Article from Larry Buell on the Okla. City tournament he attended Saturday, 6-27-09:

 

Sooner State Games Summer Tournament Report

June 27, 2009

Larry Buell

 

Gentlefolk,

 

Well, the times they are a’changin’, and so has the location of the OKC Table Tennis Club. Their new site is at 1600 NE 8^th Street in OKC. BTW, if you have GPS be verrry careful selecting your destination, because my GPS gave me 2 choices for this address in OKC, and I naturally picked the wrong one (ending up scratching my head wondering where a table tennis site would be amongst all these nice residential houses in the far south OKC suburbs). The one you want has Jordan as a cross street (the OKCTTC site map is correct).

 

The OKC club has done a tremendous job cleaning out and refurbishing this place in a short time. The bathrooms (one measure I use to gauge the quality of a place) were superb, especially the main one that had new carpet and beautiful tiling on the wall (and is very spacious!). The club has room for many tables (which were all in terrific condition), in addition to a lounge/counter area in the front. The air conditioning for the main building is good, and will be helped even more when they get the lounge area a/c fixed (soon, soon as they said!).

 

The tournament was a typically well-run event by the capable OKC club members. We had good participation from Tulsa, with 5 members doing a great job representing us: Steve Ackart, Chris Agimudie, Ben Bass, Yee Yang, and me.

 

From talking with the Tulsa players, and watching them, the future of Tulsa Table Tennis is in good hands! Steve had some great matches he played with his fearless power game, Chris is playing with greater confidence and patience that is approaching his awesome talent, Ben has a terrific court sense and fine ball control (his game will only get better with time) and Yee of course is one of our most improved players and is dangerous to any player with his combination of control and power.

 

As for me, although I did not have the success I had in this tournament in February, I also did not have the failures. I have been trying to improve my power game and focus, and these both were in evidence during my play. Though it was a long day (entered U2000, Open, Over-50s, all RRs in which I played from Noon to 7:30 PM), I felt fairly strong right through to the end. My toughest matches (from an “I almost won” point of view) were against Chris in the U2000 (lost 3-2 in an incredible -3, 10, 8, -9, -10 match, where Chris seemed unable to miss a power loop or cross-court kill when he needed them…grr J ). Chris indeed was playing well as he upset 2nd overall seed in the tournament Brandon Gardner (1835) of Texas, a strong young player who will only get better as he learns to wait for the opportune time to strike.

 

My other successful loss was to that same Brandon in the runner-up playoff for 3^rd/4^th in the Opens. We played a ‘coat of paint’ match which I lost 2-3 (-9, 8, 8, -13, -8). I actually had 2 match points in the crucial 4^th game, one of which was a ‘dratted white stuff’ shot that saw my cross-court forehand power loop just graze the top of the net and miss the table by scant centimeters. Brandon gave out a loud sigh of relief at that one!

 

Overall though, I believe I am in the place I wanted to be, challenging a whole new class of player (my serves still gave folks trouble, that helped!), needing only a better push and serve return to enter into the next level of play.

 

The redoubtable left-hander Scott Ryan (1874/TX) was top seeded and won the Opens. The ever reliable and court sagacious Carl Miller (1824, KS) was 3rd seed and came in 2^nd. Brandon of TX (seeded 2^nd) came in 3^rd, and yours truly was seeded 4^th and came in 4^th.

 

In the U3400 doubles, Scott and his partner Ken Potts (1341/TX) came in first, and our own Yee Yang/Ben Bass showed terrific court coverage and patience to finish 2^nd. Chris and Steve showed promise as a power combo to finish 3^rd.

 

All told, this was a very good tournament experience, and I can only hope for more of the same in the days ahead!

 

 

 

 

John Staley (rated 2011) from the Dallas club will most likely be at the Dawson club tonight -  Monday.

He is in Tulsa on business today and said he thinks he can make it out to play tonight.

Info from Yee Yang about the Oklahoma City tournament he attended on 6-27-09 per an email he sent in.

7 players from TULSA entered the OKC Tournament!

Me "Yee Yang" and Ben Bass took 2nd in U-3600 Doubles, Chris Agimudie & Stephen Ackart took 3rd!
Tulsa player Ben Bass, his first tournament and a person who does not play doubles, did an OUT STANDING JOB which surprised a lot of players there that day! Chris Agimudie took 2nd in the Open Singles who also did an out standing job! Stephen Ackart took 2nd in U-1500 and I took 1st! I learned that the way I am holding my blade is INCORRECT and it has been a habit I need to break! Winfred, the 2300-2500 TT player who noticed it and mentioned it to me! I will work on it and try to change! We all had fun and learned a lot that day! 6/27/09 We started at 9:00am and ended around 7:45-8:00pm

 

 

Update on which Tulsa players are going to the Okla. City tournament this weekend:

6 players - Stephen Ackart, Ben Bass, Thomas Berryhill, Nathan Littledave, Larry Buell, Yee Yang.

(Bob Kyker will not be going).

Ben will go up Friday night and stay at an exclusive apartment paid for by his company.

Thomas will leave Sat. morning.

Stephen will go up with his wife and his wife's parents on Friday.

Nathan will enter the ping pong events only.

Dawson - 17 players.

Stephen Ackart, Zaeen Afzal, Chris Agimudie, Joel Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Ben Bass, Hamid Ezzat, Player "A", Marquel Johnson, Bob Kyker, Antonio Lewis, John Moore, Hugh Pham, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang.

Update on who is going to the Okla. City tournament this weekend:

4 for sure players - Stephen Ackart, Ben Bass, Thomas Berryhill, Nathan Littledave.

3 rumored players - Yee Yang, Bob Kyker, Larry Buell.

Ben will go up Friday night and stay at an exclusive apartment paid for by his company. Thomas will leave Sat. morning. Stephen will go up with his wife and his wife's parents on Friday. Nathan will enter the ping pong events only.

Bixby - 13 players.

1 - first time out player - Ali G. (knows Hamid).

12 regular players - Hamid Ezzat, Jim French, Kelly Boyce, Alex Tupas, Igor Shendrik, Olga Shendrik, Player "A", Stephen Ackart, Ben Bass, Thomas Berryhill, Khaled Shehada, Kevin Borgstedt.

 

Dawson - 16 players.

1 first time out player - Marquel Johnson

15 regular players - Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Larry Buell, Larry Hill, Mats Johansson, Bob Kyker, Antonio Lewis, Greg McCann, Dan McIntosh, Hugh Pham, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang.

Hutchinson tournament info from an email from Bob Kyker on how he and Yee Yang did Saturday:

Yee and I had a good tournament last Sat.( 6-20-09)  in Hutchinson, KS.  Yee beat a 1700 player and won something in singles and 1st in U-3600 doubles with Don Beckstrom.  George Taplin and I won 2nd in U-3600 doubles.  It was close in the last game with Yee and Don.  Even though Yee was upset about his losses, he played exceptionally well and his level  has jumped since last tournament. 
My new defensive style was working well even at this stage of development (no offense to blend in, yet).  I beat three 1700 players and was winning games against 1800 players.  But I had a hiccup at the end of the day, losing to a 1385 player, with errors in playing defense only.  I have plenty to work on for improvement against certain styles; it works very well against aggressive top spinners.
We started at 8:30 am Sat, and ended at 9:30 pm; it was a good day.
 
 

Dawson - 20 players.

7 first time out players - Furqaan Azhar, Ibrahaam Azhar, Salmaan Azhar (all nephews of Zaeen Afzal), Hannah Burkett (Muskogee club member, did not play however), Ali G., Antonio Lewis (young friend of Larry Buell), Brent Roberts (Muskogee club member),

13 regular players - Zaeen Afzal, Larry Buell, Thai Diep, Hamid Ezzat, Player "A", Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Darrel Lucht (Muskogee club member), John Moore, Hugh Pham, Joe Spaulding, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang.

Bixby - 12 players.

Bob Kyker, Alex Tupas, Kelly Boyce, Igor Shendrik, Olga Shendrik, Melvin Norton, Yee Yang, Player "A", Jim French, Khaled Shehada, Ben Bass, Kevin Borgstedt.

Dawson - 11 players.

1 visitor - just watched - Oliver Lee

1 first time out player - Stephen Svensson (relative of Matts).

8 regular players - Chris Agimudie, Joel Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Larry Buell, Larry Hill, Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Yee Yang.

Email below from Thomas Griffin dated 6-15-09:

I did get to play at the Dawson club last Thursday night.

If you get a chance to talk to those guys, please tell them that I had a lot of fun playing with them.

I played 6 matches or so and I was pretty tired after that.

 

If any of you guys are ever in Charlotte, NC, stop by our club to play.

We play Tuesday and Thursday nights, and Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

You can check us out at http://www.charlottetabletennis.org/.

 

Thanks, Thomas Griffin

 
 

Dawson - 15 players.

1 - first time out player - Thomas Griffin, from Charlotte, NC. An 1850 player - conventional strong looper. He was here in Tulsa on business.

14 regular players - Stephen Ackart, Zaeen Afzal, Sydney Agimudie, Don Beckstrom (from Wichita - 1877 player), Larry Buell, Zack Eldridge, Player "A", Larry Hill, Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, John Moore, Khaled Shehada, Seth Sherrif, Yee Yang.

Other news:

Rumor has it Yee Yang beat Thomas Griffin. Don Beckstrom did win against Thomas.

Players going to the Hutchinson tournament next weekend - unknown.

Players going to the Okla. City tournament in 2 weeks - unknown.

Dawson special notice: Tulsa will be having an out-of-town player at Dawson tomorrow - Thursday. The club rec'd the following email today:

My name is Thomas Griffin and I am a table tennis player from Charlotte, NC. I have been playing with the Charlotte club for many years. My current rating is 1850.

I am going to be in Tulsa tomorrow (Thursday) for business and I would like to come play at your club at the Dawson center.

 

Bixby - 8 players.

1 - just joined the club tonight player - Greg McCann - teacher of the TCC class on table tennis.

1 - first time out player - Michael - from the Tulsa Chinese Assoc. He was playing because of a tournament their association is having soon (only members of the Chinese Assoc. can play). (Player "A" is a member of this assoc.?)

Michael came in first in the doubles during the last tournament and came in 4th in the singles (per Alto).

6 regular players - Melvin Norton, Kelly Boyce, Player "A", Ben Bass, Yee Yang, Kevin Borgstedt.

Other news:

Yee Yang is wanting to go to the Hutchinson tournament this month.

Ben Bass is wanting to go to the Okla. City tournament this month.

Greg McCann said this year was the first time TCC offered a class on table tennis and got about 6 players.

The class is offered again in the fall but no one has signed up yet.

(Amir Khan plays at TCC and Samer Charr works and plays at TCC also).

Ben Bass said he prefers playing table tennis to softball and will try to play more table tennis.

 

Dawson - 14 players.

1 first time out player - Hugh Pham (works with Nicky).

13 players - Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Joel Agimudie, Larry Buell, Bob Kyker, Dan McIntosh, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Robert Yang, Yee Yang, 2 other players we did not get their names.

Tournament schedule change:

The Okla. Sooner State Games will be changed to 6-27-09 so as not to conflict with the Hutchinson, Kansas tournament on 6-20-09.

Dawson - 10 players.

Zaeen Afzal, Dane Boswell, Zack Eldridge, Player "A", Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Leonard Williams, Robert Yang, Yee Yang.

Bixby - 11 players.

Alex Tupas, Kelly Boyce, Igor Shendrik, Olga Shendrik, Jack Hannah, Melvin Norton, John Moore, Ben Bass, Kevin Borgstedt, Al Houser, Player "A".

Dawson - 14 players.

1 - first time out player - Joel Agimudie

13 regulars - Stephen Ackart, Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Dwayne Beavers, Jeff Beavers, Bob Kyker, Dan McIntosh, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang.

Special note - the Dawson club hit their 100th player (since 2003) with James Gateley (no prizes for James, however),

Dawson - 11 players.

1 first time out player - Caleb Bates (knows Greg Widdowson).

10 regular players - Zaeen Afzal, Sydney Agimudie, Player "A", James Gateley (fireman from Dallas), Bob Kyker, Dan McIntosh, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Greg Widdowson.

Bixby - 11 players.

2 just joined the club tonight players - Igor Shendrik and his wife - Olga Shendrik

1 - 2nd time out player - Eugene Quaye - from the TCC program

8 regular players - Stephen Ackart, Kelly Boyce, Melvin Norton, Alex Tupas, Jack Hannah, John Moore, Player "A", Yee Yang.

Other news: 

The club needs to start setting up after 5:30 PM in order to not interfere with the gymnastics program.

Melvin modified the Detroiter cart to better hold the cardboard. New name for the Detroiter cart will now be the "card board cart".

Dawson - 2 players.

Bob Kyker and Ben Bass.

Other news:

Bob Kyker will be playing in the Hutchinson tournament on 6-20-09.

Bob will also be playing in the National Seniors doubles tournament in August in San Francisco with George Taplin.

Dawson - 6 players.

Player "A", Bob Kyker, Khaled Shehada, Joe Spaulding, Seth Sherrif,  Yee Yang.

Results of the Flim Flam Slam tournament held 5-16-09 in Springfield, Missouri.

2 players from Tulsa attended - Stephen Ackart and Chris Agimudie.

Letter below written by Bill Lewis, President of the Ozarks Table Tennis Club.

 

Results of the Flim Flam Slam Open table tennis tournament  played in Springfield on May 16th.  A grand total of 24 players played 113 matches of which there were 19 sanctioned players.  Seven matches were played in the Under 3200 and Open Doubles with 11 matches notched in the novice Ping-Pong singles.

Bixby - 10 players

1 - first time out player - Eugene Quaye (from the TCC program).

9 other players - Olga Shendrik, Igor Shendrik (their 3rd time out ! ), Melvin Norton, Kelly Boyce, Player "A", Jack Hannah, Alex Tupas, John Moore, Chau Giang.

Dawson - 17 players.

4 players from Sallisaw - Matt Caldwell, Steve Padgett, Bob Sivils, Daniel Sivils.

13 other players - Dwayne Beavers, Dane Boswell, Larry Buell, Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Dan McIntosh, Khaled Shehada, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Leonard Williams, Robert Yang, Yee Yang, Tim Yardy.

Dawson - 12 players.

Stephen Ackart, Zaeen Afzal, Chris Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Dwayne Beavers, Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Alex Tupas, Leonard Williams, Robert Yang, Yee Yang.

Dawson - 14 players.

1 - first time out player - from Ft. Worth, a fireman, we did not get his name.

13 other players - Stephen Ackart, Chris Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Dwayne Beavers, Dane Boswell, Larry Buell, Bob Kyker, Dan McIntosh, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang. 

Dawson - info to follow

Bixby - 9 players.

2 first time out players - Olga Shendrik, Igor Shendrik - both from the Ukraine. Have been in Tulsa since 1996.

7 regular players - Melvin Norton, Kelly Boyce, Alex Tupas, Yee Yang, Player "A", Jack Hannah, Ben Bass.

Other news:

Melvin Norton will modfy the "Detroiter carts" to better carry the cardboard rolls.

Dawson - 16 people. 

Kyle Dierking from channel 6 - KOTV came out and interviewed Kelly Boyce, Bob Kyker and Larry Buell and took alot of video of the players - mostly of Nicky Agimudie.

Stephen Ackart, Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Kelvin Frank ( a relative of Sydney who just watched), Dwayne Beavers, Don Beckstrom (from Wichita), Kelly Boyce, Larry Buell, Amir Khan, Bob Kyker, Dan McIntosh, John Moore, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang.

Dawson - 9 players.

Zaeen Afzal, Dwayne Beavers, Larry Buell, Player "A", Bob Kyker, Joe Spaulding, Robert Yang, Fong Yang, Yee Yang.

Other news: Don Beckstrom will be playing Monday night.

Bixby - 6 players.

Alex Tupas, Thomas Berryhill, Kelly Boyce, Player "A", Yee Yang, John Moore.

Dawson - 12 players.

Chris Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Larry Buell, Rollin Hoggatt, Bob Kyker, Dan McIntosh, Josh Parker, Shane Parker, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Yee Yang.

Dawson - 10 players.

Zaeen Afzal, Chris Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Player "A", Rollin Hoggatt, Bob Kyker, Dan McIntosh, Josh Parker, Shane Parker, Joe Spaulding.

Bixby - 10 players.

Stephen Ackart, Kelly Boyce, Melvin Norton, Sydney Agimudie, Chris Agimudie, Alex Tupas, Kevin B, Player "A", Thomas Berryhill (brought his fiancee), Mats Johansson.

 

Dawson - 12 players.

Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Dane Boswell, Rollin Hoggatt, Bob Kyker, John Moore, Josh Parker, Shane Parker, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Yee Yang.

Dawson - 9 players.

3 first time out players - Rollin Hoggart, Shane Parker, a player we did not get their name.

6 regular players - Hamid Ezzat, Chris Agimudie, Dwayne Beavers, Player "A", Bob Kyker, Joe Spaulding.

Bixby - 8 players.

1 first time out player - Al Houser

7 regular players - Alex Tupas, Kelly Boyce, Grant Bond, Melvin Norton, Thomas Berryhill, Jack Hannah, Player "A".

Dawson - 15 players.

Zaeen Afzal, Chris Agimudie, Ben Bass, Dwayne Beavers, Dane Boswell, Larry Buell, Hamid Ezzat, Mats Johansson, Bob Kyker, Dan McIntosh, John Moore, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Yee Yang, Tim Yardy.

Dawson - 11 players.

1 first time out player - Greg Ketchum

10 regular players - Chris Agimudie, Dwayne Beavers, Larry Buell, Hamid Ezzat, Alto Guidry, Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Robert Yang, Fong Yang, Yee Yang.

Bixby - 10 players.

4 first time out players - Chau Giang (played at a table tennis club in California. A chopper. Has lived in Tulsa since October). Josh Willinger and John Davis - both enrolled in the TCC table tennis course (there are 6 players in the TCC course now but John said that is because no one knew about the course that started this semester and that next semester there should be alot more players). One other player that was there because of the gymnastics program.

6 regular players - Thomas Berryhill, Kelly Boyce, Kevin B., Melvin Norton, Alex Tupas, Player "A".

 

Dawson - 15 players.

Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Dwayne Beavers, Hamid Ezzat, Steven Freedman, Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Dan McIntosh, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Robert Yang, Fong Yang, Yee Yang, Tim Yardy.

Other news:

Chris Agimudie got a new Newgy robot.

Dawson - 12 players

3 first time out players - all from Hawaii - Steven Freedman, Jamie Stokes, Lynn Stokes.

9 regular players - Zaeen Afzal, Chris Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Dwayne Beavers, Larry Buell, Player "A", Bob Kyker, Joe Spaulding, Yee Yang.

Bixby - 15 players.

5 first time out players - all from the TCC table tennis club course - Greg McCann (the instructor for the course), Kyle Chancey, John Davis, Patrick Short, Brad Baumann.

10 regular players - Melvin Norton, Alto Guidry, Jack Hannah, Kelly Boyce, Chris Agimudie, Alex Tupas, Sydney Agimudie, Fred Roper, Kevin Borgstedt, Thomas Berryhill.

Other news:
TCC has an accredited table tennis course and Greg is the teacher for the course.
Good for 2 to 3 college credits. They play once a week for 2 1/2 hours.

Dawson - 14 players.

1 - haven't been out in a long time player - Ray Awe (joined the club tonight also!).

13 regular players - Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Dwayne Beavers, Dane Boswell, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Chuck Lewis, John Moore, Alex Tupas, Fong Yang, Yee Yang, Tim Yardy.

Dawson - 16 players.

