Photo Credit: David Shi of Amy Wang of UCLA

By Willy Leparulo, Guest writer
NCTTA Media

International Women's Day was last month in March, but at the NCTTA Championships we are always celebrating our women both domestic and international. NCTTA Championships features women's singles, doubles and a team championships.
Joe Wells, NCTTA VP states, “This year will feature one of the strongest Women’s Championships ever.”

In Women's Doubles we have two student athletes who have represented the US on its National Team in Amy Wang and Rachel Sung. Amy Wang is now ranked in the Top 100 for Women's table tennis internationally and recently captured the Joola Global Championships for women. Sung and Wang should be a formidable doubles duo in this competition. Don't count out last year's champs from Texas Wesleyan, Zhen Deng and Jiaqi Lin who will be looking to capture another title for the Texas Wesleyan Rams.

Women's Singles looks to be a battle as well with UCLA and Texas Wesleyan as they represent the top 6 seeds in women's singles. UCLA represents 4 out of the top 6 seeds. We could also see some surprises from Brazilian International Daniela Yano (19-1 this season) of Columbia University ranked #10 among others. All and all, Women's Singles are certainly something to watch.

Lastly will be the hotly contested Women's Team Championships where once again the popular theme is between UCLA and Texas Wesleyan University. The women's team championships, however, is very deep and watch for some of the Canadian schools Western or the University of British Columbia to make some noise. This is a "must see" event for anyone interested in high-level table tennis.

About 2023 NCTTA College Table Tennis Championships

The championships are hosted by the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association and the Round Rock CVB. Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles, and Men’s/Coed Teams, Women’s Teams. The event is sponsored by Double Happiness, PongSpace, Major League Table Tennis.
Watch the event on live stream starting Friday April 14th on champs.nctta.org

About NCTTA

The National Collegiate Table Tennis Association (NCTTA) is a non-profit organization established exclusively for promoting the sport of table tennis at the college level. As the national governing body for college table tennis in the United States and Canada, NCTTA organizes elite intercollegiate competition throughout North America. www.nctta.org

Photo of John McDermott; photo credit to Dennis Yanga

By Michael Reff
NCTTA Media Committee

There are many graduating seniors and grad students that will be making their last appearance as a player in the 2023 Champs. These players have experienced the trials and tribulations, as well as the greatest successes making it to this crown jewel of the NCTTA world for one last time. Many alumni, buoyed by their own memorable experiences at NCTTA events, will have a desire to give back as volunteers.

As NCTTA President Willy Leparulo passionately stated, “This is what it is all about: working to make something we have all gone through and making it better for the next generation. A huge paying it forward.”

One such graduating senior is John McDermott of UMass at Amherst. A Psychology major, Mcdermott states that his team initially “were the laughing stock of the Lower New England division.” Now they are quite the force to be reckoned with!

McDermott is also a team player noting, “As this years nationals will almost certainly be my last tournament in a UMASS Jersey, Id love to thank everyone there that believed in me, and know that anytime I win, we win.”

His team was one of the loudest and proudest of the 2022 Champs and will be sure to be vocal starting April 14!

McDermott would like to give back as a volunteer upon graduating, as so many have before him: “I have told Willy [Leparulo] in the past of my desire to help NCTTA in the future, maybe more so behind the scenes if needed.”

NCTTA would also like to take this moment to thank our sponsor Joola for their in kind donation in the form of a mini table to be awarded to a random incoming alumnus at the Champs Banquet in Round Rock.

Kudos to John and team UMass Amherst for making it to the champs again, and we hope to see him and more future alumni making waves as volunteers!

About 2023 NCTTA College Table Tennis Championships

The championships are hosted by the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association and the Round Rock CVB. Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles, and Men’s/Coed Teams, Women’s Teams. The event is sponsored by Double Happiness, PongSpace, Major League Table Tennis.
Watch the event on live stream starting Friday April 14th on champs.nctta.org

About NCTTA

The National Collegiate Table Tennis Association (NCTTA) is a non-profit organization established exclusively for promoting the sport of table tennis at the college level. As the national governing body for college table tennis in the United States and Canada, NCTTA organizes elite intercollegiate competition throughout North America. www.nctta.org

Photo of Sergio (left) and Erik (right), photo credit to Grant Bergmann.

