Happy New year, welcome to 2011 - to the Auburn Table Tennis Club  -

Another year is in the books – and as usual, it’s not table tennis if you can’t find somebody you can beat and somebody who can beat you ….    As long as we keep having fun.  For some players that means improving, for some it means simply being able to keep hitting, for some it means finding new ways to be competitive.   Whichever your flavor, there is the equivalent of an ice cream store at the Canyon View Community Center, twice a week.  Come check us out.

Welcome new players this past week – Dean Smith and Briana Pomeroy.  We continue to average about 1 new player a night (over the course of a year), which is not bad.  New players, particularly, we appreciate your feedback on the club.   Always helpful to hear what your impressions are.  Club Secretary Larry Scott sends a greeting e-mail out within a week or 10 days of an initial visit (thank you Larry), and we do read and respond to those.

Also – nice to see David Ho and Jeremy Crooks this past Monday.  Fellows, don’t let school get in the way of table tennis, from now on.  Best not to show this newsletter to your parents, by the way.

Lots of interest in the end-of-the-year results, so we will proceed directly to Round Robin reporting:

Group 3:  Larry Scott – 12 games won, zero lost, runs the table 4-0.  Group 2: Dave Ganguly similarly ran his table, 4-0.

Group 1: With 3 players going 2-2, Bill K. managed a minor, last ditch attempt at redemption, taking the table with a 3-1 record.

Immediately following this past Wed. RR, we had 2 tables going for better than an hour, playing doubles.  Loud, spirited, occasionally fierce, doubles.  Love it.   Looks like it may be time to think about a Wednesday doubles bracket for a change …     

And now – let’s catch up on the “trends” for the 2^nd half of 2010:

“Most Improved” – this is measured by the rating point increase from July 1 to December 31 (minimum 15 appearances required).  Here is the table of top finishers -

Courtesy of JZ’s “Table Tennis Only” (www.tabletennisonly.com), we have prizes for the top 3 finishers here, as well as the top 3 in the “Best Record” group.    

Nikolai, Tom and Chuck – congratulations on a fine 2^nd half of 2010!  Rating points can be very tough to come by in a small club, so it should be a particularly satisfying achievement to bring home 100 plus as a “regular” player.  As Club President, I felt it was my duty to stay neutral in this competition and therefore played to a “zero” net gain, to remain unbiased.  And if you believe that, I have some swamp land for sale in Florida that I would like to sell you.

In the “Best Record” competition – measuring the winning percentage (again, minimum of 15 appearances at Round Robin) – here are the top finishers:

Matthew, Tom and Dave – a close battle to the finish on these.  Tom, well done securing the silver medal in both the Best Record and Most Improved races! 

Claim your prizes in January – we will make the official presentations Wed. January 19^th, just before the regular RR on that evening.  JZ has been very generous with his sponsorship on these awards – and also in generally encouraging our club, our players and in promoting the sport!  Thank you JZ.  Auburn (and Grass Valley) players – if you need equipment, check out JZ’s offerings.  Most items can be brought up to our club for delivery to you (we have quite a network of players and can generally coordinate for a Sunday pickup from JZ’s club in Folsom, and then delivery up to Auburn Monday at our Open-Play night).

OK – Off and hitting for 2011 – enjoy.  Annual club meeting will be set for a date in February … details to follow in a few weeks.  This may be your chance to shine in a representative capacity for the Auburn Table Tennis Club – “ask not what your table tennis club can do for you, ask what you can do for your table tennis club ..”     You get the picture.  Somebody stole this line from table tennis, to use in politics years ago. 

For Wed. night, - if you will be late (after 6:45 pm), be sure to call    Bill (916-275-0899) and let him know.  If you reach me, I will get you on a table.  Tom is gone the next few Wednesdays (celebrating and basking in the glow of his table tennis accomplishments, of course), so we will muddle through in his absence.

Bill Kochenderfer

Winter Greetings to the Auburn Table Tennis Club  -

Welcomes and welcomes back – Young players this past Monday – three lads under the age of 14 – Jackson Meadow, Matteo Tournier, Danny Dunham – nice to see you all.   Collectively, they are still younger than Larry Scott’s shoes and several paddles John Hanna hides in his garage.   