2 first time out players - Rollin Hoggatt, Shane Parker (nephew of Rollin Hoggatt).

14 regular players - Zaeen Afzal, Chris Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Ben Bass, Dwayne Beavers, Larry Buell, Hamid Ezzat, Alto Guidry, Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Robert Yang, Fong Yang, Yee Yang.

Bixby - 13 players.

3 first time out players - Dick Clemons and his son Sean Clemons, Fred Roper (used to play at the Okla. City club 10 years ago, now living in Broken Arrow).

10 regular players - Thomas Berryhill, Kelly Boyce, Grant Bond, Sydney Agimudie, Chris Agimudie, Ben Bass, Melvin Norton, Alto Guidry, Jack Hannah, Kevin Borgstedt.

Other news:

Chris Agimudie is planning on going to the St. Louis tournament next month.

Ben Bass will only be playing on Tuesdays now due to his softball commitments on Mondays and Thursdays.

Dawson - 14 players.

3 first time out players - Junaid Malik, Maria McCann (wife of Greg McCann), Amir Khan (won the doubles at TCC)

1 - hasn't been out in 15 years player - Greg McCann (used to play at Owen Park and Turner Park)

9 regular players - Zaeen Afzal, Sydney Agimudie, Ben Bass, Dwayne Beavers, Larry Buell, Di Jin, Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Yee Yang.

Other news:

Di Jin will be leaving next week to work in Detroit, Mich. for General Motors

Bixby - 8 players.

Alex Tupas, Kelly Boyce, Ben Bass, Melvin Norton, Thomas Berryhill, Jack Hannah, Grant Bond, Nat Littledave.

Dawson - 9 players.

Stephen Ackart, Zaeen Afzal, Ben Bass, Dwayne Beavers, David Goldsmith, Bob Kyker, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Yee Yang.

Dawson - 10 players.

Chris Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Ben Bass, Dwayne Beavers, Thomas Berryhill, Larry Buell, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas,

Update on the Sapulpa center - no word yet from Jake at the Salvation Army center whether the funding request he made got approved or not.

Bixby - 10 players.

Ben Bass, Kelly Boyce, Melvin Norton, Thomas Berryhill, Jack Hannah, Player "A", Chris Agimudie, Alex Tupas, Yee Yang, John Moore.

Dawson - 11 players.

Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Ben Bass, Dwayne Beavers, Dane Boswell, Larry Buell, Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Yee Yang.

Dawson - 9 players.

Chris Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Ben Bass, Dwayne Beavers, Thomas Berryhill, Bob Kyker, Dan McIntosh, Joe Spaulding, Yee Yang.

The Sapulpa Salvation Army Boys and Girls club has made an offer to the Dawson club to move the club to Sapulpa.

Hamid checked out the center today and he approves of the move.

Kelly Boyce will talk to the Sapulpa center tonight to work out the details.

The club can play from 6:00 Pm to 10:00 Pm Tuesday, Wed. Thurs, or Friday (Monday night is currently being used by the karate program). We will get 2 nights a week minimum. The address is: 1721 S. Hickory, Sapulpa.

We will not commit until everyone is on board on this. We could keep the Dawson open on Monday's is a possiblilty.

The Salvation Army has committed to buying 6 new tables to support this new program.

Bixby - 14 players.

1 first time out player - Nathan Littledave (works with Thomas Berryhill and Ben Bass at a carpet repair company that has a table tennis table).

Garrett Belcher, Ben Bass, John Moore, Stephen Ackart, Kelly Boyce, Alex Tupas, Jim French (paid his dues), Steve Ford, Melvin Norton, Player "A", Grant Bond, Thomas Berryhill, Jack Hannah.

Other news:

Melvin Norton (the inventor of the "Detroiter cart" ) celebrated his 75 birthday!

Dawson - 14 players.

Zaeen Afzal, Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Ben Bass, Dwayne Beavers, Larry Buell, Player "A", Bob Kyker, Brett Robbins, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Yee Yang.

Dawson - 13 players.

1 - first time out player - Phil Kinnamon (friend of Joe Spaulding).

1 - just joined the club tonight player - Zaeen Afzal.

11 regular players - Chris Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Ben Bass, Dwayne Beavers, Alto Guidry, Bob Kyker, John Moore, Brett Robbins, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Yee Yang.

Bixby - 14 players.

Jim Hughes, Thomas Berryhill, Kelly Boyce, Ben Bass, John Moore, Brett Robbins, Steve Ford, Alex Tupas, Kevin Borgstedt, Melvin Norton, Player "A", Grant Bond, Jackson Fine, Jack Hannah.

Other news:

Ben Bass got his new paddle in from Coles TT. However, he ordered the UL and there were dents on the black side only surface that hopefully will smooth out.

Alex Tupas ordered new rubber from Coles TT due in Friday and he ordered a  blade from Paddle Palace.

Dawson - 15 players.

Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Dwayne Beavers, Larry Buell, Bob Kyker, Dan McIntosh, John Moore, Brett Robbins, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Robert Yang, Fong Yang, Yee Yang, Tim Yardy.

Other news:

2 players going to the Springfield, MO. tournament this weekend - Hamid Ezzat, Dan McIntosh.

Dawson - 12 players.

Zaeen Afzal, Chris Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Ben Bass, Dwayne Beavers, Larry Buell, Bob Kyker, Dan McIntosh (from Muskogee), Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas (he broke his carbon blade ! ), Yee Yang.

Bixby - 10 players.

Jim French, Kelly Boyce, Ted Hill, Melvin Norton, Jack Hannah, Brett Robbins, Thomas Berryhill, Player "A", Stephen Ackart. Kevin Borgstedt.

Dawson - 15 players.

Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Dwayne Beavers, Dane Boswell, Larry Buell, Hamid Ezzat, Louis Kirk, Bob Kyker, John Moore, Brett Robbins, Khaled Shehada, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Tim Yardy.

Other news:

Players going to the Missouri Winter games in Springfield, MO on 2-28-09 - Nick Agimudie, Tim Yardy, Hamid Ezzat.

Dawson - 14 players.

Stephen Ackart, Sydney Agimudie, Chris Agimudie, Matts Johansson, Brett Robbins, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Yee Yang, Louis Kirk, Dan Guernsey, Thoman Berryhill, Ben Bass, Zaeen Afzal, one other person, did not get their name.

(info courtsey of Yee Yang).

Below is a letter from Larry Buell and Britt Salter about the 2-7-09 tournament in Moore, Okla.

 

Sooner State Winter Games Tournament

2/7/09

Larry Buell

 

It was the Best of Times,   it was the Worst of Times….

 

This well-known expression (from Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities) could well have described my experience in the Sooner Winter Games last Saturday.

 

The tournament, another well-run affair at Carl’s House of Pong in Moore, got underway for me with the U1700 RR, one of 3 RR events I entered. After an initial win over a fifteen year old relative newcomer, I had to face fast-improving Yee Yang (1345 but not anymore!) of our Tulsa club. I must stop giving him coaching tips, he keeps taking them and getting better! He easily handled my soft topspin rolls to each side with forceful drives and smashes of his own, and had little trouble with my serves (which usually spells my doom). He rolled me 3-0 with three 11-9 wins, and highly deserved this victory. I might mention he also won the U1500 event, and will likely never get the chance to enter that event again J

 

My next match in the RR was against Craig Milkowski (1584), a strapping fellow who belted my easy loops back for winner after winner. Again, my serves posed no problem for him and I could not find the answer to his cross court smashes. Of some small consolation was the later knowledge that Craig won the U1850s and was having a fine tournament of his own.

 

The U1700s represented the worst of times (for me), while the next event, the O50s, represented the best!

 

As usual, once the day wore on I began to find my groove. In my first match of the O50s, I faced our own Bob Kyker (1580), who by my observations was having a very good day (he rolled the same Craig Milkowski who had rolled me, and won the U1700s, yeah Bob! Note a very improved and smooth-playing Chris Agimudie took the silver here!). Bob was very much on his game from the start, marking up two good wins with his great movement, consistent defense, and timely kill shots. I decided at that point to vary my strategy, which to that time had been to try to force Bob into a quick error with hard loops to the extreme sides. Instead, I began returning a mixture of cross-court rolls with short, nospin pushes to keep Bob moving as much as possible until I could get an opening for a putaway. My consistency picked up a bit and I managed to eke out the next 3 games, though it was anybody’s match right up to the end!

 

With Bob, a great sportsman and friend, watching from tableside, I then took on the undisputed power of the O50s, Scott Ryan of Texas (1924). Scott, a lefty, had seemed very potent against Bob in his O50 win earlier. I started Scott out with short spinny serves to his backhand, and was pleasantly surprised at their effectiveness. I varied the spin (heavy chop, side-top, nospin) with attempts to disguise this, and continued to achieve success. So of course I tried something different (long spinny serves to his forehand) and was rebuffed immediately. I could see that I wouldn’t win many long rallies, so I decided to go for broke on each shot with heavy topspin drives, mixing cross-corner/down-the-line shots. I won the first game, Scott the second, me the third. I began breathing heavily (more from nerves than exhaustion – you know, like the Chariots of Fire sprinter said before the 100 yard dash final, that he might have that ‘too afraid to win’ feeling) after the 3^rd game and went to Bob for advice. He said “You’re doing great, I wouldn’t change a thing!”, and gave me a big smile for encouragement. Well, that worked! I calmed down, focused, kept doing what I had found successful, and won! Turns out this was the biggest upset victory of my career….

 

I want to interject a comment here on what I perceive as successful coaching techniques. I have learned from playing with Bob in doubles that we do well together because we never criticize each other. Certainly we give advice, but that is all done with a positive spirit and the knowledge that regardless of whether the advice can be successfully implemented in the moments ahead, we will still be friends.

 

In giving advice to the various players I see (at the tournament, at our club), I follow these rules:

         

1.       Never criticize (give advice tainted with negativity).

2.       Never display disappointment when the advice is either not followed or is followed unsuccessfully.

3.       Always treat a fellow player with encouragement and respect.

 

In doubles, Bob and I had a rough start by having to face a terrific team of David Hash (1581) and Dale Goodman (1643). Their team was the perfect example of the sum being greater than the parts, as Bob and I could not penetrate their great defense/attacks no matter how we varied our approach. I believe David and Dale won our side of the RR, but David had to leave earlier than the finals L

 

Bob and I then faced the Yang brothers (Yee and Robert). As mentioned before, Yee was having a great tournament, and Robert was not too far behind (Robert won the U1250 and the bronze in the U1500). However, I think Yee was slowed a bit by a painful back, and Bob and I managed to overcome them in a close match.

 

We next faced top seeded (in our half) Steve Ackart (1602) and Mats Johansson (1644). Although they both had some terrific shots throughout the match, Bob and I tried to keep placing the ball to the extreme opposite side of the expected returner, and this strategy saw us get the win.

 

In the playoffs, since we finished second in our half, we got to play the winner of the other half, Scott Ryan and his partner Ken Potts (1409). They played very well together, engaging in many counseling sessions to better counter whatever Bob and I threw at them. Their last counseling session (at 10-9 theirs in the 5^th) was the key one: Scott had been consistently serving side/top spins to me throughout the match. On this last critical point, Ken (as Scott let me in on later) had recommended in their final council to give me a heavy chop serve instead. Great advice! So keyed was I to what I had seen before, I missed the read on the heavy chop and pushed it into the white of the net. Game over! But Bob and I felt very good about the way we’d played together in the tournament, ending up with the bronze medal.

 

 

I’m concluding below with a tournament report written by Britt Salter that he was kind enough to forward to me:

 

Winfred Addy beat Nicky Agimudie in the Open finals.  (I am fairly sure Don Beckstrom got the Bronze...)

Don Beckstrom won the U2000.  He played better than I've ever seen him play - certainly better than he has ever played against me.  His forehand counter, in particular, seemed a solid level better than I remember.  Brandon Gardner (kid from DFW area) played quite well and came in second.  Brandon gave Don a tough match, then ran right over me... (I got the Bronze...)

Craig Milkowski won the U1850 and Dalton Daugherty came in second.  They both played well in the tournament.  I'm fairly sure Dalton beat Brandon (see above) in a tough match to win his RR...  (I got the Bronze - I won the third RR, then defaulted to save my legs for the U2000 (it didn't pay off!)...)

Bob Kyker won the U1700, Chris Agimudie took silver, and Craig Milkowski got the bronze.

Yee Yang won U1500, Ken Potts took silver, and Robert Yang got bronze.

Robert Yang won U1250, Ryan Bao took silver and Steve Marks won bronze.

Larry Buell won Over 50 with a very good win over Scott Ryan (Silver).  Bob Kyker took home the bronze.

Craig Milkowski and I pulled out the U3400 Doubles over Scott Ryan and Ken Potts.  They beat us in our RR, but we advanced as 2nd place then won out.  Bob Kyker and Larry Buell took third.

 

Bixby - 13 players.

3 - 2nd time out players - Will Landsheft, Lucas Gibson - (both Bixby high school students) and Kevin Borgstedt.

1 first time out player - Jackson Fine (friend of Grant).

9 regular players - John Moore, Kelly Boyce, Jim French, Thomas Berryhill, Ben Bass, Brett Robbins, Grant Bond, Player "A", Jack Hannah.

Dawson - 9 players.

Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Chris Agimudie, Alex Tupas, Dane Boswell, Yee Yang, Joe Spaulding, Seth Sherrif, Dwayne Beavers.

(info courtesy of Yee Yang).

Note - no info from anyone about the Okla. City tournament on Sat. Anyone with any info please email.

Dawson - 10 players.

Dan Guernsey, Player "A", Matts Johansson, Louis Kirk, Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Robert Yang, Fong Yang, Yee Yang.

Bixby - 16 players

4 first time out players - Terry Vinsant, Kevin Borgstedt (his daughters do gymnastics also), Lucas Gibson and Will Landsheft - both Bixby high school students).

12 regular players - Melvin Norton, Thomas Berryhill (joined the club tonight!), Alex Tupas, Brett Robbins (joined the club tonight!), Stephen Ackart, Larry Buell, Jim French, Grant Bond, Ben Bass, Yee Yang, Kelly Boyce, Jack Hannah.

Other news:

2 players joined the club tonight - Thomas Berryhill and Brett Robbins.

 

Dawson - 11 players.

Chris Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Dane Boswell, Larry Buell, Player "A", Bob Kyker, Brett Robbins, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Yee Yang.

Players going to the Okla. City tournament this weekend - listed as under 3400 double teams:

Bob Kyker and Larry Buell, Stephen Ackart and Matts Johannson, Yee Yang and Robert Yang, Nick and Sydney Agimudie, Chris Agimudie and Seth Sheriff, Hamid Ezzat (no doubles).

Note - still possible that Robert Yang and Matts Johansson may not go.

 

Dawson - 11 players.

Stephen Ackart, Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Larry Buell, Bob Kyker, Brett Robbins, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang.

Players going to this weekends Okla. City tournament:
Larry Buell and Bob Kyker (double team),
Yee Yang and Robert Yang (doubles team),
Stephen Ackart and Matts Johannson (doubles team) (Stephen said Matts may not go).
Chris Agimudie and Nick Agimudie (doubles team under 3400),
Hamid Ezzat.

Bob Kyker to confirm this info tonight.

Dawson -  6 brave (?) players ( an ice storm came in today around noon).

Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Alex Tupas, Robert Yang, Fong Yang, Yee Yang.

Dawson - 11 players.

2 first time out players - Dan Guernsey, Louis Kirk.

9 regular players - Stephen Ackart, Chris Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Larry Buell, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Alex Tupas, Yee Yang.

Bixby - 15 players.

1 just joined the club tonight player - Ben Bass.

1 first time out player - Zeke Clark (friend of Grant Bond).

13 regular players - Player "A", Kelly Boyce, Brett Robbins, Stephen Ackart, Alex Tupas, John Moore, Yee Yang, Jim French, Grant Bond, Marshall Earnest, Melvin Norton, Thomas Berryhill, Jack Hannah.

Dawson - 17 players.

1 new player - Cary Enterline

16 regular players - Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Dwayne Beavers, Jeff Beavers, Austin Berryman, Larry Buell, Tyler Colston, Glenn Godsey, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Brett Robbins, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang.

Dawson - 9 players.

Stephen Ackart, Laura Avey, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Brett Robbins, Seth Sherrif, Alex Tupas, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang.

Bixby - 12 players.

Kelly Boyce, Melvin Norton, John Moore, Alto Guidry, Alex Tupas, Jim Hughes, Laura Avery, Marshall Earnest , Grant Bond, Brett Robbins, Thomas Berryhill.

Dawson - 22 players.

2 first time out players - Austin Berryman, Tyler Colston

20 regular players - Stephen Ackart, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Allen Krys, Laura Avey, Dwayne Beavers, Dane Boswell, Larry Buell, Glenn Godsey, Hamid Ezzat, Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Leonard Williams, Robert Yang, Tuo Yang, Yee Yang, Tim Yardy.

 

Bixby - 9 players.

3 first time out players - Laura Ashley, Brett Robbins. Keith Spence

6 regular players -  Alex Tupas, Jim Hughes, Melvin Norton, John Moore, Kelly Boyce, Alto Guidry.

Other news:

Keith Spence played in the club when the club was at the YWCA on 17th and Memorial - around 1975 (when Peggy Shaha was making her place in Okla. table tennis history along with the 4 Sanchez's). He later and last played at Reed Park in west Tulsa.

6 players (so far) going to the Okla. city tournament on Feb. 7 - Hamid, Stephen, Yee, Mats, maybe Larry Buell, Bob Kyker.

John Moore bought a paddle from Cole Ely's table tennis. The rubber is 729 - Cream RITC and the blade is Genote Quattro X. Very nice paddle - all for $40.

Dawson - 14 players.

4 first time out players - Laura Ashley, Dwayne Beavers, Jeff Beavers (son of Dwayne), Brett Robbins.

10 regular players - Stephen Ackart, Dane Boswell, Larry Buell, Hamid Ezzat, Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Joe Spaulding, Keith Spence, Alex Tupas, Yee Yang.

Other news:

6 players (so far) going to the Okla. city tournament on Feb. 7 - Hamid, Stephen, Yee, Mats, maybe Larry Buell, Bob Kyker.

Dawson - 12 players.

Kelly Boyce, Glenn Godsey, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Yee Yang, Player "A", Dane Boswell, John Moore, Ted Bennett.

Other news:

Players planning on going to the Okla. City tournament on 2-7-09 - Hamid Ezzat.

Bixby - closed

Note - Bixby will be closed next Tuesday also.

Dawson - 12 players.

1 first time out player - An Indiana visitor - 2035 rating.

11 regular players - Sydney Agimudie, Dane Boswell, Glenn Godsey, Player "A", Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang, Gary Pentecost..

Dawson - 9 players.

Player "A", Hamid Ezzat, Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Joe Spaulding, Leonard Williams, Rogert Yang, Fong Yang, Yee Yang.

Bixby - 5 brave players (due to ice).

Alex Tupas, Kelly Boyce, Player "A", John Moore, Jim Hughes.

Dawson - 8 players (ice/sleet storm made the roads slick).

1 - haven't played since the 1970's - Keith Spence (he was a good piano player and hit the ball off the bounce - very quick player then. Played mostly at Owen Park and the old YWCA on 17th and Memorial). He just watched tonight.

7 regular players - Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang, Tim Yardy.

Dawson - 14 players.

Chris Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Dane Boswell, Glenn Godsey, Alton Guidry, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Roger Persaud, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Leonard Willams, Robert Yang, Yong Yang, Yee Yang.

Dawson - 13 players.

Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Glenn Godsey, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Roger Persaud, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang, Tim Yardy.

Dawson - 12 players.

