Auburn Table Tennis Club News

Greetings Auburn Table Tennis Club -

More New Players to Welcome: Kyra Wells, Matt Ryan, Dylan Orbach, Chelsea Deschwanden, Cullen Brown, Vincent Deconinck and Chamy (for whom we shall assign a last name until we see him again). Glad to have you checking out table tennis in Auburn! Keep coming back, and keep hitting with new players every chance you get. This game is one where a bit of practice and a tip here and there will go a long way to improving your skills and making the matches more and more fun.

Clinic/coaching – If you are interested, we have players doing some basic skills coaching and practice. Usually early Monday and Wednesday. Let us know if this is something you might like to try (email Bill at wkochenderfer@cs.com).

Monday – 21 players. Wednesday – 31 players; 6 groups. Great turnouts both nights, notwithstanding that we have some old faces that have been avoiding us over the past few months. You know who you are Gary Cates, Judy Payne, Mark and Aaron Holabird, Tulio Robinson, just to name a few. Don’t force us to issue a warrant!

We still need a few extra paddles for “loaners” Thank you Tom for the 2 added to the boxes this week. Mark Copeland has 2 more, if we could get 2 more after that, we’ll be in good shape.

Folsom (Sacramento) Tournament August 22 - Seemed to turn out well. Plenty of representatives from our club and from Grass Valley. No bling brought home, but plenty of excitement. I believe I saw 28 tables set up and the usual cadre of 8 year olds beating 38 year olds. I still say we need a height minimum for these events.

September 30 – Auburn TT vs. Grass Valley TT. Consider it a grudge battle. Now, Grass Valley does have a 2 decade long history of consistent play, compared to our humble 4 years. But will that be a factor when bragging rights are at stake? We will find out. Format for Sept. 30 Wed evening will be mano a mano with players of similar rankings from each club playing best 3 out of 5. Whichever team wins the most games overall will be declared the winner. Cash and prizes will be awarded (well, no cash, and the prizes are marginal at best).

August 26 Round Robin Results – Groups 1 and 3 – no overall winners. Tim Aquino did play in good form, grabbing back more points from his pre-knee surgery days. Group 2 – Anson Kwong lost only 2 games on his way to victory. Group 4 – Doug Vaughan dished out some Grass Valley medicine and we presume he will want a part of Sept. 30^th. Group 5 – Max Fagan held off Mikey Bray and both of the Moon brothers to show them all that a few nights of practice pays off. Group 6 – Matt Ryan was undefeated and looking for more opponents at 9:15 p.m. Good work to all and we also appreciate keeping the play moving with this number of players. If you won your Group, you move up a table automatically!

Wednesday Night Check In – Be sure you see me and have your name checked on the list – to assure you are on a table for round robin.

Monday Play – If all tables are being used, please keep matches to best 2 out of 3 (unless you are playing doubles, in which case 3 out of 5 is OK). There is a busy period between about 7 and 8:15 p.m. and we can work through players easily if we play a few shorter matches during this time. Thank you.

For Wednesdays - If you think you will be late for the round robin (i.e. after 7 p.m), please call Bill (916-275-0899) or Tom (530) 613-0101. If you reach us, we will put you on a table.

Bill Kochenderfer

Results for 8/26/2009: Latest Round Robin Results

Greetings Auburn Table Tennis Club -

7 Tables in full use this past Wednesday – 20 for Round Robin. It’s a sure sign that “back to school” means people are re-focusing on the important thing in life, their table tennis game. New players (all from Placer High) Dominic Moon, Dylan Moon, Chris Swart, Mikey Bray, Andrew Gill and Dalton Richardson helped bring down the average club age; thank you. Laszlo Kertesz did not bring down the age average, but as always helped bring up the average enthusiasm level. All is important and appreciated.

Max Fagan – nice work spreading the word about this incurable illness that can only be treated Monday and Wednesday evenings at our club. The symptoms can be treated but the disease worsens over time. What a way to go.

New players (heck some of the old players can stand a reminder) too – use caution moving tables and be certain to invite a quick demonstration on the set up and take down of tables and nets. It’s been a very long time since any tables have tumbled; we’ll keep it that way with everyones attention to the basics: (1) two players to move a table; (2) check the underside rails for towels or gear before lifting up; (3) gentle lift up and drop down, no sharp turns. Once the net is in place, do not lift either side as this will bend the net clamp or (worse) break the edge of the table at the net.

Have an extra paddle gathering dust? We could use some additional loaners at the club. First 2 to donate can trade their donation for one of the sand paper specials we have hanging around (those are illegal, in case you are wondering, except for use in wood shop).

Lessons - This past Monday as well as Wednesday we had lesson takers in early (6 pm) at the club. No charge but we do coordinate these in advance, so if you are interested, send me an email (wkochenderfer@cs.com). We cover basic skills (shots, footwork, strategy, etc …) right on through competitive tournament play. A 30 to 45 minute session can go a long way to setting a course for self-improvement (that’s what my guru told me).

Tournament – Folsom – This Saturday - August 22 - This is a USATT “sanctioned” tournament with loads of events and plenty of players at all skills levels. If you want to check out the tournament junkies, pay this a visit. Details linked to our website.

August 19 Round Robin Results – Congratulations Tom Spesick (looking sharp and in tournament form), Eric Stefanic (ripping down another 66 rating points; who knows what he will do with a real paddle); Mark Copeland (no slouch on that backhand wallop; he’ll be competing in Folsom as well), and Dylan Moon (prevailing in the battle of the Moon brothers).

For Wednesdays - If you think you will be late for the round robin (i.e. after 7 p.m), please call Bill (916-275-0899) or Tom (530) 613-0101. If you reach us, we will put you on a table.