By Shaquila Sarapao, Guest writer
NCTTA media

The Sung Sisters

One set of siblings comes in the form of twin sisters Joanna and Rachel Sung from UCLA. With one being right-handed and the other left-handed, they make the perfect doubles pair. The Sung sisters have pushed each other to the limit, motivating the other to work harder. Joanna tells me, “I feel like she [Rachel] pushes me a lot in practice, possibly because she hits the ball really wide because she finds it funny to see me struggle, but I have seen immense improvement on my footwork from that.”

But as all siblings do, they fight—even during their doubles matches. “I feel like our arguments have taught us to put aside personal matters on the court and just focus on winning the match,” Joanna says. Through the arguments, they are each other’s support system. They hope that this year, their UCLA Women’s team will take home the gold.

The Pulido Brothers
Similar to the Sung sisters, brothers Sergio and Erik Pulido (DBU) have a very positive and supportive relationship, focused on helping each other out rather than competing about who is better. One notable difference about these two, compared to other sibling athletes, is that Erik is the coach for DBU while Sergio is a student athlete under him.

Sergio expresses that his brother, Erik, has been a key player to his success, noting that his brother’s support has been a significant source of confidence and mental fortitude in this sport. Both DBU brothers were inspired by their older brother who played for Columbia in 2012. Sergio’s goal this year at nationals is to make it through the round robin and into the top 32 players.

About 2023 NCTTA College Table Tennis Championships

The championships are hosted by the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association and the Round Rock CVB. Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles, and Men’s/Coed Teams, Women’s Teams. The event is sponsored by Double Happiness, PongSpace, Major League Table Tennis.
Watch the event on live stream starting Friday April 14th on champs.nctta.org

About NCTTA

The National Collegiate Table Tennis Association (NCTTA) is a non-profit organization established exclusively for promoting the sport of table tennis at the college level. As the national governing body for college table tennis in the United States and Canada, NCTTA organizes elite intercollegiate competition throughout North America. www.nctta.org

Felipe Castaño and Jorge Vanegas pictured together in Photo

Willy Leparulo, Guest Writer
NCTTA Media

Se habla español?

The Colombian officials speak Spanish, English and the Table Tennis umpiring language too! A number of officials from the country of Colombia are at the 2023 NCTTA College Table Tennis Championships this year. Felipe Castaño, Jorge Vanegas, and Erik and Sergio Pulido (brothers) all come from the country famous for its aromatic coffee and table tennis!

First, Erik and Sergio Pulido, brothers living in North Texas. Sergio is a player in the competition but also helping out as a scorekeeper in traditional NCTTA fashion, (everyone helps where they can). Erik is an active member of NCTTA from when he was a student athlete at Georgia Tech (engineering degree) to now living in Dallas and the coach of the Dallas Baptist University table tennis team. Erik says, “As an active member of NCTTA, I have continued pursuing my passion for table tennis, growing as an umpire, networking with others and most importantly having fun!”

Felipe Castaño is a first time attendee of the NCTTA Championships and is one of our many foreign officials at the event. Castaño is a table tennis troubadour if there ever were one. He takes his craft seriously and goes all over the world to promote it. We are lucky to have him at the NCTTA Champs this year!

Finally, an athlete and official favorite and International Umpire: Jorge Vanegas. Vanegas explains, “I’ve been a part of the NCTTA family since many years ago. It was this family who offered me the opportunity to continue applying my knowledge and experience as a certified umpire.”

Vanegas knows table tennis is a small world. He is a National and ULTM umpire back in Colombia and says “Through this I crossed paths with Felipe Castaño, he being my partner in one of the most prestigious Colombian Leagues.” In addition Vanegas met up with Erik Pulido during USA Nationals. Vanegas goes on to say, “I continue with the desire of helping and contributing by mentoring others that want to experience this face of our beautiful Sport, being NCTTA one of the best escenarios to achieve this, Thanks Family.”