1 - haven't been out in many years - Roger Persaud (just in town for 2 weeks on business).

11 regular players - Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Larry Buell,  Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Leonard Williams, Robert Yang, Yee Yang.

 

Bixby - 9 players.

Don Beckstrom from the Wichita club (working for the day in Collinsville), Alton Guidry, Grant Bond, Kelly Boyce, Yee Yang, Melvin Norton, Jim Hughes, John Moore, Thomas Berryhill.

Dawson - 13 players.

Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Dane Boswell, Larry Buell, Samer Charr, Glenn Godsey, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang.

Bixby - 20 players.

4 first time out players - Tony Bui ( just visiting from Texas? with Hung Bui), Robert Yang, Fong Yang, Blake Alley (friend on Grant Bond).

1 - 2nd time out player - Thomas Berryhill.

4 Bixby high school players - Matthew Youngwirth, Tyler Jefferies, Tyler McGrew, Chris Miller.

11 regular players - Alex Tupas, Kelly Boyce, Stephen Ackart, Melvin Norton, Hung Bui, John Moore, Jim Hughes, Casey Forrester,Yee Yang, Alton Guidry, Grant Bond.

Dawson - 15 players.

Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Ted Bennett, Glen Godsey, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker,
Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Tao Wang, Leonard Williams, Ker Yang, Tuo Yang, Yee Yang, Tim Yardy.

Special note on the Springfield, Missouri tournament held 11-22-08

Tulsa's own Samer Chaar won 2nd in both top events - the Class A round robin and the under-2150 !!

He also won 2nd in the doubles!! Jeff Johnston (rated 2035) from Missouri came in first in all these events ahead of Samer.

Results of the Giant Jumbo Round Robin Table Tennis Tournament

 

Class “A” Giant Jumbo Round Robin
1st Place:   Jeff Johnston, Smithville, Missouri
2nd Place:   Samer Chaar, Tulsa, Oklahoma
3rd Place:   Chunyen Liu,  Overland Park, Kansas
4th Place:   Rob Sharp, Olathe, Kansas
5th Place:   William Todd, Jefferson City, Missouri

 

Class “B”  Giant Jumbo Round Robin
1st Place:   Harry Chu, Fayetteville, Arkansas
2nd Place:  Terry Brecheisen, Kansas City, Kansas

 

Class “C”  Giant Jumbo Round Robin
1st Place:    Don Slentz, Springfield, Missouri
2nd Place:   Brett Barton, Columbia, Missouri

 

Class “D”  Giant Jumbo Round Robin
1st Place:    Joe Fong, Springfield, Missouri
2nd Place:   Ajay McCutchen Springfield, Missouri

 

Doubles
1st Place:   Jeff Johnston, Smithville, MO. /  Terry Brecheisen, Kansas City, KS.
2nd Place:   Samer Chaar, Tulsa, OK. / Bill Lewis, Brookline Station, MO.
3rd Place:   Ben Lewis, Springfield, MO. / Nihit Bhargava,  Springfield, MO.

 

Under 2150
1st Place:   Jeff Johnston, Smithville, Missouri
2nd Place:   Samer Chaar, Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

Under 1250
1st Place:    Dan Young, Springfield, Missouri
2nd Place:   Samuel Liu, Overland Park, Kansas

 

Ping-Pong Singles
1st Place:   Greg Slentz, Springfield, Missouri
2nd Place:   Kevin Lazaro, Springfield, Missouri

 

 

Dawson - 11 players.

Sydney Agimudie, Ted Bennett, Larry Buell, Alton Guidry, Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Neng Vang, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang.

Bixby - 19 players.

5 first time out players - Tyler McGrow, Cameron Capzzynski, Ben Bass, Thomas Berryhill, Bud Hembree.

14 regular players - Grand Bond, Chris Miller, Ted Hill, Jim French, Steve Ford, Hung Bui, Jim Hughes, Sydney Agimudie, Chris Agimudie, Alton Guidry, Yee Yang, Matthew Young, Tyler Jefferies, Alex Tupas.

Dawson - 11 players.

Chris Agimudie, Ted Bennet, Kelly Boyce, Dane Boswell, Alton Guidry, Hung Bui, Bob Kyker, John Moore, Seth Sherrif, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang.

 

Dawson - 18 players.

4 first time out players, Joseph Hanzel, Andy Huynh, Zack McNight, Lang Yang - (all go to the Toyota school in Okmulgee and know Neng Vang ) 

14 regular players - Chris Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Dane Boswell, Larry Buell, Glenn Godsey, Alton Guidry, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Vang Neng, Yee Yang.

 

Dawson - 14 players.

Chris Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Ted Bennett, Alton Guidry, Hung Bui, Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Cornelia Svensson, Aron Svensson, Alex Tupas, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang.

Bixby - special note - the Bixby center will be closed next Tuesday - 11-11-08 - for Veterans Day.

7 players (Election day):

Stephen Ackart, Kelly Boyce, Jim French, Jim Hughes, Alton Guidry, Alex Tupas, John Moore.

Dawson - 11 players.

Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Larry Buell, Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Joe Spaulding, Cornelia Svensson, Alex Tupas, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang.

Dawson - 17 players.

Note - someone left some money behind. See Bob Kyker (Bob thinks he knows who's money it is).

1 first time out player - Ke Liu (friend and student of Tao Wang. He is from China).

16 other players - Stephen Ackart, Chris Agimudie, Syndey Agimudie, Larry Buell, Alton Guidry, Hamid Ezzat, Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Joe Spaulding, Cornelia Svensson, Alex Tupas, Tao Wang, Greg Widdowson, Leonard Williams, Robert Yang, Yee Yang.

Bixby - 14 players.

1 first time out player - Trevor Eckert (friend of Marshall).

13 other players - Alex Tupas, Kelly Boyce, Marshall Earnest, John Moore, Melvin Norton, Alton Guidry, Yee Yang, Grant Bond, Jack Hannah, and 4 Bixby high school and/or ex-high school players.

Dawson - 17 players.

1 first time out player - Dane Boswell. He has been in Tulsa since 1989 (from Jamaica).

16 players - Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Larry Buell, Glenn Godsey, Hamid Ezzat, Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Reed Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Cornelia Svensson, Aron Svensson, Alex Tupas, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang.

Dawson - 16 players.

3 first time out players - Torbjorn Svensson (brother in law of Matts), Cornelia Svensson (niece of Matts), Aron Svensson (nephew of Matts).

13 regular players - Sydney Agimudie, Ted Bennett, Alton Guidry, Hamid Ezzat, Matts Johansson, Greg Kichler, Bob Kyker, Phil Narotam, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Mark Wallace, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang.

Bixby - 10 players.

1 first time out player - Hung Bui.

9 regular players - Yee Yang, Kelly Boyce, Stephen Ackart, Alex Tupas, Alton Guidry, John Moore, Jim French, Grant Bond, Ted Hill.

Other news:

Bob Kyker is planning on going to the Nov. 8 tournament in Little Rock.

Dawson - 18 players.

1 - just joined the club tonight player - Hung Bui. He was born in Vietnam and moved to Tulsa when he was 3 and has been in Tulsa since. Hung had a new paddle with him. It is very fast. He called Paddle Palace and asked them to send him the fastest paddle they had and they did.

1 first time out player - Vang Ngng (not sure about the spelling).

16 players - Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Larry Buell, Glenn Godsey, Hamid Ezzat, Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Kyle Sanchez, William Sanchez, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Tao Wang, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang.

Dawson - 10 players.

Tim Yardy, Hamid Ezzat, Yee Yang, Leonard Williams, Seth Sheriff, Greg Kichler (from TU),  Larry Buell,  Kyle Sanchez, William Sanchez, Joe Spaulding (info from Hamid).

 

Bixby - special note.

Kelly Boyce will not attend next Tuesday's (10-14) practice.

Bixby - 13 players.

4 first time out players - George Valverde, John Z. (came out with George Valverde), (John played in the Indiana club and knows his way around a table tennis club), Delbert (Jim French mentioned the club to him), Jordan Johnson (friend of Marshall).

9 regular players - Jim French, Kelly Boyce, Jim Hughes, Ted Hill, Marshall Earnest, Grant Bond (joined the club tonight!), Melvin Norton, Alex Tupas, Hamid Ezzat.

Other news:

Grant Bond joined the club tonight ! (can't repeat this enough).

Marshall Earnest brought his new Paddle Palace paddle - a Yasaka 2040 blade (all-round with a thinner handle with Mark V rubber). A very nice paddle.

Dawson - 10 players.

Tim Yardy, Nick Agimudie, Hamid Ezzat, Joe Spaulding, Leonard Williams, Larry Buell, Yee Yang, Chris Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Seth Sherrif.

2008 Oklahoma City Teams Tournament held 10-4-08 (in Moore, Okla,) - article by Kelly Boyce,

47 players made up the 16 teams for this Davis Cup style tournament (the same type of tournament John Potochnik has in Wichita) held on 8 tables. The tournament was held at Carl Dean's converted warehouse in Moore, Ok.

There were 2 teams from the Dallas area and several teams from Hutchinson and Wichita and Topeka. 2 teams from Tulsa - Bob Kyker and Reed Kyker and the other team was Kelly Boyce and Stephen Ackart.

Overall, there were 2 rounds of round robins. The first round had 4 teams per round robin event ( 4 seperate round robin events for the 16 teams), the top team going to class A, the next to Class B, etc.

After this event, Class A played a round robin of 4  teams, Class B played a round robin of 4 teams etc to class D. There was no other play after this last round robin event which enabled the tournament to end at around 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM. (This is the first time I had been to a tournament that ended 2 hours before dark!).

The team of Kelly Boyce and Stephen Ackart wound up 3rd in class B. We had 1 win, 1 win by default (Larry Kesler could not play any further due to exhaustion), and 2 losses. The team of Bob Kyker and Reed Kyker were in a tie in Class A and were the last team to leave the tournament and so only Bob and Reed know the results.

An additional bonus is the tournament supplied free pizza and several types of sweet desserts (also free). (I never found out who brought or made these desserts).

The tournament ran smoothy with no need for an umpire to be called to break up any disputes or disagreements.

(The Western Sizzler (1/2 mile west of the tournament) is a favorite place for the Tulsa players to finish up at after the tournament.)

The tournament had 2 players over 2100, Addy Winfred (2191) and Christian Wolf (2147) from Kansas (it is always nice to see players who can really hit the ball).

 

 

 

 

 

Dawson - 9 players.

Stephen Ackart, Larry Buell, Glenn Godsey, Bob Kyker, Phil Narotam, Joe Spaulding, Leonard Williams, Li Lin Xue, Yee Yang.

Bixby - 11 players.

1 first time out player - Adam Wisneski. He wrote an article for the Tulsa World on the Bixby Table Tennis club some time back. He is now living in Tulsa.

10 regular players - Alton Guidry, Kelly Boyce, Stephen Ackart, Jim French, John Moore, Melvin Norton, Jim Hughes, Ted Hill, Jack Hannah, Grant Bond.

Dawson  - 10 players.

1 almost forgotten player - Tim Yardy.

9 other regular players - Stephen Ackart, Larry Buell, Glenn Godsey, Hamid Ezzat, Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Yee Yang.

Players going to the Oklahoma City tournament this weekend - 10-4-08.

Updated from info from John Potochnick and Don Beckstrom today:

.

From Tulsa, 2 teams only:

Kelly Boyce (1968) and Stephen Ackart (1604).

Bob Kyker (1595) and Reed Kyker (1964).

Also,

From John Potochnick today:

It looks like Wichita will be well-represented at this tournament.  Here’s who I think is coming:

Christian Wolf (approx 2150)

PJ Phachantry (approx 1880)

Don Beckstrom (approx 1800)

John Potochnik (approx 1600)

Les Ruthven (approx 1450)

Plus five additional Wichita State University players, mostly unrated, in the 1300-1500 range.

It’s been at least 12-14 years since we’ve had this many players going to the same out-of-state tournament (assuming the WSU players don’t all back out at the last minute).  (FYI – I remember one time when we took about a dozen players to Oklahoma City in the early nineties and something like 9 out of the 11 players in the U-1750 event were from our club!).

- John

 

 Also from Don Beckstrom today:

Ks players.
Don Beckstrom (Wichita)and Bob Cockerham (topeka)

Pj 1880 (Wichita). John Potochnik

Christian wolf (2130) Wichita and les Ruthven (1399) (Wichita)

One other college team. Of 1400 players

Just for your information

Don Beckstrom

 

 

Update on who is going to the Okla. City tournment this weeked - 10-4-08 - From Bob Kyker:

Dawson - 7 players.

1 just joined the club tonight player - Phil Narotam

6 regular players - Larry Buell, Glenn Godsey, Hamid Ezzat, Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Yee Yang.

Bixby - 10 players.

1 - first time out player - Nick Zavastitsa ( just in Tulsa for a few days. Lives in a travel trailer and tours the country. From Soviet Union).

9 other players - Jim Hughes, Alex Tupas, Kelly Boyce, Grant Bond, Ted Hill, John Moore, Marshall Earnest, Matt Earnest, Alton Guidry.

Other news:

Marshall Earnest is getting a new paddle from Paddle Palace this week the he already ordered..

Grant Bond is going to get a new paddle from Paddle Palace when he decides what to order.

 

 

Dawson - 12 players.

1 first time out player - Nick.

11 regular players - Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Larry Buell, Glenn Godsey (joined the club tonight ! ), Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Dan McIntosh ( got a silver medal at the Springfield non- sanctioned tournament), Joe Spaulding, Yee Yang, Li Lin Xue.

Other news:

Glenn Godsey joined the club tonight.!

Dan McIntosh from the Muskogee club got a silver medal at the non-sanctioned Springfield tournament.

Oklahoma Senior Olympics update from Bob Kyker.

Dawson - 11 players.

Chris Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Glenn Godsey, Hamid Ezzat, Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Joe Spaulding, Tao Wang, Yee Yang, Li Lin Xue, Phil Narotam.

Bixby - 10 players.

2 - first time out players - Ali Fawaz (from Dallas. Comes to Tulsa every 2 months. Hasn't played in 15 years. Used to be a 1700 level player. Had a car accident and is trying to start playing again, and  Johnathan Safa.

8 players - Player "A" (joined the club tonight ! ), Stephen Ackart, Kelly Boyce, Alex Tupas, Melvin Norton (broke his paddle tonight), Jack Hannah, John Moore, Yee Yang.

Other news: -

Player "A" joined the club tonight. He used to play in Washington state, near Paddle Palace. He just moved to Tulsa recently with his wife and son.

Dawson - 11 players.

Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Larry Buell, Glenn Godsey, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Yee Yang.

Dawson - 8 players.

Stephen Ackart, Chris Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Larry Buell, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Joe Spaulding, Phil Narotam.

Bixby - 13 players.

3 first time out players - Player "A" (just moved to Tulsa and speaks Chinese), Grant Bond (his dad brought him.), Yongren Zheng (Di Jin's father in law, he does not speak English and was talking to Alto in Chinese).

11 regular players - Marshall Earnest (joined the club tonight ! ), Kelly Boyce, John Moore, Sydney Agimudie, Melvin Norton, Bob Kyker, Jack Hannah, Alex Tupas, Di Jin, Stephen Ackart.

Other news:

Marshall Earnest joined the club tonight (his mom brought him tonight).

Grant Bond, another young player, surprisingly could hit a forehand smash (new players cannot ever hit a kill shot until they have played awhile. Found out he plays tennis and so has the timing down to make the shot.

Dawson - 7 players.

Larry Buell, Glenn Godsey, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Li Lin Xue.

Dawson - 11 players.

2 first time out players - John Angieri, Bobby Shack

1 "haven't been out for a long time" player - David Correa (last time out was 9-9-04). His dad, Jose Correa, used to be a regular player.

8 regular players - Chris Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Larry Buell, Glenn Godsey, Bob Kyker, Joe Spaulding, Li Xue Lin, Phil Narotam.

Bixby - 9 players.

Chris Agimudie (fresh from his world hiking/back packing tour, now looking for work in Tulsa), Sydney Agimudie, Kelly Boyce, Bob Kyker, Jack Hannah, John Moore, Jim Hughes, Marshall Earnest., Melvin Norton.

Other news:

Marshall said he wanted to join the club next week!

Dawson - 12 players.

3 first time out players - Zhang Yongren (friend of Di Jin), Li Xue Lin (friend of Di Jin), Phil Narotam (friend of Yee Yang).

9 regular players - Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Larry Buell, Glenn Godsey, Di Jin, Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Yee Yang.

Bixby - 9 players.

1-  first time out player - Paul Dunaway (Paul enjoys playing as much as not playing).

2 - 2nd time out players - Marshall Earnest (his mom dropped him off) (Marshall is unusually good at keeping score), Steve Ford.

6 - old timers - Melvin Norton, Kelly Boyce, Larry Buell, Jack Hannah, Sydney Agimudie, Alex Tupas.

Dawson - 10 players.

Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Glenn Godsey, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, John Sebbowa, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Yee Yang.

Other news:

Stephen Ackart just got back from the Hutchinson Tournament. His best win was against Don Beckstrom (1837). Yeah for Stephen.

Dawson - 8 players.

Chris Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Glenn Godsey, Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Joe Spaulding, Tao Wang, Yee Yang.

Bixby - 12 players.

5 first time out players (The "China Olympics syndrome" ) Joseph Moody, Blake Zoellner, Matt Earnest (the dad), Marshall  Earnest (the son), Steve Ford (who joined the club tonight!). Steve Ford used to play with the club many years ago. He remembers Jim French and Gary Sanchez. 

7 regular players - Alex Tupas, Melvin Norton, Kelly Boyce, John Moore, Jim Hughes, Jack Hannah, Ted Hill.

Dawson - 14 players.

4 first time out players - Glenn Godsey, Greg Kichler (a freshman at TU, was 1786 in Florida), Markko Kutt (originally from Estonia), Andreas Kutt (son of Markko).

10 regular players - Stephen Ackart, Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Hamid Ezzat, Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Reed Kyker, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas.

Update on who is going to what tournaments:

Hutchinson on 8-23 - Stephen and his girlfriend, will be going only from Tulsa.

Oklahoma City (Moore, Ok actually) on 10-4 - Bob Kyker and Reed Kyker, Kelly Boyce and Stephen Ackart.

Dawson - 7 players.

Stephen Ackart, Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Reed Kyker, Joe Spaulding, Tuo Yang, Yee Yang.

Other news:

Stephen Ackart is the only player going to the Hutchinson tournament on 8-23.

Bixby - 3 players

Jim French, Kelly Boyce, John Moore.

(the light turnout is the curse of the China Syndrome - the olympics in China - even Larry Buell said he would not show up in advance because of the Olympics - he obviously prefers observation to participation - we had no idea he prefers to watch then to do).

Dawson - 6 players.

Bob Kyker, Reed Kyker, Hamid Ezzat, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Yee Yang.

Dawson - 7 players.

Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Greg Widdowson.

Bixby - 7 players.

Cody Hughes, Kelly Boyce, Jim Hughes, Garrett Belcher, Alex Tupas, Jack Hannah, John Moore.

Other news:

The Bixby center is getting a new air conditioner. Replacing the one unit with 2 units and re-doing the duct work. Will take 2 weeks to finish.

Dawson - 9 players.

2 new players - Aftzeal Zaeem, Singh Gagan.

7 regular players. - Hamid Ezzat, Di Jin, Bob Kyker, Reed Kyker, Joe Spaulding, Robert Yang, Yee Yang.

Dawson - 6 players.

Yee Yang, Hamid Ezzat, Joe Spaulding, Sydney Agimudie, Seth Sherrif, Di Jin
Other news:

A/C working - per Yee Yang. (all info courtesy of Yee Yang).

