Behind the Scenes of the Competitive and Enjoyable Sport Ping Pong

Captain+Oscar+and+Captain+Steven+competing+in+the+competitive+sport+Ping+Pong.

Daniel Gelling

Captain Oscar and Captain Steven competing in the competitive sport Ping Pong.

Ping pong is a winter sport that could be fun and competitive if you want to be in a winter sport that looks and sounds fun to compete in. You can also make great new friends by playing ping pong.

If you ever thought of joining ping pong and wondered how many days of practice there is then here’s the answer. “We have practice typically once or twice a week. So pre COVID we always practiced on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s, we just had two days of practice, post COVID kind of changed things up. So now we have like one group meet on one day, then the other group will meet on the other day. And the reason that is, is because we don’t have space here so we get the cafeteria,” Ping Pong Coach Casey Hanson said.

If you want to do a sport in the winter that is competitive but also fun, then ping pong will be the sport to play. “I’d say that I’m pretty competitive and I don’t try all the time because it makes things more fun. But I feel like everyone who is committed to ping pong and shows up often is pretty competitive,” senior Captain Oscar Igel said.

I’d say that I’m pretty competitive and I don’t try all the time because it makes things more fun. But I feel like everyone who is committed to ping pong and shows up often is pretty competitive,

— Oscar Igel

If you play ping pong at home then you would have fun doing ping pong at BSM. “At the start of the year we get like a bunch of hype and a bunch of kids come out. And I say towards the end of the season we usually have 20 kids competing on varsity. And there’s another group that just kind of comes for fun to learn the game. So anywhere from between 20 to 100. That’s about the number we get,” Hanson said.

Ping pong isn’t just at BSM, you face other schools during the season as well and there are some tournaments. “This year, we just hosted one tournament here where we had, I think, four or five other schools come to that tournament. And then there was a state tournament at the end of the season, as well,” Hanson said.

If you are new to BSM and want to be in a fun and competitive winter sport then you should join the ping pong team. “It’s a great activity for future students who don’t like a ton of commitment. It’s twice a week after school for an hour. It’s also just fun to meet new people and play with your friends,” Igel said.