Formerly missing in action, but out of hiding for a rare engagement – Tony Moskwa and Rick Close (what, a little rain scare you guys off the pickleball courts?), and Chris Pratt (what, a little “work” travelling 29 days out of 30 keeps you away from the club?).  Hello and welcome to James Holway, who visited us for the first time Wed., hitting round robin for his introduction to Auburn.   Also paying a visit, Thanh Nguyen – it has been a few years.  Always a treat to have you up here, one and all.

Gird your loins, one more week in December, hitting awaits you.   Just shy of 20 players last Monday, and just shy of 25 on Wednesday.

Round Robin Results: Underdogs rule in groups 2, 3 and 4.   Seeded second, but going 5-0 in Group 2: Anson K.  Seeded 4^th in the same group, but coming up 2^nd, with the fresh flavor of 46 new rating points – Matthew Blom.  Has he been engaged in “super secret” training?  Probably.   Group 3:  Seeded 3^rd, but going 5-0 and topping the group – Bob Hemming.  We double checked the results on this.  More secret training, we are certain.  Likely studying videos on spinny serves and illegal tactics.  Not to be ignored, seeded 6^th in that group, but playing for 100 new rating points – Elan Seagraves.   Can’t complain about that, no matter where you end up in the group at the end of the night.  Even 4^th seed Devin Forsey stashed some new rating points for Christmas (73 of them, to be precise).  

Group 4 – A Grass Valley duel for first – Chris Pratt v. Chuck Feyh (sounds like a Small Claims Court case).   Both went 4-1 for the night, but Chuck won the head-to head battle and marches to table 3 for his reward.

Group 1:  Thanh edged George S. 3-2, and lost a narrow match 3-2 to Sergey, but finished best with a 4-1 record to claim the bragging rights.  Plenty of upsets during the evening, but that’s why we play the matches ….  

“Best Record” Update:   Matthew Blom (64.1%) sneaks past  Tom Spesick (63.2%); but this is anybody’s record to claim now.    John Hanna (56.3%, and so scared he has left the country to visit relatives in England for several weeks) sits in 3^rd, followed by Dave Ganguly (56.1%),  Larry Scott (55.3%) and Nikolai Zavastitsa (53.7%) and Anson Kwong (53.5%). 

“Most Improved” – Nikolai Z. (174 points gained since July 1), Tom S. (144),  Chuck Feyh (111), Matthew Blom (107), Jon Saunders (60).   For a bit of fun, click the “Change” column on the Trends page, and see a listing that shows the players who have lost the most rating points since July, 2010.   Fun may be the wrong word, depending on how high up on that list you are.  Remember, you need to play in 15 round robins to qualify.  Awards ceremony in mid January, details to follow.  

A little (maybe a lot) end of the year inspiration –  Our former club Secretary Mike Giangreco and his wife Ronda, who moved to Sonoma about 18 months ago, have been hosting a weekly dinner at their home the last 51 weeks running.  Those who know and miss Mike (there is an unconfirmed report that there are a couple of people in this category) and those who have not met him or his wife, should take a read over this article in the Press Democrat:

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20101225/LIFESTYLE/101229897/1309/lifestyle04?p=all&tc=pgall&tc=ar

Mighty fine, Mike; please print this News and return a copy bearing Ronda’s autograph.  We need some of the good karma in our club, full time. 

For Wed. night, - if you will be late (after 6:45 pm), be sure to call   Tom at 530-613-0101 or Bill (916-275-0899) and let them know.  If you reach us, we will get you on a table.

Bill Kochenderfer

December Rainy Greetings to the Auburn Table Tennis Club  -

Wet Weather – but no need to be under the weather – seven (sometimes 8) tables, ready for open play Monday, and Round Robin Wednesday.   Santa hats optional.  Paddles mandatory.  Loaners are here, if you need ‘em (paddles, not Santa hats). 

Welcome, Seth Weiss and Jackson Meadow, hitting with us last Monday, and we see Seth may have been bitten slightly by the ping pong bug, as he showed up Wednesday for Round Robin.  Glad to have you checking us out!       

Big Doin’s this past Wed at Round Robin: – The playing crowd is zeroing in on the end of the year “Most Improved” and “Best Record” awards.  Is there some added competitive flavor to some of the matches?   Be there Dec. 22^nd to find out for yourself! 

Group 1:  From Sacramento, George Seicean paid us a visit (without Nathan, however, for which he was chastised), giving the club quite a fine top rated group for Round Robin.  Tom Spesick won the group 4-0, not exactly being the kind host, but managing to reach his highest club rating of the last 2 years.

