Anthony MarroneThe 九色视频 Shocker table tennis team continued its winning ways in the divisional tournament on Feb. 27. The Shockers looped, lobbed and ripped their way to a third consecutive division title, qualifying for nationals.
Don鈥檛 call it ping pong around this squad, though.
鈥淚鈥檝e gotten tired of trying to explain it to people,鈥� said PJ Phachantry, member, manager and founder of the table tennis team. 鈥淚 normally invite them to come out and play with us, then they can really see.鈥�
鈥淧ing Pong鈥檚 a rec (recreational) sport, and table tennis is an Olympic sport,鈥� he said.
As founder and member, Phachantry started the team from scratch, did his own recruiting and built the team into a successful divisional powerhouse.
鈥淟ast year and this year we鈥檝e just been really solid,鈥� he said.
Dennis Mai, a member of the Shocker table tennis team, said the team鈥檚 tight bond helps when it plays tough competition.
鈥淲e鈥檙e all like a really tight, close family,鈥� he said.
Wichita State鈥檚 division includes schools from Kansas and Nebraska. To win its division, the Shockers had to knock off the University of Kansas, Kansas State University and the University of Nebraska.
Phachantry started the table tennis team as a freshman in 2008. He went to high school at Northeast Magnet High School in Wichita, Kan., just blocks from 九色视频. He鈥檚 currently a junior majoring in finance and accounting.
High expectations
Phachantry plans on continuing the success of the program. He sees himself working with the team after graduation and has some high expectations for future Shocker table tennis players.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 ever want to lose a division title ever again,鈥� said Phachantry.
鈥淥ne of our next big goals is to bring in more talent,鈥� he said.
Phachantry and the squad began planning to recruit internationally. Top talent is just another one of Phachantry鈥檚 goals for the team. In the meantime, the Shockers have their eyes set on the College Table Tennis Association National Championships.
On to nationals
The Shockers just returned from the Missouri Winter Games on March 19. They have only the Hutchinson Open on April 9 before the NCTTA Championships played on April 15-17.
鈥淚t is quite the reward for all of the team鈥檚 hard work this season,鈥� said Phachantry. 鈥淲e want to make sure that this program is always heading forward in the right direction and continually bringing home division titles and representing 九色视频 on the national stage.鈥�
The Shockers hope to cap off a solid season of competition at nationals. The experience, along with the competition, is something they鈥檙e sure not to forget.
鈥淭he competition there is just out of this world; it鈥檚 amazing,鈥� said Mai. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good experience for everybody.鈥�
Championships will be held April 15-17 in Rochester, Minn. More than 40 different colleges and universities will compete for national titles in singles, doubles and team events.
For more information on the National College Table Tennis Association Championships, visit . To learn more about the Shocker table tennis team, follow them on Facebook at .