Ping Pong Club creates rapid-fire community

Three new ping-pong tables are stationed in the hallway outside the cafeteria, each with its own game underway. At one table, players stand casually, calmly placing shots across the net. At another, a player takes a wide, balanced stance, with his shoulders and head leaning forward, ready to react to the next shot. At the third table, a student is practicing against the half-folded ping pong table.

Despite playing the same game, no two players looked the same.

Variety is a big part of what the Ping Pong Club at ARHS is about. Some students come to play with friends, while others use the club to hone their skills. Now, with new equipment and plans to potentially compete outside of school, the club is looking to grow even further.

According to the club’s advisor, paraeducator Atticus Robbins, the Ping Pong Club offers “a welcoming environment and does not require that students already know how to play.

“All staff and students are welcome to join with no commitment,” Robbins said. “The only real requirements are to have a positive attitude and to be supportive and kind to each other while engaging in this physically and mentally challenging sport.”

These criteria draw a mix of experienced players and beginners. Some members have become particularly strong, including junior Dawson Wu and freshman Archer Young, who are seen as the club’s strongest players, while still leaving room for newer players to improve quickly with consistent practice.

The newest addition to the club is a Paddle Palace S4W training bot, which retails for $1,500. It can fire ping-pong balls at up to 110 mph and impart any type of spin to the ball. The main function of this training bot is to practice returning shots without needing another player.

The training bot is the latest result of the club’s recent growth. Last year, the club secured $ 6,750 in total grants from Dick’s Sporting Goods, the PGO, and the Amherst Education Foundation. The grants were also used for extra tables, paddles, and balls.

For junior Ruoyu Peng, however, the club’s appeal is less about equipment and more about having something to do after school. Peng originally joined just because he wanted to see what a school club was like. “It’s a good choice,” Peng said. “It’s not that competitive, and it’s something to look forward to after school.”

The club currently has 24 members, with roughly 8 to 12 attending regularly, depending on the time of year. Winter was the club’s busiest season last year.

There are no formal student leaders. Instead, members gather on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:45 to 5:15 p.m. to play in friendly volleys, compete in singles and doubles games, and practice their skills.

For Wu, the club gives him a way to stay active outside in the offseason. Wu has a casual and competitive approach to the club. “It’s both. There’s not any competition per se,” he said. But he is still able to focus on becoming the best player he can.

Robbins said the club may bring in a coach from Zing! Table Tennis Center in Easthampton, Mass., to help hone the players’ skills. The coach would work with students who want to improve their technique. The club is also considering sending players to compete in tournaments hosted by the American Youth Table Tennis Association.

Eventually, they would like to be recognized as an official school sport and would like to have a permanent space to call their own. In the meantime, members have to set up and break down the equipment every time they meet.

The club is looking to get more students involved in what Robbins describes as “both a physical and mental challenge,” while also giving long-term players a place to improve and connect with others.

For the students gathered around the three tables in the hallway, that can mean different things. One player might be focused on mastering their serve while the other might be fighting to come back in their singles game. And another might just be looking for something to do after school. Regardless of how they approach the table, they are all playing the same game together.