Leonard Williams attended the Dawson Neighborhood Assoc. meeting tonight.

He will start playing next week since his hurdle coaching duties are over and the pain he was having in his legs are gone now..

Bixby - 6 players.

Ted Hill, Kelly Boyce, Jack Hannah, John Moore, Alex Tupas, Larry Buell.

3 new players: Hugh Pham, Ken Gwanmesia, Denis Forbi

10 regular players - Sydney Agimudie, Hamid Ezzat, Di Jin, Bob Kyker, John Sebbowa, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Robert Yang, Yee Yank.

Others news:

The A/C was working.

No players planning on going to any tournaments.

Dawson - 4 players.

Bob Kyker, Hamid Ezzat, Yee Yang, Di Jin.

Other news:

2 players maybe going to the Hutchinson tournament on 8-23-08 - Stephen Ackart and John Sebbowa.

The A/C was working.

Bixby - 6 players.

Joe Tarantino (from Las Vegas). Last time out was 6-19-07. Making his yearly visit to his daughter.

Melvin Norton, Kelly Boyce, Jack Hannah, Alex Tupas, John Moore.

Other news:

Oklahoma City is having a tournament in Sept. Will have more info later. Will post the info on the Okla. City website tonight and the Tulsa website tonight also.

 

Dawson - 9 players.

Stephen Ackart, Hamid Ezzat, Di Jin, Bob Kyker, John Sebbowa, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Nang Yang, Yee Yang.

Other news:

The A/C was working mostly. The temperature upon leaving was 82 degrees.

Hamid Ezzat has new rubber with better control and speed.

Dawson - 6 players.

Sydney Agimudie, Larry Buell, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Nang Yang, Yee Yang.

 

Bixby - 6 players.

Sydney Agimidue, Kelly Boyce, Larry Buell, Melvin Norton, John Moore, Jack Hannah.

Dawson - 7-8 players.

Sydney Agimudie, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, John Sebbowa, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas, Yee Yang, Victor from Booker T (did not play however).

Other news:

The AC was working fine. Park maintenance fixed it.

Dawson - 5 players.

Bob Kyker, Joe Spaulding, Yee Yang, Greg Widdowson., Sydney Agimudie.

Other news:

The A/C was not working. The parks maintenance was called and they said they would fix it Monday.

Bixby - 9 players.

Alex Tupas, Larry Buell, Kelly Boyce, John Moore, Brian Flynn, Garrett Belcher, Jack Hannah, Tyler Jefferies (last time out was 11-6-07), Spencer Barnett (last time out was 9-25-07).

Dawson - 12 players.

Stephen Ackart, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Kyle Sanchez, William Sanchez, Chase Sanchez, Joe Spaulding, Yee Yang, John Sebbowa, a friend of Chase.

Dawson - 4 players (1 day before 4th of July).

First time out player - Jerry Nabb. Also, Bob Kyker, Yee Yang, Joe Spaulding.

Bixby - 9 players.

1 first time out player - Ito Takayuki - (knows Seth Sherriff).

8 players - Jim French, Kelly Boyce, Larry Buell, Alex Tupas, Melvin Norton, John Moore, Jim Hughes, Brian Flynn.

Dawson - 4 players.

Nicky Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Bob Kyker, Joe Spaulding.

Other news: the A/C was working.

Dawson - 6 players.

Sydney Agimudie, Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Don Beckstrom from Kansas.

 

Don Beckstrom from Kansas will be at Dawson tomorrow - Thursday - 6-26-08.

 

 

Bixby - 7 players.

Jim French, Kelly Boyce, Melvin Norton, John Moore, Jack Hannah, Jim Hughes, Yee Yang.

Dawson - 11 players.

Stephen Ackart, Sydney Agimudie, Larry Buell, Bob Kyker, Anna Pan, Kyle Sanchez, William Sanchez, Gabriel Sanchez, Seth Sherrif, Joe Spaulding, Alex Tupas.

Dawson - 4 players.

Bob Kyker, Joe Spaulding, Stephen Ackart, Larry Buell.

Other news:

The A/C quit working at 5:30 PM and did not come back on. The fan worked but the condenser did not.

Bixby - 4 players.

Melvin Norton, John Moore, Kelly Boyce, Jim French.

Dawson - 7 players.

Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Di Jin, Bob Kyker, Joe Spaulding, Robert Yang, Yee Yang.

Sooner Games article by Larry Buell

 

Sooner State Games TT Tournament

6/14/08

Larry Buell

 

 

Headed on down to Moore, OK bright and early on a beautiful Saturday. Arrived at 0815 based on phone info that my Over 50s would start at 0900. Oops. Turns out this was the only problem with the tournament, that many of the starting times were messed up. First, none were posted on the web site by the Sooner Games folks, and then players calling were given widely varying starting times for an event. For example, while O-50s started at 1030, I was told 0900, and poor Darrell/Dan from Muskogee were told noon and missed them (but were allowed free entry into other singles events to compensate).

 

Other than this, tournament went well. The highest rated player there was Harry Chu (1832) so this was a far different complexion tournament than the one in February (5 players over 2000). But it also meant the competition was much tighter, and it seemed based on my casual survey that everyone beat and lost to everyone!

 

The format for most events was Round Robin, followed by a RR finals (with results of the first RR carrying over so no replays). Tulsa had 3 representatives there, Yee Yang, Stephen Ackart and me. This was Yee’s first tournament, and he acquited himself well with a win over Stephen and several other good matches. He said what he learned most from this was the great variety of playing styles outside our club, and that by playing more tournaments he hoped to greatly improve his skills. He has already taken great steps in doing that by staying late and doing drills with Kyle after everyone else has left. I’m saving Stephen for the end (smiley).

 

The highlight of the tournament had to be the brilliant play of Zachary Moore (1794) against the consistent hard hitting/blocking of Harry Chu in the Open Finals. Zachary was playing like a madman, covering great territory due to Harry’s excellent placements and yet coming up with tremendous winners on the run time after time. The final point of the match saw Zachary hit a screaming forehand that was ably returned by Harry, only to then follow up with an even more astonishing backhand crosscourt to win the match. The crowd exploded in admiration for the level of play shown by both these great players.

 

In my first event, the O-50s, I started slowly (as I usually do) and faced a very tough, consistent (and fresh) Larry Kesler (1498, highest 2010) in my first match. He changed his backhand from anti to long pips and was very effective both chopping and hitting with it. With my mental slowness (I felt like my strokes were stroboscopic, slow and having no rhythm to them) I just couldn’t counter his consistent push/hit approach and went down 3-1. Larry said later he played his first 3 matches great, then ran out of steam for the remainder of his day.

 

I then played Harry Chu, whose hard-blocking and smashing penholder forehand down my forehand line were too dominant for me. My highlight in this match though was my serves gave him great problems, counting for most of my 9/8/7 points in the 3-0 loss. Harry said afterwards that I was changing up the friction coefficient in my loop/drives too frequently, and if I stayed more consistent I would do a lot better. I replied I was trying to do this to keep my opponent off balance, but Harry replied that a good player would read this and kill the lesser spinny drives (like he did). So that’s something for me to work on in my practice sessions!

 

I then had a very encouraging match against the short pips out Bob Cockerham (1711, highest 1841). I lost the first two games by misreading the spin (or lack thereof) coming back and me and consistently blocking/driving shots into the net (anticipating more topspin coming back on his shots than was actually there). But I countered this in the next 3 games by opening up my bat slightly and taking a bit of speed off the drives, going more for corner-to-corner placement than 3^rd ball attack. This worked well for me as I won the match 3-2.

 

I made the O-50 finals, and played one match against a very consistent Glen Markwell (1637, highest 1671) who was Ray Pestridge’s doubles partner when they won senior nationals. Glen was a true gentleman who was very polite and good-natured during our match. He used spinny rubber forehand and a very worn down ancient nospin-effect rubber on the backhand. Again, I fell behind 0-2 in games to him before I figured out a winning strategy. Instead of giving him sharp, short underspin serves (which just came back to me with my own spin on them) I began to side-topspin deep all my serves and roll him from corner to corner and smashing where I could. Although he got many back I began to get many more winners and again ended up with a 3-2 win.

 

Harry Chu deservedly won the O-50s going undefeated, and Larry Kesler, Glen and myself were all tied at 1-2 for 2^nd/3^rd/4^th. However, in games won/lost, Larry came in 2^nd and Glen 3^rd. I was very happy with my play (after the Kesler match anyway) and ready to move on.

 

The highlight of my u-1850 RR was my match against the redoubtable Britt Salter (1673, highest 1720). He was in top form against me and used exactly the right strategy, giving me nothing but short dead balls on serves and then hard-driving all my returns to my extreme corners. My serves did not give him much problem, so one of my most effective weapons was essentially neutralized. However, we fought tooth and nail down to the wire into the 5^th game. I was actually up 10-8 in the 5^th game and Britt pop’d up a short one. In my eagerness to end it I rushed the shot and overhit it, the ball going just long. Britt just looked at me and shook his head (after the match in a friendly way he said there’s no way I should have missed that shot sniff sniff) and came back with a pair of terrific cross-court drives to tie me at 10-10. We kept trading points until finally his consistency overcame my attempts at winners and he won the match 13-11.

 

But in my mind the highlight of the tournament was the courageous and indefatigable play of Steve (Ackart). He came to the tournament dog-tired, because he had stayed up all night feting a friend who was being sent to Iraq the next day. I told him he made the right choice, because friendship is much more important than a mere table tennis tournament, especially when doing something for someone going in harm’s way for our country.

 

Steve’s singles play was heroic, but naturally a bit erratic because of his fatigue. I offered to drop out of the doubles with him to let him rest and focus on his singles play, but he emphatically refused to quit. There were 6 teams in the u-3400 doubles RR, split into two groups of 3. We played well in our first match against Bob Cockerham and his partner (so sorry, end of long day and didn’t write down partner’s name or names of next doubles team). Then we came up against a very tough team, the match going to 5 games. We were actually down 0-5 in the 5^th game, but we never gave up and pulled out a win there. Steve seemed to be getting a second wind and his smashes/counters/serve returns were awesome to behold.

 

In the finals we faced two teams. The top seeded team of Dalton Daugherty (1606) and Britt Salter handled us well, with their consistency and Dalton’s left-handed smashes turning the tide in their favor. In the final match of the day for us both (around 6 pm) we faced the incredible Zachary Moore (open winner) and pick-up partner Douglas Marks (1283, highest 1339). For Steve and me this was as much a match of guts and determination as technique and execution. Zachary of course was blowing shot after shot by us, and Douglas had some outstanding forehand counter smashes against what we thought were good low shots for many a winner. But Steve really knuckled down and drew on some deep reserves (he later said he felt like a rock star who partied all night and played all day) to hit his own impressive forehand/backhand winners to keep us in the match. Inspired by his never-say-die attitude, I up’d the level of my play as well to hit some key topspin drives for winners. These, along with effective serving by us both gave us the edge we needed to win a super-tight 5 game match (which garnered us second place in the doubles).

 

My hat is off to Steve for demonstrating what True Grit (and True Friendship) is all about!

 

Our hats are also off to Larry Kesler, Carl Deal, Britt Salter, Dale Goodman (who couldn’t play because of a hyper-extended arm, our prayers for a speedy recovery!) and their friends who kept us moving, well fed (free pizza for lunch, yummy!) and finished by 6:30 that evening.

 

While there were many upsets in the playing rounds, I think everyone went home well-pleased with the tournament and eager to come back for Moore!

Dawson - 8 players.

Stephen Ackart, Di Jin, Bob Kyker, Kyle Sanchez, William Sanchez, Chase Sanchez, Joe Spaulding, Yee Yang.

Other news:

3 players going to the Okla. City tournament this weekend - Stephen Ackart, Larry Buell, Yee Yang.

 Bixby - 8 players.

1 first time out player - Di Jin

7 players - Larry Buell, Melvin Norton, Kelly Boyce, John Moore, Jack Hannah, Sydney Agimudie, Jim Hughes.

Other news:

Players going to the Oklahoma City tournament this weekend - 3 per Larry Buell: Larry Buell, Stephen Ackart, Yee Yang.

Dawson - 8 players.

Yee Yang, Stephen Ackart, Larry Buell, Taylor Carmona, Matts Johansson, Di Jin, Joe Spaulding, Bob Kyker,

Dawson - 10 players.

Kyle Sanchez, Chase Sanchez, William Sanchez, Di Jin, Yee Yang, Larry Buell, Joe Spaulding, Stephen Ackart, Bob Kyker, Robert Yang..

Bixby - 6 players.

Melvin Norton, Kelly Boyce, Jim Hughes, Taylor Carmona and 2 players that showed up at 8:00 PM - Garret Belcher, Chris Fields.

Other news:

Taylor Carmona had his new paddle he got from Cole Ely 2 weeks ago. Paddle has, on the backhand, pips out, no sponge. Dr. Evil brand. He was having difficulty with it. Only time will tell how he plays with it.

Dawson - 5 players.

Bob Kyker, Sydney Agimudie, Taylor Carmona, Joe Spaulding, Di Jin.

Dawson - 10 players.

Hamid Ezzat, Yee Yang, Stephen Ackart, Di Jin, Kyle Sanchez, William Sanchez, Chase Sanchez, Taylor Carmona, Sydney Agimudie, Bob Kyker.

Bixby - 10 players.

Brian Flynn, Kelly Boyce, Eddie Collins, Alex Tupas, Cody Hughes, Carson Hughes, Jim Hughes, John Moore, Garret Belcher, Jim French.

Other news:

Eddie Collins just got back from Turkey on a mission. He did not play any table tennis there, however.

Jim French played a good garage player from Springfield for $20 per game and played 9 games. Ask him how that went.

Brian Flynn was last time out at Bixby on 12-7-07.

Dawson - Memorial Day - only 2 players:

Stephen Ackart, Joe Spaulding

Dawson - 10 players.

Larry Buell, Joe Spaulding, Troy Sanchez, Gabriel Sanchez, Seth Sheriff, Alex Tupas, Hamid Ezzat, Di Jin, Yee Yang, Bob Kyker.

Bixby - 11 players.

1 first time out player - Blake Stricker - a Bixby senior graduating this week.

10 players - Roman Hadenkg, Yee Yang, Cody Hughes, Jim Hughes, Kelly Boyce, Taylor Carmona, Zack Eldridge, Chris Fields, Garrett Belcher, 1 player - did not get their name.

Other news:

Roman Hadenkg finally got his old game back from the Ukraine, playing like a 1600 player tonight. Just needed some practice which he got tonight.

Yee Yang did a great job of organizing doubles play tonight.

Taylor Carmona still does not like to rally and prefers the "Leonard Williams style" of hitting the ball hard at all costs.

Zack Eldridge has developed a new backhand stroke using his penhold grip. Looks very unusual but very effective when it hits the table occassionally.

Dawson - 11 players.

1 - just joined the club tonight player - Yee Yang.

10 other players - Stephen Ackart, Larry Buell, Bob Kyker, Joe Landers, Taylor Carmona, Kyle Sanchez, William Sanchez, Seth Sheriff, Alex Tupas, Di Jin.

Bixby - 8 players.

Hamid Ezzat, Alex Tupas, Kelly Boyce, Taylor Carmona, John Moore, Garrett Belcher, Roman Hadenkg, Jack Hannah

Other news:

Wilhelm Kruger went back to Germany Friday and will never return to Tulsa.

Hamid Ezzat has no plans for any tournaments until the fall.

Dawson - 24 players:

Taylor Carmona, Stephen Ackart, Robert Yang, Yee Yang, Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Brandon Bissram, Joe Spalding, Di Jin, Kyle Sanchez, Troy Sanchez, William Sanchez, Gabriel Sanchez, Chase Sanchez, Seth Sherrif, Larry Buell, Zack Eldridge, Alex Tupas, 3 friends of Greg Widdowson, Bob Kyker.

Dawson - 17 players.

Stephen Ackart, Larry Buell, Hamid Ezzat, Di Jin, Yee Yang, Joe Spalding, Vang Yang, Pao Vang, Kyle Sanchez, Taylor Carmona, Charlie Schad, Danny Klingaman, Wilhelm Kruger (last time out), Seth Sheriff, Troy Sanchez, Gabriel Sanchez, Bob Kyker.

Bixby - 13 players.

1 - 2nd time out player - Roman Hadenkg (last time out was 5/07).

1 - been a long time out player - Roky Tariq (last time out was 8/07).

6 Bixby high school players - Cody Hughes, Garrett Belcher, Bryan Barrow, Sam Anderson, Derek Kebler, Taylor Cox.

5 other players - Kelly Boyce, Alex Tupas, Taylor Carmona, John Moore, Jack Hannah.

16 players.

Stephen Ackart, Yee Yang, Van (friend of Yee), Joe Landers, Taylor Carmona, Di Jin, Sydney Agimudie, Larry Buell, Seth Sheriff, Kyle Sanchez, Gabriel Sanchez, William Sanchez, Chase Sanchez, Reed Kyker, Zack Eldridge, Bob Kyker.

Dawson - 7 players.

Leonard Williams, Bob Kyker, Stephen Ackart, Yee Yang, Joe Landers, Di Jin, Taylor Carmona.

 Bixby  11 players.

1 first time out player - Taylor Cox (leaving for the military around 7-1-08).

1- 2nd time out player - James S. (he was waiting on his daughter who is in the gymnastics program).

9 players - Taylor Carmona, Stephen Ackart, Kelly Boyce, Melvin Norton, Jim French, John Moore, Alex Tupas, Cody Hughes, Jack Hannah.

Dawson - 15 players.

Stephen Ackart, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Taylor Carmona, Larry Buell, Di Jin, Wilhelm Kruger, Hamid Ezzat, Yee Yang, Matts Johansson, Kyle Sanchez, William Sanchez, Chase Sanchez, 2 players - did not get their names - they came with Matts and Chase.

Dawson - no info

Update on the Tulsa players going to the Hutchinson tournament this weekend.

Taylor Carmona, Stephen Ackart, Bob Kyker, Kelly Boyce

Bixby - 8 players.

1 first time out player - Rocky.

Stephen Ackart, Taylor Carmona, Melvin Norton, Yee Yang, Tou Yang, Garrett Belcher, Alex Tupas.

Dawson - 10 players.

Leonard Williams, Larry Buell, Di Jin, Bob Kyker, Kyle Sanchez, Chase Sanchez, Hamid Ezzat, Stephen Ackart, Jo Spaulding, Gabriel Sanchez.

Dawson - 11 players.

1 first time out player - Joe Spalding (knows Kyle Sanchez).

10 players - Hamid Ezzat, Kyle Sanchez, William Sanchez, Chase Sanchez, Leonard Williams, Fong Yang, Yee Yang, Taylor Carmona, Di Jin, Stephen Ackart.

Update on the Hutchinson Tournament next weekend - 4-26-08:

Players going for sure - Kelly Boyce, Stephen Ackart

Players maybe going - Leonard Williams, Taylor Carmona, Bob Kyker, Larry Buell.

Bixby - 12 players.

1 first time out player - Danny Klingaman (friend of Taylor Carmona)

2 - 2nd time out players - Sam Anderson, Bryan Barrow

9 players. - Kelly Boyce, Stephen Ackart, Jim Hughes, Garrett Belcher, Melvin Norton, John Moore, Jack Hannah, Leonard Williams, Taylor Carmona.

 

 

Dawson - 14 players.

Stephen Ackart, Di Jin, Nick Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Hamid Ezzat, Kyle Sanchez, William Sanchez, Chase Sanchez, Troy Sanchez, Gabriel Sanchez, Leonard Williams, a player - did not get their name, Yee Yang, Matts Johansson.