Group 2:  John Hanna lost only 2 games running a 4-0 record to win the group.   Group 3: Nikolai Z. had to battle to a 3-2 win over Larry Scott, but swept the rest without any losses, and won his table 4-0.    Group 4:  Not to be outdone by the Group 2 and 3 winners, Elan Seagraves lost only 1 (yes, one) game in his 5-0 sweep of table 4.   Side note on table 4 – Paula Cole continues her streak of at least 1 match win per Wednesday.  Can this continue?!  Shall we call the press?  Try and stop us …

OK, so where does that leave us, for the time being on our “Best Record” quest?   Tom Spesick (64.5%) adds a few more percentage points on his very slim lead over  Matthew Blom (62.7%).  Matthew needs to play one more RR before the end of the year to qualify, though – come on Matthew, we are rooting for you.   John Hanna (58.2%) also edges up a few percentage points with his 4-0 sweep on table 2.   John is followed by Dave Ganguly (57.4%), and Nikolai Zavastitsa (56.5%).  Larry Scott is still in the hunt (56.3%).   Two Round Robins to go.

More Trends – Most Improved – Check out the increases in rating points -  here we go:  Nikolai Z. (191, up a few points from last week), Tom S. (157, up 81 points from last week),  Chuck Feyh (81 rating points up from July 1, 2010 – and easing into the current third place), followed by  Jon Saunders (68), and then  Matthew Blom (61).   You might believe the 2 leaders are unreachable, invincible, infallible, or just wildly good cheaters or bribing the record keepers.  Hey, this is a free country and you are permitted to believe what you want.  For the record, all the bribes requested (by the record keeper) to be paid (doughnuts, a soft drink, washing the car windows, we have a lot of stuff you can do …) have been declined.  Something about “the integrity of the sport”…    Doggone if these players have not spent any time studying Shoeless Joe Jackson or Pete Rose.  A real pity.  We’ll keep trying.

Final note for this week’s news, on the Best Record and Most Improved awards – we received the care package from JZ with some most desirable items, as awards.  JZ, meanwhile – and you heard it here first – has been at Nationals, winning the U-2100 event!  Nice work JZ!   Now pay us a visit up at your “home” club and bring the bling to show off!   

Reminder on the Monday Sign In housekeeping:  Monday Sign In Sheets – a few IOUs outstanding.  We are clearing the deck on these.  If you have an outstanding IOU, be sure to pay that off, and note that on the sign in sheet.  One IOU per year, henceforth … and must be cleared the following week.   Any IOU that needs to be written down, please let Bill K. or Tom S. know. Thank you for your assistance and cooperation on this.

For Wed. night, - if you will be late (after 6:45 pm), be sure to call   Tom at 530-613-0101 or Bill (916-275-0899) and let them know.  If you reach us, we will get you on a table.

Also for Wednesdays, tables permitting, if you wish to come and hit for fun (i.e. not participate in the round robin), that is fine and the Club will charge $2 per person for that.    

Bill Kochenderfer

Greetings Auburn Table Tennis Club  -

Christmas is around the corner – Hanukkah starts this weekend – Kwanzaa – you name it, ‘tis the season to have a reason to give a gift or two.  Make your gift the joy of showing up to hit table tennis balls in Auburn! 

Join Ihar (pronounced “Igor”) Chernik, fresh from Belarus, immersed in learning English (or some deviant form of that language, that we speak), hitting with us this past Wednesday for the first time.   Join Jimmy and Paulo Buencamino, new November 15^th (sorry for the delay in recognition; the secretary is being punished severely).  Welcome to all new players.  Sergey, thank you for bringing Ihar to see us.     

A bit of housekeeping:  Monday Sign In Sheets – we have a few IOUs outstanding.  Not enough to break the bank, but enough that we need to clear the deck on these.  If you have an outstanding IOU, be sure to pay that off, and note that on the sign in sheet.  In the interest of defending the existence of my backbone, we shall henceforth apply a new rule … You get one IOU per year … must be cleared the following week.   Any IOU that needs to be written down, please let Bill K. or Tom S. know. Thank you one and all for your assistance and cooperation on this.

