Our
inaugural tournament, a two star event, put on by the Auburn and Sierra Table Tennis Clubs, was an
unqualified success. The first day saw fifty-six players compete in 10 singles
and 3 doubles events for a prize purse of $1050. A late addition to the event
was coverage of U-2200 finals and the open singles on our local cable access
channel. The second day showed a solid show of local support with the turnout
of better than 115, including about 60 players from five local high schools,
for an all day recreational table tennis event sponsored by our Rec & Parks Department with coordination, coaching and
encouragement by many members of our clubs. Sixteen tables busy morning ‘til
evening. We look forward to the
carryover benefits to our clubs and believe this is a spark to more and better
youth play, including potentially establishing a playing base at the
participating high schools.
Saturday Oct. 11, 2008
Open: 1st Barney Reed, 2nd
James Therriault, 3rd Freddy Gabriel, 4th Mert Caglar
U2200: 1st James Therriault,
2nd Mert Caglar,
3rd Thanh Nguyen, 4th Jian Zhuang
U1950: 1st Billy Fu, 2nd
Sammy Chu
U1700: 1st Wesley Boot, 2nd
Kumar Vellore
U1600: 1st Tyler Spesick, 2nd
Nathaniel Chu
U1450: 1st Rajesh Swarna,
2nd Tyler Spesick
U1200: 1st Tyler Spesick, 2nd
Mike Dempewolf
U950: 1st Peter Daza, 2nd Michael Wong
U700: 1st Mel Starkey, 2nd
Mark Copeland
U550: 1st Brian Zhuang, 2nd Michael Wong
U3600
Doubles: 1st
Saul Weinstein/Bill Kochenderfer, 2nd Kumar Vellore/Joe Badrena
U2900
Doubles: 1st Mike Dempewolf/Mike
Sturtevant, 2nd Ron Afdal/Bill Lyons
U2200
Doubles: 1st Nathanial Chu/Anthony Chu
Sunday Oct. 12, 2008
|
Singles A
|
1st
|
William Lyons
|
Singles B
|
MichaelWong
|
|
|
2nd
|
John Jensen
|
|
Mel Starkey
|
|
|
3rd
|
Vince Cavanna
|
|
Dan Silva
|
|
Doubles
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1st
|
Afdal/Lyons
|
|
|
|
|
2nd
|
Jensen/Parker
|
|
|
|
|
3rd
|
Giermono/Zapatos
|
High School teams:
1st Chana A
2nd Chana
B
3rd Bear River A
High School Individual winners
1st Dan Silva
2nd Mitch
Sears
3rd Tyler Caster
The Sunday
events were many. Chana High School carried the day for the high
school competition, winning the “overall” category.
Particular
thanks to Bob Grittner, Howard Parker and Mel Starkey, who provided key
assistance in coordinating players for Sunday events.
Many thanks
go to a number of people who gave time and energy to the weekend, before during
and after, and to our sponsors.
At the risk
of forgetting someone – thank you very much to:
Mark
Copeland, Larry Scott, Mike Giangreco, Chebu Herrick, Tina Jacobson, Madison
Kochenderfer, Ron Mallory, Marsea Mallory, Tom
Spesick, Chris Pratt, Vince Cavanna, Eric Cavanna, Donna Aquino, Bob Grittner,
Mike Gaynor, Bill Indreboe, Doug Vaughan and JZ Zhuang. The clubs are very grateful to you all
for your work, from moving tables (from Grass
Valley as well as Auburn) in and back again, to running the
food concession, to assisting on game days with event coordination.
Our
monetary sponsors were crucial to keeping us above water (financially), and we
are most appreciative of the following:
ARD (Auburn
Recreation District) – your support of the Auburn
club on an ongoing basis, and this event in particular, has been
tremendous. Thank
you Manouch Shirvanioun and
Joey McNutt, in particular, and thank you to the Board for its encouragement of
this sport.
Roger’s
Automotive Diagnostics & Repair – thank you Walt.
Homeschool.com and El Portal – our 1/3 page sponsors, thank you.
“Friends
of Gold Country Table Tennis” – Dough Vaughan, Larry Scott
Photography, Ron Mallory (Prudential Real Estate), Bill Indreboe, Law Offices
of S. Ross Kochenderfer, Jr. (no relation to tournament director),
TableTennisOnly.com, Fastenal of Auburn, Subway-BelAir
Shopping Center, Raleys (Lincoln Way), and also to
Paddle Palace.
Many thanks
to Gil Dominguez and Touchdown Production!
If anyone wants to see several hours of fine matches from the Saturday
USATT events, including some stellar color commentary and wildly insightful
comments (no kidding on this), their DVD is well worth the purchase.
Finally, a
shout out in recognition to the high schools and players and coaches –
from Bear River, Colfax, Placer, Chana and Del
Oro. This was a great turnout. We hope to have sparked some interest in
table tennis, and we know we saw some good talent both in the making and
already in play.
We have
received a number of comments and suggestions and lots of very positive
feedback, for which we are glad (for the suggestions as well as the positive
feedback). By all means please send
us an e-mail or corner any of our respective club representatives and let us
know your thoughts.
Bill
Kochenderfer Tim
Aquino
Tournament
Director Auburn Table Tennis Club
President
|