Other news:

Only 2 players going to the Hutchinson tournament next weekend - Kelly Boyce and Stephen Ackart.

Dawson - 16 players.

Larry Buell, Bob Kyker, Kyle Sanchez, William Sanchez, Taylor Carmona, Nicky Agimudie, Leonard Williams, Reed Kyker, Hamid Ezzat, Wilhelm Kruger, Yee Yang, Stephen Ackart, Mats Johansson, Di Jin, Fong Yang, Alex Tupas..

Bixby - 12 players.

2 first time out players - Bryan Barrow, Sam Anderson

10 players - Taylor Carmona, Alex Tupas, Kelly Boyce, Jim Hughes, Melvin Norton, Stephen Ackart, Ted Hill, John Moore, Garrett Belcher, Seth Sherriff.

Other news:

Kelly Boyce and Stephen Ackart will be going to the Hutchinson tournament on 4-26. No other players from Tulsa are known to be going.

Dawson - 10 players.

Tao Wang, Larry Buell, Leonard Williams, Robert Yang, Yee Yang, Di Jin, Seth Sherrif, Kyle Sanchez, William Sanchez, Bob Kyker.

Dawson - 13 players.

Stephen Ackart, Sydney Agimudie, Larry Buell, Leonard Williams, Dan Theuber, Taylor Carmona, Jack Hannah, Kyle Sanchez, William Sanchez, Gabriel Sanchez, Seth Sheriff, Troy Sanchez, Di Jin
 

Congratulations on 2 Tulsa players making the top 20 list on the USATT web site.

Hamid Ezzat - for most wins - 31 wins out of 46 matches.

Wilhelm Kruger - for best win percentage - 90.62% - 29 wins and 3 losses.

Bixby - 9 players.

1 - first time out player - Che Tse. Lives in Oklahoma City but does not attend the Okla. City club. Plays at a college in Okla. City. Staying in Claremore for 1 month then back to Okla. City.

1 - first time out player - Yee Yang.

7 players - Alex Tupas, John Moore, Jim French, Kelly Boyce, Jim Hughes, Jack Hannah, Eddie Collins.

Other news:

Jim Hughes joined the club tonight!

Jim Hughes got a new paddle from Paddle Palace. A balsa wood, very thick - thickest I have ever seen - Dr. Neubaurer blade with Mark V rubber. It is also the lightest paddle I ever saw. Very good paddle with good control.

 

Dawson - 9 players.

Hamid Ezzat, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang, Kyle Sanchez, William Sanchez, Di Jin, Seth Sherrif, Sydney Agimudie, Bob Kyker.

Wichita Tournament

by: Stephen Ackart

 

After the 3 hour car ride I thought I was ready to play. Well the fierce competition told me otherwise. As we arrive we run into John (the tourney director) and sign in and chat for a bit. Once I finally glued my paddle and stretched for a bit, I found my partner, whom I had never met before. Real young kid, maybe 13-15 years old. We went to warm up and that is when I found that he had a solid foundation which will bring many more years of successful tournaments ahead. After about 30 minutes of warm up it was time to play. The first half of the day I was looking real sloppy and didn't pick up a single match. Well, Then came the 2nd half. I won 2 great matches (one to a 1593 player and one to a 1697 player). I felt that the whole room was watching us play since every time there was a point scored, we had cheers. It was a real fun time. I would definitely do it again! Hint Hint John.

 

Match Breakdown:

Well after all of that, I managed to gain 184 points to raise my ranking to 1591.

Article on the Wichita Tournament held 3-22-08 - by Kelly Boyce.
It took exactly 3 hours to get to Wichita from Tulsa - about 200 miles. It is 65 to 75 miles an hour the entire way. You take the Cimmarron Turnpike to I-35 then north to Wichita.
The Wichita table tennis building (their tournaments and weekly play are in the same building) is in the older downtown area of Wichita in an old converted movie theater with good lighting and plenty of space for the 8 tables set up. One very nice feature was each playing area was sectioned off with barriers, all 4 sides with custom made barriers which meant no balls entering your court from the next tables. There was also alot of room at the entrance for sitting and milling about and a separate room where 2 tables were set up for practice. There was a very wide aisle down the middle so you can see people play matches from one end of the building to the other and lots of chairs to sit and enjoy watching matches.
The tournament started promptly at 10:00 AM with John Potochnik providing direction for all. John has run this Davis Cup style tournament so long that he runs it very smoothly.
Teams are 3 person preferred, one team had 2 people due to simply not having exactly 3 people per team and I would not recommend 2 people teams due to the number of matches a team will play.
The teams were placed in 2 round robins (there were 12 teams - 35 players total so there were 6 teams per round robin).
Each team plays 2 single matches first and then a doubles match. After these 3 matches, if a team has won all 3 matches, the team match is done and you play the next team. However, if one team wins 1 team match (singles or doubles) and the other team wins 2 matches, the teams play 2 more single matches until one of the teams wins 3 matches. The first team to win 3 matches (any combination of singles and doubles matches) then play ends immediately and the team plays the next team in the round robin.
The one big benefit of this style of tournament is that it is alot of fun because you are always rooting for your other team players as opposed to mostly rooting for yourself in most tournaments.
After the first round robin is done, the top 3 teams from each round robin play another round robin with the top 3 teams from the other round robin but you don't play any team your team has player before. The bottom 3 teams play each other in a single elimination consolation event.
(Note - the over 2000 singles event was cancelled due to a lack of players).
The tournament ran smoothly with no problems and ended at 8:30 PM.
There was a 3 way tie for first place - each of the top 3 teams had one team loss and so it went down to games.
The final standing were:

Bixby - 10 players.

1 first time out player - he was waiting on his daughter on gymnastics.

2 2nd time out players - Rusty and Collin.

7 players - John Moore (he joined the club tonight ! ), Jim Hughes, Kelly Boyce, Jim French, Melvin Norton, Alex Tupas, Seth Sherrif.

Dawson - 11 players.

Hamid Ezzat, Leonard Williams, Yee Yang, Bee, Kyle Sanchez, William Sanchez, Di Jin, Alex Tupas, Seth Sheriff, Sydney Agimudie, Bob Kyker.

Teams entered in the Wichita tournament that starts tomorrow:( 2 players from Tulsa):

(this list will change slightly due to the latest updates are not included)

 

*Hutchinators - 3678*_

 Hendrickson, Guy     Hutchinson     1846

 Voth, Vance             Hutchinson     1832

 Miller II, Carl C.      Hutchinson      1808

 

*Renewers - 3651*_

 Bartel, Joshua        Wichita     1954

 Rempel, Gregg      Wichita      1697

 Spencer, James     Wichita    1522

 

*Seasoned Slaw - 3632*_

Kelly Boyce    Tulsa       1945

Salter, Britt      OKC      1687

Ely, Cole         Liberal     1514

 

*OKC ICBMers - 3590*_

 Kalami, Hossein     OKC     1927

 Goodman, Dale     OKC     1663

 Hash, David          OKC     1560

 

*PDZ - 3584*_

 Phachantry, P.J.     Wichita     1820

 Moore, Zach     Manhattan     1764

 Beckstrom, Don     Wichita     1746

 

*Dechamps - 3498*_

Chu, Harry              Arkansas     1824

Tan, Kuok Hoe       Wichita       1674

Spaven, Cortney     Wichita        1632

 

Able-Eaners - 3442*_

Taplin, George         Abilene     1816

 Rosbach, Sascha     Abilene     1626

 Third Player TBD

 

*Topeka Hitters - 3267*_

Cockerham, Bob     Topeka     1670

McKinney, Gregg     Topeka     1597

Logan, Pierce           Topeka     1494

 

*Bordner Patrol - 3173*_

Yao, Lei               Wichita     1650

Bordner, Brian      Wichita     1523

 

 

 

*Tri City Pongers - 3070*_

Bonono, Manuel     Abilene     1550

Metzger, Cliff         Salina      1520

Heller, Frank         Wichita     1458

 

*Topeka Tornados - 2501*_

Powell, Tyler             Topeka     1298

Hirt, Travis                Topeka     1203

Demaranville, John     Topeka     1000

 

*No Pressure *_

Stephen Ackart      Tulsa                 1407

Rucker, Charles     Hutchinson        1254

Caleb Parker        Wichita               1200

Dawson - 14 players.

Casey O'Rourke, Leonard Williams, Stephen Ackart, Di Jin, Fong, Robert Vang, Bob Kyker, Yee Vang, Alex Tupas, Troy Sanchez, Chase Sanchez, Kyle Sanchez, Gabriel Sanchez, William Sanchez.

Bixby - 10 players.

1 first time out player - Casey O'Rourke

1 3rd time out player - John Moore (last time out was 7-6-06)

8 players - Garrett Belcher, Eddie Collins, Alex Tupas, Kelly Boyce, Melvin Norton, Casey Forrester, Brandon Charles, Chris Fields

Dawson - 15 players.

Di Jin, Troy Sanchez, Alex Tupas, Seth Sheriff, Leonard Williams, Stephen Ackart, Larry Buell, Yee Vang, Rogert Vang, Hua Vang, Bob Kyker, Gabriel Sanchez, William Sanchez, Kyle Sanchez, Chase Sanchez.

Update on who is enterend in the Wichita Tournament for next weekend - 3-22-08.

From  John Potochnik:

FYI - Below you will find a seeded list of the twelve teams that have
entered the tournament so far.  For those of you who have entered the
tournament, please consider this to be your confirmation e-mail.  For
those of you who have not entered the tournament, it's not too late. 
I'm still looking for a handful of players to help round out the
existing teams, plus I have room for another three or four full teams,
especially from the Tulsa, Omaha, or Kansas City clubs (who aren't yet
represented).  If you're interested in playing, but don't still have the
tournament flyer, let me know and I'll e-mail you one.  Thanks

- John Potochnik, Tournament Director

 

12 teams so far are:

 

_*Hutchinators - 3678*_
Hendrickson, Guy    Hutchinson    1846
Voth, Vance    Hutchinson    1832
Miller II, Carl C.    Hutchinson    1808

 

_*Renewers - 3651*_
Bartel, Joshua    Wichita    1954
Rempel, Gregg    Wichita    1697
Spencer, James    Wichita    1522

 

_*OKC ICBMers - 3590*_
Kalami, Hossein    OKC    1927
Goodman, Dale    OKC    1663
Hash, David    OKC    1560

 

_*PDZ - 3584*_
Phachantry, P.J.    Wichita    1820
Moore, Zach    Manhattan    1764
Beckstrom, Don    Wichita    1746

 

_*Dechamps - 3498*_
Chu, Harry    Arkansas    1824
Tan, Kuok Hoe    Wichita    1674
Spaven, Cortney    Wichita    1632

*Able-Eaners - 3442*_
Taplin, George    Abilene    1816
Rosbach, Sascha    Abilene    1626
Third Player TBD

 

_*Topeka Hitters - 3267*_
Cockerham, Bob    Topeka    1670
McKinney, Gregg    Topeka    1597
Logan, Pierce    Topeka    1494

 

_*Seasoned Slaw - 3201*_
Salter, Britt    OKC    1687
Ely, Cole    Liberal    1514
Third Player TBD

 

_*Bordner Patrol - 3173*_
Yao, Lei    Wichita    1650
Bordner, Brian    Wichita    1523
XXX, Caleb    Wichita    1200

 

_*Tri City Pongers - 3070*_
Bonono, Manuel    Abilene    1550
Metzger, Cliff    Salina    1520
Heller, Frank    Wichita    1458

_*Topeka Tornados - 2501*_
Powell, Tyler    Topeka    1298
Hirt, Travis    Topeka    1203
Demaranville, John    Topeka    1000

 

_*Half-There - TBD*_
Ruthven, Les    Wichita    1410
Rucker, Charles    Hutchinson    1254
Third Player TBD

 

 

Dawson - 14 players.

Sang Vang, Lang Yang, Sue Vang, Leonard Williams, Larry Buell, Tao Wang, Seth Sherriff, Kyle Sanchez, Chase Sanchez, Troy Sanchez, Gabriel Sanchez, Yee Yang, Bee Thao, Bob Kyker.

Note - the air conditioner did not work. Park maintenance has been called.

Bixby - 12 players.

2 first time out players - Casey Forrester, Brandon Charles.

1 - 2nd time out player - Ron Grammer

9 players - Garrett Belcher, Cody Hughes, Melvin Norton, Jack Hannah, Jim Rice, Eddie Collins, Kelly Boyce, Alex Tupas, Leonard Williams.

Note - Alex Tupas paid $20 for 6 months membership

Dawson - 11 players.

Eli Vang, Kongmeng Vang, Bee Thao, Kyle Sanchez, Chase Sanchez, Stephen Ackart, Alex Tupas, Sydney Agimudie, Nicky Agimudie, Leonard Williams, Bob Kyker.

Results of the Missouri Winter Games held 3-1-08

Greetings table tennis fanatics ! !  
Here are your results of [ yesterdays ]  March 1, 2008, Missouri Winter Games which were held in beautiful Springfield, Missouri on a warm, sunny day.  Congratulation’s to the winners and to all the participants in this table tennis tournament.  A total of 56 players competed from the states of:  Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.  It is our wish that everyone had an enjoyable day filled with good memories and the opportunity to play competitive table tennis ! !   Here then - your results.  
 
   
Giant Round Robin
              
Class “A”
1st Place:      Alfred Najem
2nd Place:     Parviz Mojaverian
3rd Place      Wilhelm Kruger
4th Place      Vladimir Altman

Dawson - 7 players.

Leonard Williams, Bob Kyker, Alex Tupas, Yee, Dee, Troy Sanchez, Gabriel Sanchez.

Dawson - 10 players.

Don Beckstram (from Wichita ! ), Tao Wang, Dee, Eli, Matts Johansson, Seth Sheriff, Ted Bennet, Troy Sanchez, Gabriel Sanchez, Bob Kyker.

Bixby - 8 players. No names. Kelly not there.

Dawson - 16 players.

Leonard Williams, Tao Wang, Dee, Nicky Agimudie, Tim Yardy, Wilhelm Kruger, Sydney Agimudie, Hamid Ezzat, Kyle Sanchez, Robert, Yee, Bee, Fong, Eli, Kongereng, Bob Kyker.

Okla City tournament article written by Larry Buell:
 

Moore, OK TT Tourney write-up 
February 23rd opened a bit blustery, but did not turn out too bad. Kinda like my style of play... 
7 players represented the glory of Tulsa TT at the Moore tournament: 
Wilhelm, Nicky, Tim, Kelly, Hamid, Stephen, and me.  
The new club (Carl's House of Pong, or CHOP) was able to house 9 tables. It is in a large industrial store area, with high ceilings to accommodate the most ambitious lobber. It had a very cozy entry area with 2 comfortable sofas, a TV/DVD player (they plan to get dish/cable later), and a very well-appointed bathroom that managed to service the 32 players and their entourage well.
 
The tournament was well run by Larry Kesler, David Hash and Britt Salter. The format was Giant RR in the morning (A-E in each group), doubles next, then the A-E RR playoffs in the PM. All A's advanced to their A afternoon groups (including our Wilhelm, Nicky, Tim, and Kelly). Hamid and I ended up in Bs (Hamid seeded such, I was C but defeated Britt for the advance). Stephen had a great morning, seeded E but defeating two opponents to end up in Cs. Stephen's game is really improving, keep it up Stephen!
 
The doubles were mostly pickup (especially for us Tulsans). Hamid surprised me by asking if I wanted to play with him (usually he avoids doubles because it aggravates his shoulder). We got a bye the first round and ended up in a close 5 game loss to David Hash and Dale Goodman (who play doubles together constantly). I think if Hamid and I had played in Round 1 we would have gotten our kinks worked out and done well (we did come back to win one game after being down 8-2, winning it 11-8, so the potential was there). Nicky paired with a young up and coming player named Stephan Dennis  { originally written as Stefan (sp?)  }, Kelly paired with his son Stephen, and Wilhelm paired with another young pickup player there (ratings limits were 3600). Kelly and Stephen won their first round but lost in the 2nd. Wilhelm and his partner did quite well, but Nicky and Stefan ended up winning the doubles. Way to go Nicky!
 
The afternoon saw some terrific play from the A group, which included Wilhelm, Winfred Addy, Tim, Heather Wang, Nicky  and Kelly. Wilhelm looked smooth and powerful all afternoon, mixing up chops with swift drives and loops and always seeming in position. Winfred played well, but appeared flustered at times, given the impressive nature of the competition. Heather played very smoothly, mixing up her hits, blocks, and positioning the ball well. Nicky appeared to prosper from the quality of play he's had recently in Tulsa, and moved both himself and the ball around extremely well with a balance of offense and defense. Tim had many moments of excellence, including excellent services, but also seemed frustrated at times when he could not consistently rise to his own high expectations of play. Kelly played well, with his excellent hand/eye coordination and consistent looping, but was outgunned at last by the power and ball-positioning of his high-caliber opponents.
 
The results? Tulsa won!! Wilhelm finished undefeated for the day, taking first, and Nicky (unused to being seeded fifth in an OK tournament) came through on his awesome potential by taking second. 
 
In Bs Hamid came up against an underrated player named Hossein Kalami (from Norman), a young man who's smooth, killer forehand combined well with a medium pips backhand he used both offensively and defensively (best use of it I've seen in a while!) to great effect. This same Jose also defeated 2 other 1800+ players that I know of (Carl Miller and Paul Thomas) so his rating should skyrocket from the 1600s he was formerly in. Hamid did play well in the Bs and came in second, including a tough 5 game match against Paul Thomas. My best match in the B's was against this same short pips FH/long pips BH Paul Thomas. I played him much like I do Ray Pestridge, giving him easy, no spin shots to his BH until a return rose to my liking which I drove for frequent winners. I ended up losing in the 5th to him in a well-fought battle that saw his consistency outlast my kills. Seeded last, I ended up next to last after a last match of the day win over John Raunikar, a lefty with great consistency and good driving shots, who had some trouble with my serves at crucial times allowing me to eke out a victory.
 
In the Cs Stephen faced many excellent players. Although he did not defeat any I believe he came away with a desire to return victorious in the not too distant future!
 
After the tourney, Kelly, Stephen and I met up (purely by coincidence!) at the Western Sizzler, located just West of CHOP. We had a fine steak and potatoes dinner, some dreamy creamy ice cream for desert, and headed back to Tulsa well-sated with food, conversation and Table Tennis.
 
FYI, CHOP is open M/W/F (M/W 6-9:30, F 6-9), and I believe (though not on their website) they are also open Saturdays 12-4 (email Carl Deal though to confirm this sunrisecartage@coxinet.net ). First time there is free, after that is $5/night.
 
Thanks to the OKCTT club for a well-run and highly enjoyable event!
 
Larry Buell

Oklahoma City 1 star Tournament  - written by Kelly Boyce.

The tournament was held in Okla. City's new table tennis location, a converted warehouse building located in an industrial park. The building is owned by Carl Dean who rents it out to the club. (Carl is a motorcycle e nthusiast and possible train enthusiast (real trains, not model trains) (you don't see "Carls trains" but you feel them and hear them - a wonderful first time experience).

There were 9 tables sent up, 3 tables in one area and 6 tables in the other area. Plenty of room between the tables and the lighting was very good - all flourescent (the club installed the lights recently - part of the "converted warehouse" work the club did).

The tournament was run by Larry Kesler with help from their very large staff - David Hash, Britt Salter, Dale Goodman, a lady at the front desk named Deb and others.