Gracias and Thank you!

About 2023 NCTTA College Table Tennis Championships

The championships are hosted by the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association and the Round Rock CVB. Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles, and Men’s/Coed Teams, Women’s Teams. The event is sponsored by Double Happiness, PongSpace, Major League Table Tennis.
Watch the event on live stream starting Friday April 14th on champs.nctta.org

About NCTTA

The National Collegiate Table Tennis Association (NCTTA) is a non-profit organization established exclusively for promoting the sport of table tennis at the college level. As the national governing body for college table tennis in the United States and Canada, NCTTA organizes elite intercollegiate competition throughout North America. www.nctta.org

Photo of Viren Patel, Photo credit to Grant Bergmann

By Michael Reff
NCTTA Media Committee

NCTTA is all about the team spirit, but sometimes players make it to the champs individually, without their team and must channel the spirit alone (or so we think!) These are the “lone rangers,” the “solo warriors,” representing their respective schools for all the glory! Each lone ranger’s story is unique and some actually do have a lot of support coming to the champs even without making it with their team.

For example, Cameron Smith of the University of North Carolina, Charlotte is quite certain his fans will be the loudest and proudest of the whole National Championships.

“I definitely won't be alone; [I’]ll have a whole cheering section rooting for me that I will be bringing along with me and a few fans from some other universities as well,” Smith said. He previously got to the Nationals the year before with his team and did quite well, reaching the quarterfinals of the Coed team event.

Another lone ranger, Viren Patel, of Texas A&M University, in Corpus Christi is incredibly grateful for the experience to play at the champs:

“I am really happy and proud that I could qualify for the nationals", Patel said. "This ‘Lone Ranger’ status is like an achievement for me, and I am really fortunate to get amazing support from my school to achieve this status.”

In honor of all those Lone Rangers coming this year, here’s a brief poem:

These paddlers embrace their passions solo,
In the face of adversity, they preach YOLO,
Their hearts beat up and down like a pogo,
But when the first serve drops, it’s ready to go go!

Representing one’s school without your teams’ tough,
But you made it this far so you’ve got the right stuff,
The passion to play and perform well’s enough,
So bring home the hardware, you’re a diamond in the rough!

About 2023 NCTTA College Table Tennis Championships

The championships are hosted by the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association and the Round Rock CVB. Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles, and Men’s/Coed Teams, Women’s Teams.
The event is sponsored by Double Happiness, PongSpace, Major League Table Tennis.
Watch the event on live stream starting Friday April 14th on champs.nctta.org

About NCTTA

The National Collegiate Table Tennis Association (NCTTA) is a non-profit organization established exclusively for promoting the sport of table tennis at the college level. As the national governing body for college table tennis in the United States and Canada, NCTTA organizes elite intercollegiate competition throughout North America. www.nctta.org

Pongspace is proud to be partnering with NCTTA to expand table tennis in the Americas during the National Collegiate Championships 4/14-4/16 in Round Rock, TX and throughout the year. We are delighted to contribute to NCTTA so the student athletes can have a fun table tennis experience during their college career.

The NCTTA championships is the largest collegiate table tennis event in North America attracting top teams and players to participate as well as thousands of fans across the continent to watch the exciting competitions. “Pongspace appreciates the opportunity to work with NCTTA,” co-founder and CEO of Pongspace Thomas Hu said. “College table tennis athletes and enthusiasts brings unparalleled energy we need for the sport. Pongspace stri[v]es to provide a fun experience for them.”

"We are super excited at the partnership forged with Pongspace both here at the National Championships and in the future for our league and College school teams," said Willy Leparulo, president of NCTTA. “NCTTA wants to thank Pongspace to be the first to step up with the biggest sponsorship this year for the National Championships.”

