That's why it's tough to launch table tennis teams at the nation's two-year schools. And the rapid turnover rate on a community college campus is a big reason why very few of them have real staying power when it comes to this high-energy Olympic sport. So it was really encouraging to hear that some community colleges packed up their paddles and traveled this fall to play in a few National Collegiate Table Tennis Association tournaments.
Such was the case with Hagerstown Community College in Maryland that competed in the NCTTA's Mid-Atlantic Division regional in November. Founded in 1946, Hagerstown broke new ground as the first community college to compete in this NCTTA region. The two-year school offers 110 programs to 5,000 credit students and 9,000 others are enrolled in non-credit classes. Hagerstown is the oldest two-year school in Maryland. On the friendly 319-acre campus, Hagerstown Community College offers truck driver training, and adult education, but also provides a smorgasbord of classes that give students the ticket to a 4-year college or a career with a future.
You guessed right. Hagerstown didn't come close to winning the NCTTA regional tourney this fall. But they were up against stiff competition like the University of Pennsylvania.
Another newcomer in the Mid-Atlantic Division, Kean University of New Jersey did well considering they are new to the NCTTA circuit. The squad from New Jersey finished with a 5-4 record thanks to a strong performance by star player Augusto Figueiredo. A total of ten schools compete in the Mid-Atlantic Division this season.Swing further south to the Sunshine State. That's where you will find St. John's River Community College. Opening its doors in 1958, St. Johns primarily serves students in Clay, Putnam and St. John's counties in Northeast Florida. The school is also home to a new table tennis team this fall.St. John's already has baseball, cross country, tennis and basketball teams, among others. And now table tennis is making a splash and wants to continue to do so into 2010 and beyond.
But like Hagerstown, St. John's was up against fierce competition. They faced schools like Florida State University, the University of Central Florida and the University of Puerto Rico. When it was over, the community college that's not far from big-city Jacksonville and historic St. Augustine, finished in last among the seven teams signed up.
Still, the season's only half over, there's still
plenty of table tennis left to be played. NCTTA leaders salute
these community
colleges for showing grit and determination as they compete
in the
world of collegiate table tennis!
Want us to plug your new table tennis team on the NCTTA scene?
Then drop us a line: publicrelations@nctta.org