Bill Kochenderfer

Results for 8/19/2009: Latest Round Robin Results

Greetings Auburn Table Tennis Club -

Welcome 6 new players this past week – Monday evening we were happy to receive Josh Simpson, Julie Simpson and Audrey Teshima, along with Ryan Moore and Dylan Limanek. 19 players and 7 tables set up. Thank you to the “regulars” for helping our new players fit it and have fun. On Wednesday Paul Bandanza was either kidnapped or maybe was willing to accompany Keith and Kevin Quinn for the round robin. Paul was a gracious guest, ruthlessly punishing Kevin in the round robin.

New players take note – We have from time to time set up coaching at the club (free!) and this remains available. But let us know if you are interested in this so we can work you in to the program. I did note Larry Scott on Wed. evening (after round robin) spending some quality time working with JP Solly – that may be part of the reason JP saw an almost 100 point jump in his rating. Well, that and the cheating he is mastering (from Larry).

Lost (and still looking, by golly) – a paddle belonging to Greg Cehan. Check out your purses, garage sales, flea markets, pawn shops, stolen goods cache, sports bags, day packs, etc… this paddle is easily recognized because it has the word “Cehan” written right below the blade. Huge monopoly money cash reward for the person who locates this!

Tournament – Folsom – August 22 - Entry deadline passes the 14^th, so if you have not entered, you will now have the chance to look, which should be worth the time, too! Details linked to our website.

Time to Mix it Up! We’ll be Round Robin-ing through September. Then, time to throw a wrench into the works. Two special events in October (dates to be nailed down shortly). Doubles round robin night for sure. Then, our first annual “Club Challenge” of Grass Valley (the whole darned city if we have to). Grass Valley players checking out this edition of the “News,” please corner Larry Scott next Monday and let him know YOU want to be in the squad that teaches Auburn a thing or two about table tennis. If this goes well, I’d like to return the visit and bring a contingent of players from Auburn to play a night in GV later on.

Second Special Equipment Repair Thank You – Michael Carlson. Not just one net can this man sew, but two, count ‘em – two. If he keeps this up, maybe we will bring in some suits for alteration. Thank you Michael. This bodes well for your re-admission to the Club on the annual “player review” audit.

August 12 Round Robin Results – 4 groups and 4 clear winners – JZ and his son Brian ruled tables 1 and 3, respectively. Doug V. - table 4 ; Bill K. – table 2. Eric Tausheck, not new to the club but new to Wednesdays – glad to see you and we will have the ceiling lifted so you can lob the high ones.

For Wednesdays - If you think you will be late for the round robin (i.e. after 7 p.m), please call Bill (916-275-0899) or Tom (530) 613-0101. If you reach us, we will put you on a table.

Bill Kochenderfer

Results for 8/12/2009: Latest Round Robin Results

Hello and welcome to many new players to the Auburn Table Tennis Club -

For being the “vacation” period (July to early August), I’d say we did OK with at least 11 players finding our club for the 1^st time in the last 35 days. Thanks to those players (new and old) who have recommended the club. This past Wednesday, Max Fagan, Keith Quinn and Kevin Quinn (all Placer HS students) hit with us. We also welcomed an out-of-town visitor from Anchorage Alaska, Andy Hutzel, shaking us up with hardbat play and a 1762 ranking.

Great to see good numbers of players Mondays, and we had 22 this past Wednesday for Round Robin, to boot.

Lost (and still looking) – a paddle belonging to Greg Cehan (co-founder of our club, for heaven’s sake). Check out your purses, sports bags, day packs, etc… this paddle is easily recognized because it has the word “Cehan” written right below the blade (pretty smart, huh?). Huge reward for the person who locates this!

Tournament – Folsom – August 22 - I see and hear plenty of players from Auburn (and the Grass Valley club) have signed up. Remember to send those forms off early this week. If you need a car pool, let me know.

Exchange Students – if you have an interest in hosting a student, we have been approached by one of the programs indicating they have students from the Orient, who have some table tennis interest/skills, that might be a good fit for one of us. Let me know via e-mail and I can forward the contact information.

Time to Mix it Up! We’ll be Round Robin-ing through September. Then, time to throw a wrench into the works. Two special events in October (dates to be nailed down shortly). Doubles round robin night for sure. Then, provided it will not foster too much name-calling, general strife and the need for security, I would like to challenge the Grass Valley Club to send down players in various rankings and we’ll conduct a little inter-club (or is it intra-club, well, you get the idea) combat. I’m thinking we put two players each per ranking bracket (we’ll work out those brackets), and see which club produces more wins.

Grass Valley players – I know you read this “News” from time to time. Consider this an invitation – reply to me or appoint a captain (we’ll do the same), and let’s hit. Preferably a night when Lu Li has to stay home with the new baby.

Special Equipment Repair Thank You – Michael Carlson – Who knew Michael had commercial grade sewing machines and can fix a shredded net … sorry Ricky he will NOT darn your socks.

August 5 Round Robin – 4 groups and 4 clear winners – J P Solly (nice job remembering your cell phone); Tim Aquino (showing that the transition from hardbat to rubber is not so bad); Larry Scott (Grass Valley, take note), and Bill K. (required more cheating than usual). Take a glance over the results. If I mis-read a match result, let me know. I do not have full use of the cryptology department at the CIA.

For Wednesdays - If you think you will be late for the round robin (i.e. after 7 p.m), please call Tom (530) 613-0101. If you reach him, he will put you on a table.

Bill Kochenderfer

Results for 8/5/2009: Latest Round Robin Results

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