32 players attended the tourny. 1 player from Kansas (Carl Miller), 3 players from Arkansas, 7 players from Tulsa, none from Texas (Texas had 2 tournaments this same day!). 3 players from McAlester (Paul Thomas and 2 new players - Ed Ellis could not make it), 2 players from Muskogee (Dan McIntosh, and Darrell Lucht) and the rest from Okla City.

Format was a giant round robin with the first round divided into 6 groups (4 groups had 5 players and 2 groups of 6 players).

The top 6 players advancing to the "A" group were Winfred Addy, Heather Wang, Wilhelm Kruger, Nick Agimudie, Tim Yardy, Kelly Boyce.

Only those lucky enough to be there could see some great table tennis action (and non-table tennis action - the stuff between games we can't write about) (watching table tennis on TV or the internet does not compare!). I could go into detail about each great match but space is limited (and there will be Larry Buell's article later). The final results were:

1st - Wilhelm Kruger, 2nd - Nick Agimudie, 3rd - Winfred Addy, 4th - Heather Wang, 5th - Tim Yardy, 6th - Kelly Boyce.

Hamid Ezzat came in 2nd in the class B.

When the complete results of the tournament are sent, they will be sent out to everyone signed up on the Tulsa newletter.

Dawson - 9 players.

Bob Kyker, Ross Olderkamp, Jason Mann, Leonard Williams, Dee, Yee, Seth Sheriff, Stephen Ackart, Robert.

Bixby - 8 players.

Melvin Norton, Alex Tupas, Kelly Boyce, Stephen Ackart, Larry Buell, Garrett Belcher, Chris Field, Jim Rice (just joined tonight!)

Other news:

6 players going to the Okla. City tourny this weekend - Kelly, Stephen, Hamid, Wilhelm, Nicky, Larry Buell.

Dawson - 21 players !.

Kyle Sanchez and his 2 sons - William Sanchez, Chase Sanchez - said they were going to start playing again.

Stephen Ackart, Hamid Ezzat, Wilhelm Kruger, Larry Buell, Nicky Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Yee Yang, Tim Yardy, Matts Johansson, Tao Wang, Di Jin, Leonard Williams, Brandon Bissram, Seth Sheriff, Eli Vang, Bee Thao, Meng Vang, Bob Kyker.

Other news:

Players going to the Oklahoma City tourny this weekend ( 6 only per Bob Kyker):

Hamid Ezzat, Wilhelm Kruger, Nicky Agimidie, Kelly Boyce, Stephen Ackart and Larry Buell (who will provide a nice article about the tournament afterwards! ).

 

Okla. City tournament (next weekend) update for Tulsa players.

Kelly Boyce and Stephen Ackart will be going to the tournament and have room for 2 players in our 2003 Mercury Sable.

Any other players going, and need rides, email  the club website and it will be added to this blog.

Bixby - 6 players.

Garrett Belcher, Kelly Boyce, Alex Tupas, Eddie Collins, Marty Andrews, Jack Hannah

Other news:

Alex Tupas is considering going to a faster blade and rubber (wants shorter rallys).

Dawson - 5 players.

Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Larry Buell, Eddie Collins, Yee Yang.

Bixby - 5 players.

Eddie Collins, Alex Tupas, Jim French, Kelly Boyce, Marty Andrews

(primary day for presidential candidates).

Dawson - 13 players.

1 first time out player - Nanbish Patel (goes to Spartan).

Larry Buell, Leonard Williams, Tim Yardy, Stephen Ackart, Sydney Agimudie, Nicky Agimudie, Hamid Ezzat, Wilhelm Kruger, Di Jin, Yee Yang, Yur Yang, Bob Kyker.

Other news:

Players going to the Okla. City Tournament on 2-23:

The Weslyean team, Larry Buell, Hamid Ezzat, Tim Yardy, Wilhelm Kruger, Nicky Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie. Possibly Bob Kyker, Kelly Boyce, Stephen Ackart.

 

 

Bixby - 8 players.

Melvin Norton, Kelly Boyce, Jack Hannah, Sydney Agimudie, Marty Andrews, Alex Tupas, Jim French (first time back since his knee surgery), Tao Wang.

Dawson - no info (Bob Kyker off).

Sydney said many players were there.

Players going to the Sooner State games this weekend:

6 for sure - Hamid Ezzat, Tim Yardy, Wilhelm Kruger, Bob Kyker, Tao Wang, Stephen Ackart.

Possibly Matts Johansson and Samer Charr.

 

Bixby - 12 players.

1 first time out player - Ryan McCulloch

11 players - Ted Hill, Seth Sheriff, Kelly Boyce, Stephen Ackart, Eddie Collins, Tao Wang, Alex Tupas, Chris Field , Garret Belcher, Melvin Norton, Marty Andrews

Dawson - 11 players.

2 first time out players - from Stillwater (came with Ray Pestridge) - Dave Stewart, Steve Stewart (and going to this Saturday tournament).

9 players - Ray Pestridge, Yee Yang, Fong Yang, Hamid Ezzat, Wilhelm Kruger, Ted Bennett, Di Jin, Stephen Ackart, Tao Wang, Bob Kyker.

Dawson - 11 players.

3 first time out players - all brothers - Yee Yang, Fong Yang, Robert Yang.

8 players. - Hamid Ezzat, Ted Bennet, Stephen Ackart, Larry Buell, Tim Yardy, Wilhelm Kruger, Bob Kyker.

Bixby - 10 players.

2 first time out players - Tork Klein, Coleen Klein.

8 players - Seth Sheriff, Kelly Boyce, Ted Hill, Alex Tupas, Melvin Norton, Garret Belcher, Eddie Collins, Jack Hannah.

Dawson - 9 players.

Hamid Ezzat, Larry Buell, Wilhelm Kruger, Tim Yardy, Leonard Williams, Stephen Ackart, Sydney Agimudie, Bob Kyker.

Dawson - 14 players.

6 first time out players - Larry Zickefoose, Tim Holt, Danita Holt, Tim Holt Jr., Thorsten ("Tork" ) Klein, Colleen Klein.

8 other players - Ted Bennett, Larry Buell, Mark Wallace , Hamid Ezzat, Wilhelm Kruger, Tim Yardy, Z, Bob Kyker.

Other news:

Players going to the Sooner State games on 1-26 - Hamid Ezzat, Tim Yardy, Wilhelm Kruger, Stephen Ackart, maybe Matts Johansson, Tao Wang, Bob Kyker. Bob and Tao will play doubles. Ray Pestridge and some new players from Stillwater will be going also.

Bixby - 11 players.

1 first time out player - Wilhelm Kruger

10 players - Hamid Ezzat, Kelly Boyce, Garrett Belcher, Brandon Eckhart, Chris Field, Melvin Norton, Marty Andrews, Alex Tupas, Michael Dunn, Jack Hannah.

Other news:

Wilhelm will be going back to Germany this summer.

Hamid Ezzat has changed his overall strategy to more control and less offense.

 

Dawson - 10 players.

2 first time out players - Thorsten ("Tork") Klein, Colleen Klein.

8 players - Larry Buell, Zack Eldridge, Sydney Agimudie, Ray Pestridge, Matts Johansson, Ted Bennett, Bob Kyker, Stephen Ackart.

Dawson - 5 players.

Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Kelly Boyce, Zack Eldridge, Ted Bennett

Other news:

Zack ordered a new shakehand paddle and a new piece of rubber for his penhold paddle from Paddle Palace. He wants to start playing shakehand style.

Hamid is going to the Okla. City tournament this month. He is the only player going from Tulsa so far.

Dawson - 8 players.

1 just joined tonight player - Charles Johnson (travels alot).

7 players - Larry Buell, Hamid Ezzat, Kelly Boyce, Bob Kyker, Ted Bennett, Stephen Ackart, Zack Eldridge.

Dawson - 7 players.

Leonard Williams, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Huy Nguyen (leaving for Houston tomorrow), Z, Zack Eldridge, Ray Pestridge.

Bixby - 9 players.

2 first time out players - Michael Dunn and Carl Smith

7 players - Hamid Ezzat, Kelly Boyce, Alex Tupas, Marty Andrews, Ted Hill, Seth Sheriff, Zack Eldridge ( will be able to play in Tulsa the next 2 weeks due to Northeartern in Tahlequah.being closed).

Dawson - no power tonight at the Center.

PSO says the power at Dawson may be restored by Tuesday - 12-18.

Dawson - 9 players.

Larry Buell, Bob Kyker, Hamid Ezzat, Ray Pestridge, Huy Nguyen, Leonard Williams, Di Jin, Sydney Agimudie, Z.

Other news:

Huy Nguyen will be leaving Tulsa next month to work in Houston.

Bixby - 7 players.

1 first time out player - Jim Highes.

6 players - Melvin Norton, Kelly Boyce, Alex Tupas, Marty Andrews, Eddie Collins, Brian Flinn.

Dawson - 8 players.

Bob Kyker, Larry Buell, Hamid Ezzat, Wilhelm, Tim Yardy, Leonard Williams, Di Jin, Ted Bennet.

Dawson - 6 players.

Larry Buell, Bob Kyker, Matts Johansson, Di Jin, Hamid Ezzat, Huy Nguyen. 

Bixby - 4 players.

Jim French, Kelly Boyce, Alex Tupas, Melvin Norton

Other news:

Jim French is having a knee operation and will not be able to play until the end of Jan.

Dawson - 13 players.

1 first time out player - Arron Moselly (knows Matts).

12 other players - Bob Kyker, Larry Buell, Ray Pestridge, Sydney Agimudie, Nicky Agimudie, Hamid Ezzat, Wilhelm Kruger, John Sebbowa, Matts Johansson, Z, Di Jin, Huy Nguyen.

Other news:

Ray Pestridge and Matts Johansson may go to the Springfield, Mo. tournament.

Bob Kyker is not going to the Springfield tourny.

Bixby - 9 players.

2 second time out players - Jerrod Petty, Brandon Moses.

7 players - Jim French, Kelly Boyce, Eddie Collins, Marty Andrews, Melvin Norton, Chris Field, Garrett Belcher.

Other news:

Bob Kyker will be the only player from Tulsa going to the Springfield, Missouri tournament on 12-8. This is an unsanctioned event.

Jim French will probably have knee surgery next week to replace the pads in his knees.

Dawson - 6 players.

Z, Huy Nguyen, Bob Kyker, Hamid Ezzat, Ray Pestridge, Di Jin.

Bixby - 9 players.

2 first time out players - Brandon Moses, Jerrod Petty.

7 other players - Brian Flinn, Kelly Boyce, Eddie Collins, Alex Tupas, Jack Hannah, Ted Hill, Marty Andrews.

Dawson - 9 players.

Ray Pestridge, Bob Kyker, Leonard Williams, Wilhelm, Nicky Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Zee, Huy Nguyen, Hamid Ezzat..

Other news:

Bob Kyker is going to the Hutchinson Tournament on 12-1-07. No one else is going so far.

Dawson - 5 players.

Huy Nguyen, Larry Buell, Bob Kyker, Leonard Williams, Sydney Agimudie.

Bixby - 9 players.

2 first time out players - Carol Baustert, Ian Baustert (both from Sand Springs).

4 Bixby HS players - Garret Belcher, Chris Fields, Tylers Jefferies, 1 other player - did not get his name.

5 other players - Jack Hannah, Kelly Boyce, Eddie Collins, Brian Flinn, Marty Andrews (paid for a yearly membership).

Dawson - 13 players.

Ray Pestridge, Matts Johansson, Brandon, Wilhelm, Nicky Agimudie, Di Jin, Alex Tupas, Larry Buell, Bob Kyker, Leonard Williams, Hamid Ezzat, Ian, Sydney.

Dawson - 10 players - per Eddie Collins

No other info.

Bixby - 10 players.

Jim French, Kelly Boyce, Alex Tupas, Melvin Norton, Brian Flinn, Garrett Belcher, Eddie Collins, Jack Hannah, a Bixby High School player, friend of Alex.

Dawson -

Ray Pestridge, Matts Johansson, Di Jin, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker.

Bixby - 13 players

1 yearly member - Matts Johansson (paid $60 tonight).

12 players - From Bixby High School - Garrett Belcher, Chris Field and 3 other players.

Jim French, Jack Hannah, Kelly Boyce, Alex Tupas, Seth Husienga, Brian Flinn, Marty Andrews.

Other news:

Seth Husienga will be leaving for 1 year for depolyment in the Air National Guard this Friday.

Brian Flinn is starting to use his forehand drive as his primary stroke.

 

Dawson - 9 players.

Matts Johansson, Bob Kyker, Larry Buell, Hamid Ezzat, Alex Tupas, John Sebbowa, Ian Baustert - from Sand Springs and his mom - Carol,.Wilhelm

Bixby - 15 players.

8 players from Bixby High School

7 regular players - Brian Flinn, Kelly Boyce, Eddie Collins, Jack Hannah, Jim French, Marty Andrews, Seth Huisenga.

Other news:

Garret Belcher, from the Bixby HS, wants to buy a new paddle from Paddle Palace.

Note to Garrett, try out Brian Flinn's paddle first. He ordered a very light weight paddle.

Dawson - 10 players 

Players - Greg Widdowson, Bob Kyker, Sydney Agimudie, Nicky Agimudie, Brandon Bissram, Wilhelm Kruger, Di Jin, Alex Tupas, Hamid Ezzat, Stephan Zolarek

 

Bixby - 25 players.

13 players from the Bixby high school (including Jeremy Guy, Kendall Peterson, Chris Field, Garrett Belcher, etc - too many names to keep up with)

2 players from McAlester - Paul Thomas and Ed Ellis. Both flew into Jones Airport. Paul Thomas was last in Tulsa on 10-18-05. Ed Ellis was last in Tulsa on 8-23-05.

1- Matt Boudreaux (from Broken Arrow)- (the designated driver for Paul and Ed).
9 regular players - Alex Tupas, Kelly Boyce, Eddie Collins, Larry Buell, Brian Flinn, Seth Husienga, Gene Bowlin, Marty Andrews, Jack Hannah.

Other news:

Paul Thomas changed to long pips on his backhand and his rating went up 200 points after the last recent US Open he played in.

The McAlester table tennis club meets on Wed. nights only. They are not officially part of the USATT although Ed Ellis thought they should become one so their club will be listed on the USATT site. The McAlester club has 3 tables and usually gets 4-6 players on Wednesdays.

Brian Flinn did not lose a match the entire night (and he showed up early to boot). Took out most of the Bixby high school players.

We tried to talk Jack Hannah into switching to long pips but he was against it.

Marty Andrews wants to use a different rubber but can't decide what to switch to. He tried other players paddles tonight.

The club will stop taking memberships. The cost to play will change to $2 per night starting next week.

 

 

Dawson - 7 players.

2 visitors - Ray Pestridge, Jerry Pender.

5 members - Bob Kyker, Tao Wang, Larry Buell, Matts Johansson, Eddie Collins.

Other news:

Ray Pestridge is going to a senior tournament in Huntsman, Utah this Friday.

Bixby - 16 players.

5 visitors from Bixby High School - Brandon Eckhart, Chris Field, Garret Belcher, Paul Beatty, Tyler Jefferies.

3 visitors - Freeman Latsos, Brian Flinn, Seth Huisenga.

8 members - Kelly Boyce, Eddie Collins, Jim French, Gene Bowlin, Melvin Norton, Marty Andrews, Jack Hannah, Alex Tupas.

Dawson - 11 players.

5 visitors - Wilhelm, Ray Pestridge, Di Jin, new player from Sand Springs and his son,

6 members - Bob Kyker, Hamid Ezzat, Leonard Williams, Tao Wang, Larry Buell, Sydney Agimudie.

Dawson - 7 players.

1 first time out player since the 1960's - Freeman Latsos.

1 visitor - Di Jin

5 members - Bob Kyker, Leonard Williams, Mats Johansson, Hamid Ezzat, Joe Landers.

Other news:

Ray Miron called Bob Kyker and Reed Kyker and Larry Buell wants to put on the table tennis exibition at Inverness Retirement center.

Bixby - 13 players.

3 first time out players - Paul Beatty, Brett Reavis, Chris Field ( all know Spencer Barnett).

4 visitors - Spencer Barnett, Seth Huisenga, Tyler Jefferies, Marty Andrews.

6 members - Kelly Boyce, Hamid Ezzat, Jack Hannah, Melvin Norton, Larry Buell, Matts Johansson.

Other news:

Sports Night Oklahoma sent a crew out (actually 1 person- an employee of Cox ) to video tape the club. He interviewed Spencer Barnett, Kelly Boyce and Larry Buell and took video of all the players. The video will play on Channel 3 (on Cox cable only) , at 10:00 PM (repeats at 10:30 PM) sometime next week.

Hamid Ezzat is considering going to the Ft. Worth tournament next month.

Dawson - 13 players.

5 visitors - Nicky Agimudie, Ray Pestridge, Wilhelm Kruger, Brandon Bissram, Di Jin.

8 members - Bob Kyker, Hamid Ezzat, Leonard Williams, Matts Johansson, Sydney Agimudie, Tao Wang, Larry Buell, Stephen Ackart.

The club rec'd the following email today from Sports Night Oklahoma:

I was wondering if we could run by Bixby Tuesday night and shoot some video for a story?

SportsNight Oklahoma is seen by Cox Communication subscribers in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

Thanks so much!

Dawson - 5 players.

1 visitor - Ray Pestridge

4 members - Bob Kyker, Leonard Williams, Matts Johansson, Sydney Agimudie

Bixby - 17 players

6 visitors - Brian Flinn, Spencer Barnett, Tyler Jefferes, Seth Huisenga, 2 people who came in late to see Spencer- did not get their names

1 expired member - Ken Baird (last time out was 2-20-07)

10 members - Hamid Ezzat, Kelly Boyce, Larry Buell, Alex Tupas, Melvin Norton, Eddie Collins, Gene Bowlin, Marty Andrews, Matts Johansson, Jack Hannah.

Other news:

Larry Buell left early due to mental and physical fatigue.

Marty Andrews organized some doubles play.

Spencer Barnett is going to buy a new paddle (maybe from the Academy)

Dawson - 11 players.

3 visitors - Nicky Agimudie, Wilhelm Kruger - 22 years old - going to T.U. for 1 year minimum (from Germany - Larry thinks he maybe rated around 2300), Brandon Bissram,

7 members - Bob Kyker, Leonard Williams, Alex Tupas, Sydney Agimudie, Larry Buell, Tao Wang, Hamid Ezzat, Mats Johansson,.

Dawson - 5 players.

2 visitor - Larry Hill, Di Jin

3 members - Bob Kyker, Leonard Williams, Sydney Agimudie

Bixby - 12 players.

3 visitors - Spencer Barnett , a friend of Spencer's (did not get his name), Brian Flinn.

9 members - Corey Flaugher, Kelly Boyce, Alex Tupas, Eddie Collins, Jack Hannah, Gene Bowlin, Marty Andrews, Seth Sherriff, Melvin Norton.

Other news:

Gene Bowlin won Gold at the Senoir Olympics in Oklahoma City!

 

 

Hutchinson Fall Tournament
9/8/07
Larry Buell

Dawson - 11 players.

1 first time out player - Robert Nipper

1 - haven't been out in 7 years player - Di Jin

4 visitors - Nicky Agimudie, Ray Pestridge, Brandon Bissram, one player we did not get his name.

5 members - Bob Kyker, Leonard Williams, Hamid Ezzat, Sydney Agimudie, Mats Johansson.

Bixby - 11 players.

2 first time out players - Ron Grammar (saw the Channel 8 morning piece. He told Celia, when he was leaving, that the club's players were too good of players), Joseph McCormick (friend of Spencer Barnett).