Round Robin Play Dec. 8^th  – A fair sum of rating points changing hands Wednesday.  Group 4 – Chuck Feyh and  Jon Saunders  and Chris Cole duke it out for points and bragging rights.  Looks like Chris grabbed the points, and Chuck won the table.   Table 4 – Paula Cole, on a streak, wins her 2^nd match now .. “1 match win a week, that is all we ask.”   Group 3 – Hardbat maniac Ricky Pisanu frustrates the crowd, goes 3-0 (a narrow victory over Hans K.; sorry Hans, we were rooting for you).   Group 2 – Grant C., closing in on retirement (so he can focus more on table tennis), sweeps 4-0.  This could get ugly if Grant starts showing up rested and ready, instead of at the end of a long day that starts at 4:30 a.m.     All other matches were upsets in the group.  A statistically oddity.  Group 1 – Sergey Tsvor took the table 3-1, getting by Tom S. who was also 3-1.

Trends -  Best Record?   Check out the “Trends” page to see where you stand.  Top 3 finishers are recognized with trips to exotic destinations, with cash for a shopping spree (of course, this could be a $3 gift certificate to “In and Out Burger”).   Players need to compete in 15 round robins between July 1 and December 31.   Looks like Tom Spesick (62.8%), Matthew Blom (62.7%, but needs one more Round Robin to qualify!), John Hanna (56.3%), Dave Ganguly (56.1%; also needs one more appearance!), Larry Scott (55.3%), Nikolai Zavastitsa (53.4%, one more RR to go!) are all contenders.  Three Round Robins to go.

More Trends – Most Improved – Track the most rating points gained.  Nikolai Z. (183), Tom S. (76), Jon Saunders (68), Matthew B. (61), Chuck Feyh (31).   Still time for all that to be turned upside down.

We will have some “real” awards for the winners, in January, sponsored in part by Table Tennis Only – thank you JZ.  Linked at our website, if you need paddles, balls, nets, tables, rubber, pretty much any and all gear – ready to go.  We also have several players who hit in Folsom with JZ, so you can place an order and most times it can be sent up by special courier (thank you Grant Connell).

For Wed. night, - if you will be late (after 6:45 pm), be sure to call   Tom at 530-613-0101 or Bill (916-275-0899) and let them know.  If you reach us, we will get you on a table.

Also for Wednesdays, tables permitting, if you wish to come and hit for fun (i.e. not participate in the round robin), that is fine and the Club will charge $2 per person for that.    

Bill Kochenderfer

Greetings Auburn Table Tennis Club  -

Round Robin Play Dec. 1^st  – Group 3 – Chebu H., Chuck F., Jon Saunders – all; played to 4-1 records, no clear winners, but excitement in the bracket, to be sure.  Jon Saunders edged out Chebu Herrick in a 3-2 match (we presume Jon showed his more seasoned and experienced trickery, sorry Chebu), and Paula Cole, persevering and improving over the course of 22 (count ‘em 22) match defeats, stakes her first match win.   Well done Paula, take a bow!   We hope this is evidence of several things: First, no matter what happens, this sport is played for fun, every time.  Second, patience is a virtue.  Third, practice doesn’t hurt.

Skipping to Group 1, for continuity on the platitudes just pronounced – we play for fun – yes, so last week’s winner going 5-0, now this week’s goat, going 0-5 (names, not required …).  And last week’s 1-4 player turns around to a 5-0 (Tom, nice work; way to catch 99 rating points; well, I helped a bit by refunding 111 rating points in my 0-5 outing, or was that a routing).

Everybody, keep smiling.   You can’t change the weather so you might as well enjoy it.   And some nights have results you want to write home about; and some don’t – but either way we keep smiling.

Group 2- lest we forget:   Dave Ganguly has found the sweet spot of the new rubber, and hit like a mad man.  Were his eyes even open the whole evening?  We’re not sure.  He only lost a single game, and allegedly that was because he used his left hand, tied his shoes together, and sipped tea between shots.  A 5-0 night or 15-1 on the games, if you prefer.  Hang on to your hats, this appears to provide 8 players with plausible claims to being able to win Table 1.

For Wed. night, - if you will be late (after 6:45 pm), be sure to call   Tom at 530-613-0101 or Bill (916-275-0899) and let them know.  If you reach us, we will get you on a table.

Also for Wednesdays, tables permitting, if you wish to come and hit for fun (i.e. not participate in the round robin), that is fine and the Club will charge $2 per person for that.    

Bill Kochenderfer