pongery, including a couple that studied the game under the guidance of an 80-year-old Chinese man in Colorado Springs. Three tables were set up and at the stroke of 7:30ish, the post-season opened. Styles varied from “human backboards” just trying to keep the ball in play until their opponent screwed up, to the relentless smash and grab strategy as players see the shot and feel the shot but just can’t “be” the shot, often sending the ball well long of its intended target on the table.
Whoever had both styles going on advanced through the rounds knowing when to play human backboard until the right moment to pick the corners with furious forehand smashes.
Ed “Captain America” White came into the night the fourth seed and gained momentum with each win, breaking into the semifinals. Andrews, aka the Commish, was the number one seed and he fought off a spirited challenge from Tyler “Hebrew” Hammer in the quarterfinals to reach the final four, while the third seed Reggie Park sailed into the semis with seventh seed Chris Miller, of Beaumont, Texas originally, rallying into the semis to crash the top four party.
Andrews, nearly flawless all season, won the first of three games against White. White fought hard to win the second game 21-19 to force a third and decided match but Andrews stepped up his game to win the third game and punch his ticket to the finals.
“Man, oh man, oh man, I squeaked that one out,” commented Andrews after the win.
Meanwhile Park, who spent his formative table tennis years at a free outdoor table in a park in Rome, New York, made quick work of Miller to set the stage for the championship contest between him and the Commish.
Park seemed unfazed at the thought of facing arguably the most consistent player all season as he won the first game of the best of three format.
Andrews fought hard to push the second game into extra points but Park remained focused as the stress of competing, running a tournament and a league the past three months eventually took its toll on Andrews and Park edged out the second game win for the title.
“I played him quite a bit so I knew he had a really strong forehand and I just tried to avoid making mistakes,” says Park. “I just focused on having fun, playing consistently and tried not to be too aggressive.”
White edged out a win over Wozniak for the third-place trophy, Beth Goldstone took home the “Best of the Rest” title and Les Choy, who came into the tournament seeded second, finished the season with the most games played.
If you missed out on the first season, fear not, because Andrews is organizing another season starting in January. Park will be back as will most of the other players.
“I’ve got to defend my title I guess,” says Park.