2 - 2nd time out players - Spencer Barnett, Jerry Bunville

2 visitors - Seth Huisenga, Brian Flinn

5 members - Hamid Ezzat, Kelly Boyce, Melvin Norton, Eddie Collins, Marty Andrews

Other news:

Larry Buell will play in the Hutchinson tournament next weekend.

The Bixby center is not part of the Tulsa parks and recreation (or part of Bixby) and therefore does not have to comply with the mayors new thermostat policy of keeping the Tulsa recreation centers at 76-78 degress. The Bixby center keeps their thermostat set at 72 degrees. Celia said 76-78 is way too hot when a group does any physically activity (she said sometimes 72 degrees is too hot). She said 76-78 is not comfortable for even just sitting around.

Eddie Collins just got back from Venezuela teaching baseball !

Seth Huisenga is in the reserves and thinks he may have to go overseas soon.

 

Dawson - 5 players.
5 members - Larry Buell, Kelly Boyce, Hamid Ezzat, Tao Wang, Leonard Williams.

Other news:

Kristin Dickerson, reporter and partime host of Good Day Tulsa on Channel 8, came out to the club and filmed the players. This segment will air Monday, 9-3 - between 9:00 am and 10:00 am. It will be part of their story on the movie "Ball of Fury".

 

 

Bixby - 13 players.

3 first time out players (due to the article in the Sunday paper), Spencer Barnett, Tyler Jefferes (they came out together), Bob Darden (retired, used to play tennis).

1 visitor - Seth Huisenga,

1 new, just joined tonight member - Marty Andrews. Lives in Bixby.

7 members - Larry Buell, Kelly Boyce, Alex Tupas, Jack Hannah (renewed his membership!), Gene Bowlin, Melvin Norton, Ted Hill.

1 just watched person - Ray Miron

Other news:

Ray Miron wants 4 players to come out to the retirement center he lives at - Inverness - at Hwy 75 and 71st street (?).

He wants to generate some table tennis interest at Inverness. The center has one table.

His contact info is: PH: 388-3145 and his email address is: raymiron@aol.com

Ray has been very active in  hockey (anyone into hockey will know him!).

Some of his accomplishments in hockey are:

1974-1976 - General Manager of the Tulsa Oilers in the old, pre-1992 Central Hockey League.

1976 - President (for 3 weeks) of the Central Hockey League (included 6 hockey teams from Okla, Texas, Kansas, Tenn. )

1976 - General Manager of the Colorado Rockies.

?       - coached the Okla. City Blazers.

1992 - Conceived and founded the new Central Hockey League.

Sometime after 1992, the "Levins Cup" (Ray's partner) - championship trophy for the CHL, was renamed the "Ray Miron President's Cup".

Ray retired from hockey in 2000.

2001 - The Central Hockey League merged with the Western Professional Hockey League.

2004 - Ray received the "Lester Partick" award for outstanding service to hockey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dawson - 11 players.

2 first time out players - Mike Mayer, Wilhelm Kruger (22 years old, here at TU for one year minimum. He beat Nicky!. However, Ray Pestridge beat Wilhelm!).

5 visitors - Brandon Bissram, Nicky Agimudie, Reed Kyker, Ray Pestridge, Chris Agimudie

4 members - Bob Kyker, Leonard Williams, Larry Buell, Sydney Agimudie.

Other news:

Bob Kyker will not be able to make it to the club until Sept 10th..

The Tulsa World Article came out in the "Scene" section of the Sunday paper.

The article is below.

 

Pingpong passion

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Photo by ADAM WISNESKI / Tulsa World Brian Flinn, 13, warms up during the weekly meeting of the Tulsa Table Tennis Club while Larry Bueill looks on at the Bixby Community Center. The club uses rolled up cardboards to corral the table tennis balls during play.

 

Dawson - 5 players.

1 visitor - Seth Huisenga

4 members - Tao Wang, Bob Kyker, Leonard Williams, Huy Nguyen

Bixby - 9 players.

1 first time out player - Roman Hadenkg - from Ukraine

2 visitors - Brian Flinn, Seth Huisenga

6 members - Jack Hannah, Kelly Boyce, Alex Tupas, Larry Buell, Gene Bowlin, Melvin Norton.

Other news:

Mat Gleason, feature writer for the Tulsa World, came out, with a photographer. He talked to all the players and they took alot of photos. The reason they come out was because of the "Balls of Fury" movie (about table tennis). (the photographer said watching Larry and Kelly rally the ball (during warmup)(long slow rallys) was m esmerizing .

Dawson - 9 players.

5 visitors - Nicky Agimudie, Ray Pestridge and his wife (she did not play due to the heat - the thermostat was not working), Greg Widdowson, Brandon Bissram

4 members - Bob Kyker, Leonard Williams, Larry Buell (playing less offense due to a rotator cuff problem), Sydney Agimudie.

Other news: -

Ray beat everyone!

The thermostat is not working. We called the parks dept. to report it.

 

Dawson - 8 players.

3 visitors - Dan McIntosh (from Muskogee), Michael Zhang, Lucas Zhang.

5 members - Leonard Williams, Bob Kyker, Sydney Agimudie, Mats Johansson, Alex Tupas.

Bixby - 13 players.

2 first time out players - Christopher Benz (goes to Spartan and is from North or South Dakota), Owen Genzlinger (from Philly - goes to Spartan).

5 visitors - Michael Zhang and Lucas Zhang, Brian Flinn, Seth Huisenga, Marty Andrews (will join the club next week!),

6 members - Melvin Norton, Kelly Boyce, Eddie Collins, Gene Bowlin, Corey Flaugher, Jack Hannah.

Other news:

Marty Andrews has decided to use pips out on both sides with a fast blade.

Michael Zhang is playing at a 1900's level.

Jack Hannah has decided to start playing every Tuesday now.

Dawson - 11 players.

6 visitors - Michael Zhang and his son - Lucas Zhang (family moving to Florida this week), Ray Pestridge, Nicky Agimudie, Chris Agimudie, Brandon Bissram.

5 members - Leonard Williams, Bob Kyker, Tim Yardy, Sydney Agimudie, Zack Eldridge.

Dawson - 8 players.

2 first time out players - Stan J, KC Snyder.

3 visitors - Michael Zhang, Dan McIntosh and his wife,

3 members - Bob Kyker, Leonard Williams, Sydney Agimudie

Bixby - 13 players.

2 first time out players - Michael Zhang (plays 1700's to 1800's level)(friend of Tao Wang), Brandon Bissram (Sydney brought him - Brandon doesn't have a car).

4 visitors - Tony Kelough, Seth Huisenga, Marty Andrews, Brian Flinn (his dad, Jeff, just watched).

7 members - Jack Hannah, Kelly Boyce, Eddie Collins, Melvin Norton, Jim French, Sydney Agimudie, Tao Wang.

Other news:

The main air conditioner was not working and was very warm. Also, the floors were being waxed and less than half the club's normal space was available (but still managed 4 tables).

Jack Hannah was playing the best he has played in twenty years! (even Jack was surprised).

 

 

 

Dawson - 12 players.

2 first time out players - Kevin Braun (friend of Tim Yardy), Michael Chang (friend of Tao), Michael just moved to Tulsa from Syracuse, New Jersey (and is a very good player).

3 visitors - Brandon Bissram, Nicky Agimudie, Reed Kyker

7 members - Bob Kyker, Leonard Williams (back now from his coaching hurdles), Tim Yardy! (last time out was 4-9-07 and before that 2-8-07) , Tao Wang, Sydney Agimudie, Chris Agimudie, Jody Vivion. 

Dawson - 12 players.

1 first time out player - Ray Pestridge (from Stillwater). Beat everyone.

4 visitors - Zack Eldridge, Brandon Bissram (from Trinidad), Reed Kyker, Dan McIntosh (from Muskogee).

7 members - Larry Buell, Bob Kyker, Kelly Boyce, Alex Tupas, Tao Wang, Sydney Agimudie, Jody Vivion.

Other news:

Dan McIntosh said they lost the place they played in Muskogee and have no place to play now.

Jody Vivion is planning to go to the Ft. Worth tournament next weekend with his friend from OSU. No other players going for sure.

Sydney got a 1 year membership for fixing the PVC barriers.

Bixby - 15 players.

5 visitors - Brian Flinn (using his new Paddle Palace paddle), Jeff Flinn (his dad), Marty Andrews, Seth Huisenga (used to play in Bartlesville), Tony Kelough

10 members - Jim French, Kelly Boyce, Sydney Agimudie (first time out since 3-20-07), Corey Flaugher, Melvin Norton, Gene Bowlin, Ted Hill, Jody Vivion, Larry Buell, Jack Hannah (first time out since 3-27-07).

Other news:

Jody Vivion is going to the Ft. Worth tournament - Texas Wesleyan - on 8-11-07. He is going with another player from OSU and Ray Pestridge. (when Jody is going to OSU he cannot attend the Tulsa club playing nights).

 

Player alert !

Ray Pestridge from Stillwater (recently retired) will be in Tulsa Thursday - 8-2 - at Dawson.

Dawson - 11 players.

2 first time out players (came with Nicky), Adam Schwabauer, Jacob McWherter.

1 - 2nd time out player - Brandon Bissram.

2 visitors - Nicky Agimudie, Chris Agimudie

6 members - Bob Kyker, Sydney Agimudie, Larry Buell, Zack Eldridge (pen holder from Tahlequah), Tao Wang, Jody Vivion.

Dawson - 5 players.

1 visitor - Z (back from 2 month tour of europe with his brother)

4 members - Bob Kyker, Tao Wang, Larry Buell, Huy Nguyen.

 

Bixby - 10 players.

1 - 2nd time out player - Seth Huisenga.

1 - haven't been out since 5-31-05 player - Tony Hicks (way too busy for table tennis nowadays).

3 visitors - Marty Andrews, Joseph Tata, Tony Kelough

5 members - Alex Tupas, Larry Buell, Kelly Boyce, Corey Flaugher, Gene Bowlin.

Dawson - 9 players.

3 first time out players - Brian Goetz, Cheryl Goetz (moved to Broken Arrow from Chicago), Brandon Bissram (just arrived from Trinidad. Going to NSU. Played on the National team in Trinidad!

2 visitors - Chris Agimudie, Nick Agimudie

4 members - Bob Kyker, Larry Buell, Sydney Agimudie, Zack Eldridge.

Dawson - no info. Bob Kyker off. Sydney is to send info.

Bixby - 13 players.

2 visitors - Tony Kelough, Marty Andrews

11 members - Kelly Boyce, Corey Flaugher, Hamid Ezzat, Matts Johansson, Alex Tupas, Ted Hill, Kevin Hill, Gene Bowlin, Eddie Collins, Jim French, Melvin Norton.

Other news:

Jim French - after announcing his retirement from table tennis on 6-5-07, Jim has now announced his comeback.

Matts Johansson has bought a new long pips rubber. He said the one he has now does not allow him to drive or hit the ball.

 

Dawson - 9 players and 1 watcher.

1 first time out player - Brian Mills (friend of Mats).

1 watcher - Tian Le (friend of Huy).

2 visitors - Nicky Agimudie, Chris Agimudie

6 members - Bob Kyker, Matts Johansson, Larry Buell, Sydney Agimudie, Hamid Ezzat, Huy Nguyen.

Senior Olympic Nationals report from Bob Kyker that he attended in Louisville, Ky. with George Taplin.

 

Dawson - 6 players.

6 members - Bob Kyker, Huy Nguyen, Larry Buell, Tao Wang (back from 2 months in China and he practiced there!), Jody Vivion, Seth Sheriff (may have a broken rib).

1 friend of Huy watched (girl).

Bixby - 16 players.

5 first time out players - did not get their names - a father, his 2 sons and a friend of the sons, Corey Brown (stepson of Jim Rice). Only here for 1 week.

1 - haven't been out in 13 years player - Joseph Tata (rhymes with papa). He used to play at Turner Rec. on 4th and Harvard (only came out 2 months). Has some of the best serves we ever saw. Extremely spinny. Good forehand loop drive and fast backhand drive.

1 visitor - Tony Kelough

1 partial member - Jim Rice (paid $10 tonight).

8 members - Melvin Norton, Eddie Collins, Kelly Boyce, Corey Flaugher, Larry Buell, Ted Hill, Kevin Hill, Gene Bowlin,

 

Dawson - 5 players.

5 members - Larry Buell, Bob Kyker, Syndey Agimudie, Hamid Ezzat, Matts Johansson

Dawson - 7 players and 1 watcher

2 visitors - Greg Widdowson, Victor Infante

5 members - Hamid Ezzat, Matts Johansson, Eddie Collins, Huy Nguyen, Bob Kyker.

1 watcher - a friend of Huy (girl).

Bixby - 7 players.

1 first time out player - Jerry (he was waiting on his daughter in the gymnastics).

1 visitor - Tony Kelough

5 members - Melvin Norton, Seth Sheriff, Kelly Boyce, Eddie Collins, Corey Flaugher.

Bixby - 12 players.

1 first time out player - Stephane Charmot. Plays at the Salt Lake City, Utah club. Here in Tulsa on business.

Will be here through Friday only. Will be back next month. A 1824 player.

5 visitors - Marty Andrews, Brian Flinn, Jeff Flinn, Tony Kelough, Celia (center director! )

6 members - Melvin Norton, Kelly Boyce, Hamid Ezzat, Alex Tupas, Seth Sheriff, Eddie Collins.

Other news:

Brian Flinn got a new paddle from Paddle Palace! Mark V soft - 1.500 mm on both sides. All-around blade with a shorter handle (to fit his 14 year old hand better). Very light weight paddle (lightest I have ever held).

Dawson - 3 players.

3 members - Hamid Ezzat, Zack Eldridge, Seth Sheriff

Dawson - 3 players.

3 members - Hamid Ezzat, Seth Sheriff, Joe Landers.

Bixby - 11 players.

1 first time out player - Brian Flinn (14 years old). His dad (Jeff Flinn) brought him (Jeff just watched). Brian came out because he is tired of beating everyone else he plays.

1 far off visitor - Joe Tarantino (from Las Vegas). Comes out about twice a year when he is visiting family in Tulsa.

1- 2nd time out player - Marty Andrews.

1 just joined tonight player -Jody Vivion! (he went to the Sooner State Games this last weekend ! )

6 members - Melvin Norton, Kelly Boyce, Hamid Ezzat! , Alex Tupas, Larry Buell, Corey Flaugher.

Other news:

Larry Buell has greatly improved his game. More agressive with his spins.

Jody Vivion joined the club tonight! He enjoyed the Sooner State Games (although did not get a chance to talk to him much about it).

 

Dawson - 5 players.

1 visitor - Reed Kyker

4 members - Bob Kyker, Hamid Ezzat, Mats Johansson, Seth Sheriff.

Other news:

The air conditioner is still not working .No word when it will be fixed.

Bob Kyker is going to the Seniors National Tournament in Kentucky. He will be back in July.

Sooner State Games tournament results at Oklahoma City (with comments from Larry Buell) held on 6-16-07

 

2007 Sooner Games Table Tennis Tournament
6/16/07
Larry Buell

Gentlefolk,

We had a hot time in the old gym this day! While we had fans working, the only air conditioning in the Southern Oaks Recreation Center was in the lobby, which became a kind of mecca for overheated players throughout the day (note that a bond passed which may provide money to remedy this!).

The players did not seem to mind too much though, as I heard few complaints. The tournament was efficient and well-run (by Larry Kesler and several of the OKC club members).

My goal this tournament was to learn and improve from my Arkansas Tournament (April of this year). I'm trying to play more aggressive (3rd/5th ball attack) table tennis now than I once did. I believe I'm improving on this, and felt more comfortable with this style in the Sooner Games than in Arkansas tournament. My forehand drives had more authority and better placement, while my backhand kills were quite effective, especially as the day wore on. My serves gave problems to most, as I varied the spin/speed/rotation/length constantly. The results were very pleasing to me! I entered three events (under 1850, Open, Over 50) and I made the final RRs in the under 1850 and Opens (the Over 50s had only one RR for final results). I came in 4th in a 3 way tie-breaker (games) for 2nd/3rd/4th in the under 1850, and third in the Opens. I managed second in the Over 50s (to the highest ranked player in the Tournament,  the Neubauer-powered Ray Pestridge/1905).

Ray demonstrated the potency of that rubber/his style against me in the Over 50's, where he easily handled me at -5, -3, -2. I did learn from this experience however, and my very next match was against Ray in the Opens. I decided to try a different approach, instead of giving him spinny serves and trying to loop/drive the ball immediately (as I did in my previous match), I instead gave him short/long no spin serves and no spin pushes. This proved surprisingly effective, as Ray for the first 4 games was nonplussed by my lack of spin, and would often return a high enough ball that I could crack a forehand or backhand kill. My occasional attempts at drives met with mixed success, as when Ray returned them with his Neubauer I found the spin mostly unmanageable (for me). So I continued this no spin/kill strategy with some success until the 5th game, where Ray became more aggressive and moved me out of my comfort zone with wider angle, harder hit shots. Although I lost the match -15, 5, -10, 8, -2 I felt a lot more confident for future matches against this type of rubber which was just as well as the next 2 out of 3 matches I faced it from other players. But after playing Ray so well I was able to win these other matches with relative ease. I was pleasantly surprised to hear the assistant tournament director Britt Salter remark after this match that the first four games looked like a clinic on how to play Neubauer rubber.

Altogether I played 14 matches, going 9-5. 4 of those 5 losses were two each to Ray and to Joe Williams (1628, the eventual Open winner through a default by Ray in the final match). Joe played a heavy spin push game, and could crack decisive drive/smashes when the opportunity arose. My 5th loss was to Dale Goodman (1530) whose hard flat pushes to the deep sides were a problem for me (as pushers often are) and I lost to him 11, 6, 4.

Of my 8 wins I think my best was against David Hash (1471, as high as 1746). He initially had trouble with my serves, but found his mark by the second game and began hitting fierce shots to my extreme wings. We went back and forth throughout the match, and ended up tied 9-9 in the 5th. Here is where my 9-9 practice paid dividends! Unlike in Arkansas, I kept my poise and focus, going up 10-9. Then we had a potent rally which ended (unluckily for David) with a shot heading towards my side which just nicked the top of the net, and dribbled over the edge off the table for my game/set/match (7, -6, 3, -10, 9). Practice may not make perfect, but it sure helps when the going gets tough!

Had a wonderful meal and great talks with Dale, David and Britt after the tournament!

For those interested in all my results, and even for those who aren't, here they are:

 

Results against Larry Buell only listed below:

 

U1850 Preliminary RR:
Dugger Steepler (UR) W 5, 2, 5
Dale Goodman (1530) L -11, -6,-4
Jody Vivion (UR) W -11, 9, 8, 8

U1850 Final RR (previous result against Dale carried over):
Joe Williams (1626) L -5, -2, -7
David Hash (1471) W 7, -6, 3, -10, 9

 

Over 50 RR:
Ray Pestridge (1905) L 5, 3, 2
Steve Dugger (1473) W 3, 6, 11
Darrell Lucht (1374) W (did not record score, near end of day!)

 

Open Preliminary RR:
Joe Williams (1626) L -6, -7, 11, -4
Darrell Lucht (1374) W 3, 8, 3
Kevin Li (1053) W 6, 13, 8
Dan McIntosh (1455) W 9, 8, 7

 

Open Final RR:
Ray Pestridge (1905) L -15, 5, -10, 8, -2
Steve Dugger (1473) W (did not record score, last match of day!)

 

Dawson - 5 players.

2 visitors - Reed Kyker, Larry Hill

3 members - Bob Kyker, Seth Sheriff, Huy Nguyen.

