Events Calendar
In This Section
New eateries expand menu of options
Food Notes: Join Lisa at culinary club's benefit dinner
Spread holiday cheer, not the flu at parties
Sheriff, education group hope to reach children early
Vatican turns toward the heavens
Ask Lisa - Bamboo cutting board
Serve edamame for the nutrition
Newbies get help to start cooking
Most Read Stories
Chapel Hill isn't rolling right along
Akron City Council OKs higher speed on I-77
Suitcase causes bomb scare at Akron bus terminal
New eateries expand menu of options
Patrick McManamon: Here's what the Browns should try the rest of the season
Man says he was punched, robbed by 3 people in parking lot
Motorcyclist killed, wife injured in Stark County crash
Stark County engineer dies at 49
Blogs:
Pets:
First Person: Inside St. Louis Pit Bull Shelter
The Heldenfiles:
Tuesday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
An interesting thought from a reader
Akron Zips:
Akron vs. Mount Union — Liveblog
Tribe Matters:
Indians announce spring dates
Cleveland Browns:
Mangini doesn't name a quarterback
Kent State Sports:
Flashes interested in another Cincinnati player
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Cavs: Yeah, on That Issue of Privacy
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes Roll 100-60 / Season Outlook
Varsity Letters:
Twinsburg likes chances, but warns offense needs to deliver
All Da King's Men:
More On The Fort Hood Jihadist
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Simply Incapable of Telling The Truth
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (63) Commonwealth Fund Report on Primary Care
See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler
Car Chase:
Clock Tender- Extending the Life of Collector Car Clocks
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Rumors: Akron Starbucks Closing
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Kimberly requests information on living in Columbus, Ohio.
Sound Check:
Aeromsith looking for new singer as Steven Tyler contemplates solo career
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
Video: 'Modern Warfare 2' hits the streets
UA pingpong team works up a sweat in surprisingly intense sport
By Kim Hone-McMahan
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Sunday, Feb 17, 2008
Chris Oseredczuk crouched near the table, served the ball and snapped his head backward. Though beads of perspiration spotted his forehead like raindrops on a windshield, the sweat clung to his brow. Now and then, he picked up a towel and wiped his entire noggin, thick with dark hair.
To the novice, pingpong might not seem like much of a physical sport, but imagine being inside a batting cage and trying to hit balls bolting at you with lightning speed.
When he missed a shot, Oseredczuk sometimes grimaced. When he outsmarted his opponent, he remained expressionless.
About three years ago, Oseredczuk noticed there were lots of fellow students at the University of Akron spending their free time playing table tennis. So he formed a club to encourage both camara
derie and competition. On Saturday, the Akron Blades sponsored the spring regional tournament for the Ohio Division of the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association.
Team members from nine universities, including Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky, gathered inside UA's Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
Oseredczuk stood proud. To him, this 21-year-old who is in the fourth year of a five-year engineering program, hosting the tourney in Akron was the biggest thing he had ever done.
Team member Dustin Ilko admitted that table tennis doesn't attract as many fans as — well, college football. But he, and freshman buddy Tom Frase say it's a sport they can participate in year-round. And despite what people might think, the game can get darn intense.
The serious players own their own paddles, or blades. Those that contain metal, such as carbon or titanium, can cost as much as $200. The rubber sheets that are glued to each side of the blades, some tacky for spins, others designed for distance, have price tags up to $80 a piece.
Ilko and Frase insist it takes a great deal of eye-hand coordination to play the sport — a good argument for all those hours spent on video games.
With the exception of an occasional shout and an odd ''popping'' sound that ricocheted off the white concrete walls, the UA facility was quiet. Table tennis is a respectful game where mental strength is as important as the ability to smash a ball.
After a particularly difficult match, Oseredczuk, grinned as he walked toward his teammates. His mind stimulated. His cheeks — a flush pink.
Kim Hone-McMahan's Sketches are short tales you can read before finishing your first cup of coffee. Know of a behind-the-scenes person or unheralded happening? Call 330-996-3742 or write kmcmahan@thebeaconjournal.com.
Chris Oseredczuk crouched near the table, served the ball and snapped his head backward. Though beads of perspiration spotted his forehead like raindrops on a windshield, the sweat clung to his brow. Now and then, he picked up a towel and wiped his entire noggin, thick with dark hair.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