"We see many synergies between the two organizations. We look forward for a close partnership in the coming years to help grow table tennis in North America together,” said Thomas Hu.
Pongspace’s mission is to connect table tennis players to table tennis resources. You can find affordable places to play with people you want to play with at a time you desire. We offer free weekly instructional videos and soon interaction with top rank world professional players so you can improve your game.

We also organize the George Braithwaite Major League Table Tennis, which is a team league for players from all skill levels representing their table tennis club. We understand the reason you are here is to have fun, make friends and represent your school with honor. The George Braithwaite League’s purpose is to facilitate your desire in and outside your school.

Some of you may be graduating in a few months stepping into another chapter of your life. What will the future be like in a new place with new people? Do not worry, there is always a space for you at Pongspace where you can find your table tennis comfort.

To find a table near you to play, visit https://Pongspace.com
To learn more about the George Braithwaite Major League Table Tennis, visit https://georgebraithwaitemltt.pongspace.com/

About PongSpace:

Pongspace is a for profit organization connecting table tennis enthusiasts and table tennis resources together. The company strives to promote the sport by incubating new entrants to the sport while assisting existing entities to increase activities and revenue. Pongspace is the “glue” connecting all spaces of the sport. Whether you are a table tennis toddler or retired senior, there is always a space for you at Pongspace. Pongspace.com

About 2023 NCTTA College Table Tennis Championships

The championships are hosted by the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association and the Round Rock CVB. Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles, and Men’s/Coed Teams, Women’s Teams. The event is sponsored by Double Happiness, PongSpace, Major League Table Tennis.
Watch the event on live stream starting Friday April 14th on champs.nctta.org

About NCTTA

The National Collegiate Table Tennis Association (NCTTA) is a non-profit organization established exclusively for promoting the sport of table tennis at the college level. As the national governing body for college table tennis in the United States and Canada, NCTTA organizes elite intercollegiate competition throughout North America. www.nctta.org

Photo of UC Davis Women's Coach Niyu Jian

By Michael Reff
NCTTA Media Committee

Not all NCTTA teams have coaches. An NCTTA coach, usually unpaid, must devote a sizeable and selfless amount of time and resources to make their team tournament ready. But the rewards are priceless and intangible at times in the form of loudnproud cheering, verbal gratitude, and sometimes just a hearty laugh or smile of acknowledgement and thanks.

And coaches are committed to their craft, constantly wanting to find new ways of helping their team improve, learn new techniques, and just be better human beings in general.

After speaking with Niyu Jian of the University of California, Davis, this further solidified my regard for coaches. Jian is the coach for the UC Davis Women’s team and is quite proud of all his players.

“Our women's team has been playing exceptionally well this year,” Jian said.

“The team was able to beat UC Berkeley, Stanford, and UC SantaCruz in the Northcal divisional, winning first place. All the girls were super excited to play in the West Regionals and came to practice often despite the academic stress (it was the midterm week for us when regional happened). Additionally, the club is struggling financially to cover the cost of attending the nationals but we eventually overcome the problem.”

It's the balance of school and table tennis that an NCTTA coach must contend with, and as you can see, Jian respectfully acknowledges all the priorities that his players have.

The largest number of coaches coming this year to the Champs are from schools in California, followed by the host state of Texas. Be sure to watch how coaches in Round Rock use their knowledge and motivational strategies to hype up their respective teams and keep their players in top shape for the battle of the paddles!

About 2023 NCTTA College Table Tennis Championships

The championships are hosted by the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association and the Round Rock CVB. Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles, and Men’s/Coed Teams, Women’s Teams. The event is sponsored by Double Happiness, PongSpace, Major League Table Tennis.
Watch the event on live stream starting Friday April 14th on champs.nctta.org

About NCTTA

The National Collegiate Table Tennis Association (NCTTA) is a non-profit organization established exclusively for promoting the sport of table tennis at the college level. As the national governing body for college table tennis in the United States and Canada, NCTTA organizes elite intercollegiate competition throughout North America. www.nctta.org

Photo Credit: Dennis Yanga, representing playing for one’s team and what it means.