Other news:

The air conditioner was not working (fortunately it was not to hot). The city has been notifed to fix it.

Larry Buell is the only player attending the Okla. City tournament this weekend.

Bixby - 9 players.

1 first time out player - Marty

1 second time out player - Jim Rice

7 members - Kelly Boyce, Alex Tupas, Corey Flaugher, Eddie Collins, Gene Bowlin, Melvin Norton, Larry Buell

Other news:

The Oklahoma City tourny this weekend - only Larry Buell will be going.

Dawson - 5 ? players.(Bob still out sick).

1 visitor - Nicky Agimudie

3 members - Larry Buell, Hamid, Sydney Agimudie.

Other news:

The air conditioner is not working. Larry Buell has arranged to play at Bixby on Thursday's until the a/c is fixed.

I will no longer be going to the OKC tournament 6/16. Due to I am expecting a baby any time now. Ill try to be back out at the club in a month or two. If you need someone to open the club on either mondays or thursdays, call me at 640-9695 or contact kelly and he will get a hold of me.

 

Thank you

Stephen Ackart

Bixby - 14 players.

4 first time out players - Jim Rice (he took paid table tennis lessons at Whiteside in the 1970's from Kelly !), Ranga, Seth Huisenga, and a player who came out at 8:45 PM and played alittle with Roky.

2 - 2nd time out players - Roky Tariq, Butt Tariq.

1 visitor - Tony Keough.

7 members - Gene Bowlin, Melvin Norton, Kelly Boyce, Larry Buell, Corey Flaugher, Alex Tupas, Jim French.

Other news:

Jim French has retired from table tennis (this time will be his last time - he said).

Oklahoma City tournament next week - only 2 players going to it - Larry Buell and Stephen Ackart.

 

8 players.

John Sebbowa (Played an amazing match with Hamid)

1 visitor - Nick Agimudie

6 members - Larry Buell, Stephen Ackart, Sydney Agimudie, Alex Tupas, Huy Nguyen, Hamid Ezzat.

 

On the Hutchinson Tourny that Bob Kyker went to (info from Bob Kyker),

The tournament was won by Alfred Nahem, a friend of Samar Chaar. Alfred is from Lebanon and is rated 2488!. He is going to college in Kansas for 2 years. He lives in Emporia, Ks.

.

Bob Kyker won the Class C (and added about 85 points to his rating!).

Dawson - 9 players.

1 last time out visitor - Ben Crowder - going to Colorado to get married and live.

8 members - Larry Buell, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Stephen Ackart, Sydney Agimudie, Matts Johansson, Joe Landers, Corey Flaugher.

 

Bixby - 13 players.

3 first time out players - Jody Vivion, Roky Tariq, Butt Tariq (from Pakistan and a former table tennis coach for the national team of Pakistan) (both have been in Tulsa for 6 months).

3 visitors - Ray Awe (last time out was 11-9-05!), Tony Kelough, Ben Crowder.

7 members - Bob Kyker, Kelly Boyce, Melvin Norton, Zack Eldridge (penholder from Tahlequah), Jim French, Alex Tupas, Corey Flaugher.

Other news:

Bob Kyker is the only player from Tulsa going to the Hutchinson tourny this weekend.

 

Dawson - 7 players.

1 visitor - Ben Crowder

6 members - Bob Kyker, Larry Buell, Kelly Boyce, Stephen Ackart, Huy Nguyen, Eddie Collins

Other news:

Larry Buell is going to the Sooner Games next month. Possible Bob Kyker and Stephen Ackart also.

Bob Kyker is the only player going to the Hutchinson tourny in 10 days..

Ben Crowder will be getting married and moving to New Mexico soon.

Bixby - 7 players.

1 visitor - Tony Kelough

6 members - Larry Buell, Kelly Boyce, Melvin Norton, Alex Tupas, Gene Bowlin, Corey Flaugher.

Dawson - 8 players and 1 watcher

5 visitors - Ben Crowder, Brin Bedwell and his dad, Neville (who just watched), Nicky Agimudie.

4 members - Bob Kyker, Jim French, Seth Sherrif, Sydney Agimudie.

Dawson - 8 players.

1 visitor - Ben Crowder

7 members - Bob Kyker, Larry Buell, Sydney Agimudie, Matts Johansson, Seth Sheriff, Huy Nguyen, Joe Landers.

 

Bixby - 7 players.

2 visitors - Tony Kelough (pronounced "key low" ), Dakshin

5 members - Gene Bowlin, Eddie Collins, Kelly Boyce, Alex Tupas, Jim French.

Dawson - 11 players.

5 visitors - Brin Bedwell (from New Zealand), a new player and his dad (did not get their names - his dad only watched), Nicky Agimudie, Ben Crowder, Zach.

6 members - Larry Buell, Bob Kyker, Sydney Agimudie, Seth Sheriff, Huy Nguyen, Matts Johansson.

Dawson - 8 players and one watcher

2 visitors - Ben Crowder (from Durango, Colorado), "Z" and his brother (who just watched)

1 just joined tonight member - Zack Eldridge !

5 members - Bob Kyker, Larry Buell, Seth Sheriff, Huy Nguyen, Sydney Agimudie.

Bixby - 8 players.

2 visitors - Tony, John Walsh

6 members - Corey Flaugher, Kelly Boyce, Melvin Norton, Ted Hill, Eddie Collins (renewed his membership!), Gene Bowlin (renewed his membership!)

Other news:

John Walsh will graduated from Bixby in 2 weeks.He has a wrestling scholarship to a Kansas college and will be leaving Bixby in July. He wants to play table tennis until he leaves.

Dawson - 8 players.

1 visitor - Soon Ki Hwang.

7 members - Bob Kyker, Alex Tupas, Larry Buell, Corey Flaugher, Sydney Agimudie, Tao Wang, Hamid Ezzat.

Other news:

Larry Buell and Bob Kyker are going to the Hutchinson tournament on 6-2-07.

Huy Nguyen's game has improved greatly.

Soon Ki Hwang will be moving to Dallas and will not be playing in Tulsa any longer.

Dawson - 9 players.

2 visitors - Andrew Nelson, Soon Ki Hwang.

7 members - Bob Kyker, Huy Nguyen, Larry Buell, Sydney Agimudie, Matts Johansson, Seth Sheriff, Eddie Collins.

 

Bixby - 5 players.

1 visitor - Tony

4 members - Melvin Norton, Alex Tupas, Kelly Boyce, Corey Flaugher.

Dawson - 10 players.

2 visitors - Soon Ki Hwang, Nicky Agimudie

8 members - Bob Kyker, Alex Tupas, Sydney Agimudie, Tao Wang, Matts Johansson, Larry Buell, Corey Flaugher, Huy Nguyen.

Bixby - 9 players.

1 2nd time out player - Andrew Nelson (the first and last time he came out to Bixby was 12-9-03).

3 visitors - Dakshin, Soon Ki Hwang, Tony

5 members - Melvin Norton, Kelly Boyce, Alex Tupas, Corey Flaugher, Ted Hill.

 

 

 

 

 

Dawson - 7 players.

1 visitor - Soon Ki Hwang

6 members - Bob Kyker, Hamid Ezzat, Larry Buell, Sydney Agimudie, Tao Wang, Seth Sheriff

Dawson - 7 players.

1 first time out player - Kimberley Richardson

1 visitor - "Z"

5 members - Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Larry Buell, Tao Wang, Seth Sheriff.

 

Bixby - 8 players.

1 first time out player - Dakshin. He played in India and will be in Tulsa thru this year only. About a 1600 level player but hasn't played in a while. He has been in Tulsa 6 months (he just got a car). Plays with a classic smooth rubber style.

2 visitors - Dan Theuber, Tony.

5 members - Melvin Norton, Kelly Boyce, Alex Tupas, Eddie Collins, Cory Flaugher.

Dawson - 6 players.

1 visitor - Nick Agimudie

5 members - Sydney Agimudie, Hamid Ezzat, Bob Kyker, Seth Sheriff, Eddie Collins.

The following was written by Larry Buell who was the only player from Tulsa attending the tourny.

 

Northwest Arkansas Open Championships

4/14/07

Larry Buell

 

Gentlefolk,

 

Wanted to tell you about today’s NW AR Open, primarily because it was held at the Jones Family Center in Springdale, AR.

 

This place was a palace! Donated to the city 11 years ago by a trucking corporation, it houses a full size hockey/ice skating rink, a major size pool, and a basketball court/track (which is where we had the tournament).

 

This place is beautiful and CLEAN! What’s even more impressive is that membership is completely free for the general public. (Don’t we wish Tulsa had some generous corporate sponsors to provide us a place like this!)

 

So I highly recommend this place to anyone thinking about traveling to Springdale for a tournament there! Geez, the set of bathrooms off the basketball courts were bigger than the bottom floor of my house, and a whole lot cleaner! J (they were cleaned twice while I was there).

 

Anyway, only 13 of an expected 17 signees showed up for the tournament, so in the morning we had two large round robins of 7 and 6 (I was in the 7). I got to play 6 matches then (I was seeded as C), and things went as expected – lost to A player Paul Crutchfield (1645) 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-5 as his lefty drive deep to my backhand won point after point – I know, I need to work on my lateral movement! (which I’m starting exercises for, but just last week J ). Also lost to B player Mika Bey (1585), 11-7, 11-5, 11-8, but don’t think he’ll end up a 1585 for tournament purposes as he actually wound up winning the whole Championships (beat a 2000 player to do so). He was very consistent driving to both sides, and even off balance could flick off a winner to either side with impunity. The remainder of the morning went as seeded, as I won against the D/E/F/G players (John Falco/1397, Klaus Sichelsschmidt (unrated, from Germany), Mark Counts/1138, and Nathaniel Benoit/1077).

 

In the afternoon we had Open/A/B RRs, but didn’t play anyone we’d played in the morning (took that as a victory or defeat in the 4 person group I was in, As). I started off against the worst possible style for me, a steady pusher who generated little offense unless I popped one up, then he could hit very consistently. These kind of players always give me trouble as I am a counter player who relies on my opponent to initiate the offense so I can counter it (duh). I am planning to work a lot on generating my own offense though, just to counter (haha) this type of play. His name was Charlie Brooks (1477) and he used spinny stuff on the FH and short pips (read Jack Hannah!) on the BH. Push push push push push push kill! (if I return kill he continued to hit  with constancy until one of us misses). Lost this one 9-11, 11-7, 11-2, 12-10. Had my chances but especially with my BH couldn’t get any offense going and his pushes were all so deep couldn’t get many BH kills (my favorite J ) in either. Need to learn to drive the BH strong off a push now…..

 

My second match determined whether I came in the money/trophy for the As. I played David Girdner (1413), who was made of a mold very similar to Charlie – push push push push push Kill (but not so consistent on his kills or continuation if I returned his kill). He used standard spinny on his FH but a frictionless long pips on the BH, which truly had me flummoxed for the first two games. He won these easily 11-4, 11-3. Then I decided to easy-roll his long pips stuff, and try to serve into the long pips so I could dictate the pace of the point. This met with some success as I won the next two games 11-9, 11-5.  Then comes the big fifth game. Now those of you who know me know I’m trying to work on remaining calm in big game situations, but I haven’t played a tournament in 1 ½ years and we both knew whoever won this match would be in the Money. At first I kept to my game plan and got up 10-6, my serve in the 5^th. Then, disaster. My breath started coming faster, my muscles tightened, I stopped seeing the ball as clearly, and missed an easy backhand smash putaway (which I had been making consistently in games 3 and 4) which would have won me the match. I was stupefied, realizing I’d really rushed the shot and not waited for it to come to my optimum striking zone. I went conservative on the next point and his slick BH got me to net it. Then I made perhaps a strategic mistake (but thot it a good idea at the time) and called my 1/match timeout to gather myself (breathe, Larry, breathe!). His serve 8-10, another BH floater setup like I’d been making time after time earlier, and again I boffed it. Ahead of the striking zone once again. Still, in times past I would have been very conservative and not followed my game plan (be more aggressive/offensive minded), so I was at least following my game plan strategically if not succeeding tactically. At 9-10, he again gives me a good deep serve off his LP to my BH, I don’t have a good stroke to return (kind of float it back) and he kills it to go to deuce. I have a problem mentally focusing too much on might have beens here, lose a bit of concentration on the moment and he runs out the match to win the 5^th 12-10.

 

Still this was a tremendous boost for me, because I am trying to transform myself from a conservative approach to the game to a more offensive/aggressive approach, and I certainly did this for most of the tournament (albeit not with the success I hope to have in the future).

 

A great, well-run tournament in a beautiful, spacious facility – I hope more players from Tulsa elect to come to the next tournament they hold in this awesome arena!

 

Larry

 

Dawson -6 players and 1 watcher

1 watcher - Reed Kyker (has a knee problem)

2 visitors - "Z", Hwang

4 members - Seth Sheriff, Matts Johannsson, Bob Kyker, Huy Nguyen.

Dawson - 9 players

2 visitors - Soon Ki Hwang, John Sebbowa

7 members - Tim Yardy, Larry Buell, Bob Kyker, Hamid Ezzat, Matts Johansson, Alex Tupas, Sydney Agimudie

Bixby - 7 players.

2 visitors - Tony, Jason Bruner.

5 members - Jim French, Kelly Boyce, Eddie Collins, Melvin Norton, Corey Flaugher (just joined tonight!).

Dawson - 11 players.

7 visitors - John Sebbowa! (current rating 2066 - last tournament - Sept, 2000) - Barry Lyons and 2 boys from Lakeside, Nicky Agimudie, Z,.Soon Ki Hwang

4 members - Stephen Ackart, Bob Kyker, Larry Buell, Sydney Agimudie

Dawson - 6 players.

1 visitor - Z

5 members - Seth Sheriff, Stephen Ackart, Bob Kyker, Leonard Williams, Taylor Carmona.

Bixby - 8 players.

1 first time out player - Jason Bruner (friend of Corey Flaugher)

2 visitors - Soon Ki Hwang, Corey Flaugher

5 members - Melvin Norton, Matts Johansson, Kelly Boyce, Jim French, Jack Hannah.

Other news:

Matts Johannson has a new weapon - long pips on his backhand. Very effective. He plays close to the table with it (which is the most effective way to play with it). You wind up missing the table alot and you don't know why.

Below is a letter Bob Kyker rec'd.from a player in Germany.

 

Hello Robert,

my name is Wilhelm Krüger and I am from Germany. As of august 2007 I will study at the University of Tulsa (for one year). In Germany I am playing table tennis in the 4th division.

Can I train for table tennis in Tulsa? Is there a possibility to join the Oklahoma Table Tennis Club when I'm studying at the TU?

 

Best regards

Wilhelm

 

(for Bob's reply, see Bob).

Dawson - 9 players.

3 visitors - Soon Ki Hwang, Nicky Agimudie, Z.

6 members - Bob Kyker, Sydney Agimudie, Mats Johansson, Larry Buell, Tao Wang, Mark Wallace.

Dawson - 11 players.

2 visitors - Reed Kyker, Zack Eldridge.

9 members - Bob Kyker, Leonard Williams, Mark Wallace, Larry Buell, Sydney Agimudie, Tao Wang, Jack Hannah, Huy Nguyen, Mats Johannson.

Bixby - 10 players.

1 first time out player - Zack Eldridge (he came out to Dawson last night also).

1 visitor - Tony (he plans on joining!)

8 members - Stephen Ackart, Kelly Boyce, Melvin Norton, Eddie Collins, Gene Bowlin, Alex Tupas, Jack Hannah, Sydney Agimudie.

Other news:

Alex Tupas gave Tony one of his paddles to keep permanetly!

Dawson - 9 players.

2 first time out players - Zack Eldridge from Tahlequah, a student at the college and lives there. Zack said no players at Tahlequah. Steve Padgett from the Sallisaw club.

1 visitor - "Z"

6 members - Bob Kyker (he is back and out of shape - his words), Larry Buell, Hwang, Tao Wang, Ted Bennett, Seth Sheriff.

Dawson - no info.

 

Bixby - 8 players.

1 visitor - Tony

7 members - Melvin Norton, Jack Hannah, Alex Tupas, Kelly Boyce, Eddie Collins, Gene Bowlin, Stephen Ackart.

Dawson - 7 players.

2 visitors - "Z", friend of "Z"

5 members - Ted Bennett, Mark Wallace, Leonard Williams, Seth Sheriff, Alex Tupas

Dawson - 8 players.

1 visitor - "Z"

7 members - Ted Bennett, Leonard Williams, Jack Hannah, Seth Sheriff, Sydney Agimudie, Bob Kyker (did not play), Bob's son! (didn't get his name).

Bixby - 7 players.

2 visitors - Tony (14 year old), Soon Ki Hwang.

5 members - Melvin Norton, Alex Tupas, Taylor Carmona, Jack Hannah, Kelly Boyce.

Other news:

The 2 Stiga Evolution tables were assembled tonight and played on very well.

Dawson - 11 players.

6 visitors - Nicky Agimudie, Soon Ki Hwang, a new player - did not get his name and 2 young kids he brought, "Z".

5 members - Ted Bennett, Mark Wallace, Sydney Agimudie, Leonard Williams, Alex Tupas,

(info courtesy of Ted)

Dawson - 15 players.

3 visitors - "Z", Dan McIntosh (from Muskogee), Soon Ki Hwang (from South Korea - More on Soon Ki below).

12 members - Carmelita Agimudie, Sydney Agimudie, Nicky Agimudie, Mark Wallace, Kelly Boyce, Eddie Collins, Larry Buell, Leonard Williams, Ted Bennett, Joe Landers, Mats Johansson, Seth Sheriff, Jack Hannah.

Other news:

Nicky Agimudie is planning on attending at least 3 tournaments this year (tournaments to be decided later).

Soon Ki Hwang (current rating 1672) will be staying in Tulsa for 1 month, then staying in Dallas for 1 month, etc. He plays at the Dallas club also. He has a retail/wholesale business selling Mexican products and has a store in Tulsa and Dallas. His first and last tournament in the USA was 5/04.

Leonard Williams last playing day is next week. Then off for at least 4 months coaching track (even longer if his students go to the nationals).

Bixby - 11 players

1 first time out player - Dwayne Cook. Used to play in Okla. City during the Ron Shirley era.

2 visitors - Huang, Corey Flaugher.

8 members - Jim French (he paid $15 toward his membership), Kelly Boyce, Eddie Collins, Gene Bowlin, Jack Hannah, Taylor Carmona, Alex Tupas, Melvin Norton.

Other news:

The Stiga Evolutions are in the center but not assembled yet.

Hamid Ezzat is considering going to the Weslyan tournament in Dallas or Ft. Worth.

Leonard Williams will attend the Dawson Assoc. meeting tonight.

The new Stiga Evolution tables (2) will be delivered to Bixby tonight.

May or may not be able to assemble them tonight.

Dawson - 12 players.

1 visitor - Huang

1 expired member - Hamid Ezzat

10 members - Mark Wallace, Ted Bennett, Leonard Williams, Mats Johansson, Sydney Agimudie, Alex Tupas, Seth Sheriff, Huy Nguyen, Tao Wang, Larry Buell.

Other news:

Leonard Williams, in 2 weeks, will be coaching track on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights until mid-summer. Leonard will attend the Dawson Assoc. meeting Tuesday (let's all thank Leonard for this).

Dawson - 9 players.

1 first time out player - Juan (friend of Ted).

1 visitor - "Z"

7 members - Ted Bennett, Mark Wallace, Hamid Ezzat, Leonard Williams, Seth Sheriff, Taylor Carmona, Jack Hannah.