5 minute read
Pass the Paddle
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The sound of ping pong balls hitting the tables, chatter amongst friends, and laughter can be heard from the basement of Parker Student Union.
The ping pong club is the largest club on the Hutchinson Community College campus with a total of 64 members and growing. The club was formed many years ago but it eventually faded out. Guthrie Turner, Arlington, wanted to see if it would be hard to get the club up and running again. After many people were contacted,Turner found Allen Pinkall, Mathematics Professor, and Sam Ramakrishana, Instructor of Mathematics, to serve as the Ping Pong Club advisors.
The advisors have a straight forward job, which is to help with the budget, take care of buying supplies when needed, and go to the meetings if they have questions.
“The students run the meetings and run the tournaments. I’m just there to help them out if they have questions and things,” Pinkall said.
The students are a big part of why the club is successful. Turner, the president of the ping pong club, found that
really working hard to recruit has been beneficial.
“Where there’s a ping pong table, a couple of paddles, and a ball there’s going to be people there, whether they’re good at ping pong or not,” Turner said.
One reason the ping pong club is so successful is because of the benefits that come with being a part of the club. Something many members enjoy is the people they meet.
“Just all the friends you make, people that you probably would never talk to you bond through different things like ping pong,” said Grant Graber, Wichita.
There is a wide variety of students in the club from all majors including agriculture and engineering.
“First of all, there’s like an intermingling of friendships within it,” Turner said. “That’s a game-changer right away, we all become really close in the first place. Once you bring in something that everyone enjoys, it accentuates it even more.”
Joining the ping pong club is very simple.
“If you have the slightest interest in ping pong whatsoever even if you haven’t played it before, just come talk to me or really any of the other members,” Turner said. “And since there’s no prerequisites, they can just add you in the Group Me and you’ll know information in the future, like when we have our meetings and when tour
◄ Grant Graber, Wichita, plays a game of ping pong as Ben Pankratz, Inman, observes. During club meetings, students played games like “Around the World” in the basement of Parker Student Union.
Photo by Myranda Stika
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Many students enjoy ping pong because it is something to do in between classes and a stress reliever.
“You’ll have a ping pong kid walk down these stairs and hear ping pong balls and then just automatically they’re drawn towards the room. They’ll just go play especially if they don’t have class for another 10-15 minutes,” Turner said.
“You gain new friends and a relief of stress from school for a little bit,” Brooke Butler, Larned, said.
If you have not played ping pong but would like to join,” Turner said,“I would like to say if you’re not in the club already, even if you’re maybe not interested in being in the club, come check out one of our meetings. Just come down when there’s people playing ping pong down here and pick up a paddle. Challenge somebody to a game of ping pong, I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.”
Benefits can include being a part of a group.
“I think it puts a whole new perspective on the college life. You meet a lot of people through it and it’s just a great way to socialize throughout the campus,” Graber said.
The ping pong club is a way for students who live on campus and off campus to get to know each other.
“It’s really friendly and it’s the best way to be in an easy club and still enjoy the people around you,” Butler, said.
Being in the ping pong club is also a great way to use up some of your free time.
“I enjoy having something to do in my free time and the people are great,” Butler said.
The renovation of Parker Student Union has not had very much affect on the club.
“The only thing it’s affected is the location. I would say people are down there as much as they were before,” Butler said. “It’s about the people, not the place.”
Being involved in the ping pong club is not only a great way to meet new people
but it is also a free activity for students to participate in within the college town.
“It’s just something to do, especially in Hutchinson,” Turner said. “I mean we do have stuff around town but some things do get old and people just love to come in here and be with friends and play a friendly game of ping pong or maybe not so friendly if it’s really competitive. I think it’s just something to do with friends.”
The ping pong club is a great way to be involved on campus, meet new people, and have a great time. Pay attention to the sound of ping pong balls hitting the tables and join in on the fun.
64 members meet every second and fourth Thursday 4:00pm
▲ Guthrie Turner, Arlington, winds up to hit the ball just right to get his signiture spin on it. Graber calls Turner “The Chef”.
Photo by Myranda Stika
▼ Bo Tolbert, Hutchinson, plays a game of ping pong at the new location of the ping pong tables in Parker Student Union basement. The tables were moved due to the remodeling of PSU.
Photo by Myranda Stika