Willy Leparulo, Guest Writer
NCTTA Media

Year after year, NCTTA has been a home to former and current elite Junior/National team athletes from the USA, Canada and other countries. Representing one’s country while being in college is not an easy feat and one that takes coordination, support and true grit. Trailblazers like NCTTA Alumni Lily Zhang (UC Berkeley) and others have paved the way for the new group to step into the light.

We spoke with Joola’s Matt Hetherington, a former NCTTA athlete from Pillar College, to share his insight with NCTTA on the “vibe” of the NCTTA Championships,

“I think many (elite) college players just enjoy the fact that they can stay in the sport and be involved in some level of competition with more freedom and less stress attached”.

Many elite athletes are here at the NCTTA Championships from not only USA and Canada, but other countries like Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, India and New Zealand to name a few, all sharing similar previous training and experiences.

One thing is certain: the NCTTA Championships provide a unique table tennis moment, one that isn’t readily available. Hetherington states, “The (NCTTA) team aspect is definitely unique, you get a sense that you are representing something more than yourself. When you achieve something in college, your school is proud, your team is proud, and your friends from outside of the sport at the school make a deal out of it.”

Loud and Proud is NCTTA’s favorite hashtag, so come check out these athletes as they represent their schools!

About 2023 NCTTA College Table Tennis Championships

The championships are hosted by the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association and the Round Rock CVB. Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles, and Men’s/Coed Teams, Women’s Teams. The event is sponsored by Double Happiness, PongSpace, Major League Table Tennis.
Watch the event on live stream starting Friday April 14th on champs.nctta.org

About NCTTA

The National Collegiate Table Tennis Association (NCTTA) is a non-profit organization established exclusively for promoting the sport of table tennis at the college level. As the national governing body for college table tennis in the United States and Canada, NCTTA organizes elite intercollegiate competition throughout North America. www.nctta.org

By Michael Reff
NCTTA Media Committee

A special treat awaited NCTTA participants and the public on Thursday March 30 at 10pm in a Zoom call. For the first time in NCTTA history, live draws were made to determine who plays whom in the first rounds of the tourney throughout Women’s and Coed’s Teams matches. According to live draw host and Rating Committee Chair Kagin Lee, the decision to carry out the draw this way was to promote transparency.

“Besides the ceremonial aspect, performing a public draw is important to demonstrate the fairness of the draw,” Lee said. “This way there can be no question about why any given team is in one position rather than another; everyone witnessed how it happened, and it was done out in the open rather than secretly in a back room.”

There were specific criteria that the live draw followed, ranging in order of priority level from seeding placement to geographic location, with the goals of creating as much a randomized environment of choices as possible.

The criteria as well as the results of the draw can be found in the link below:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/166PisAss-Ft27gO2Oon6X5wO00xBw0sq....

The live draw boasted an engaging crowd and Lee expertly explained the process and patiently answered questions. He noted, “one person even corrected me when [I] made an error.” This demonstrated further the transparency of the entire public approach to the draw.

Kagin observed that because the draws are finished already and out in the public, “teams can design their ordered rosters specifically for the opponents they expect to face”, saying it is another “strategic element” that was not found in the previous method.

Kudos to Kagin and the rest of the NCTTA crew for being more forward thinking and ushering in a new era of fairness and transparency!

About 2023 NCTTA College Table Tennis Championships

The championships are hosted by the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association and the Round Rock CVB. Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles, and Men’s/Coed Teams, Women’s Teams. The event is sponsored by Double Happiness, PongSpace, Major League Table Tennis.
Watch the event on live stream starting Friday April 14th on champs.nctta.org

About NCTTA

The National Collegiate Table Tennis Association (NCTTA) is a non-profit organization established exclusively for promoting the sport of table tennis at the college level. As the national governing body for college table tennis in the United States and Canada, NCTTA organizes elite intercollegiate competition throughout North America. www.nctta.org