FLORIDA SENIORS WIN BIG AT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT!
Senior Table Tennis players (Age 50 and above) made a tremendous showing at the National Senior Games recently held in Minnesota. Table Tennis players from all over the USA gathered to compete for the medals. Some of the very best senior players were in attendance and our Florida players were sterling!
Our Florida Seniors won 7 GOLD MEDALS, 3 SILVER MEDALS and 9 BRONZE MEDALS in the various Table Tennis Events. Many of the matches were hard fought and there were plenty of upsets in favor of our Florida Seniors. Florida has one of the strongest group of Senior Table Tennis players in the nation. Each year Seniors from all over the state of Florida participate in local Senior Games in Table Tennis and other sports. The number of players in Table Tennis continues to improve each year with more players in just about all the age categories. Seniors in Florida take Table Tennis seriously, with hours of practice and training leading up to the local tournaments and especially the Florida Senior State Championships for Table Tennis held in December of each year.
Below is a list of the great CHAMPIONS from Florida in the National Senior Games for Table Tennis. We are proud of each and every one of them for their commitment to excellence in our sport and the fine way they represented the Sunshine State!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Table Tennis – 19 total medals (7 gold, 3 silver, 9 bronze)
Women’s Singles
55-59
2. Patricia Benitez, Kissimmee
65-69
3. Joan Ruggiero, Jacksonville
75-79
1. Danuta Andrzejewska, Pembroke Pines
80-84
3. Essie Faria, North Miami
Men’s Singles
65-69
1. Lubomir Valek, Pompano Beach
75-79
1. Martin Sundel, Cooper City
80-84
3. Jim Weisbecker, The Villages
Women’s Doubles
65-69
2. Joan Ruggiero, Jacksonville & Mardee Goldberg, The Villages
75-79
1. Suzanna Sanders, Pembroke Pines & Danuta Andrzejewska, Pembroke Pines
80-84
1. Essie Faria, North Miami & Phyllis Hughes
Men’s Doubles
50-54
3. Winston Dowridge, Jacksonville & Garth Jordan, Tampa
60-64
1. Lubomir Valek, Pompano Beach & Ladislav Sranko
Mixed Doubles
50-54
3. Joan Ruggiero, Jacksonville & Garth Jordan, Tampa
75-79
3. Essie Faria, North Miami & Martin Sundel, Cooper City
***********************
LAKELAND TABLE TENNIS ANNOUNCES NEXT TOURNAMENT
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN-$2000.00 PRIZE MONEY!!!
The Lakeland Table Tennis Association has announced the opening of REGISTRATION for the next USATT sanctioned Table Tennis Tournament in Lakeland, Florida. The Florida Orange Blossom Series Summer Classic 2015 will be held on August 14-15, 2015 at the Simpson Park Community Center. Players from all over the state of Florida and several other states are anticipated to enter this major USATT tournament. A maximum of 121 players can enter the wildly popular Colossal Round Robin Event on Saturday, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Players are grouped into a maximum of 11, based on their USATT rating or estimated rating. All players in the group will play each other during the day in a hard fought and competitive event. The top four players in each of the possible 11 groups will receive trophies and/or cash prizes, based on their playing record for the day. Up to 24 high quality Butterfly Tables will be available for the stiff competition.
In addition to the Colossal Round Robin Singles held on Saturday, the Friday night events feature the thrilling new sport in the USA of SUPER BIG BALL TABLE TENNIS. This great event is fully sanctioned by the SBBTTA and features the huge 44mm ball and an increased net height. It is a great sport and is growing in popularity in the USA. It is already popular in Japan and growing in support in Germany and other European nations. There is a $50 Cash Prize for first place in this event and trophies for the top four winners. You can visit the SUPER BIG BALL WEBSITE for more information. Paddles are provided for all players who do not have their own. The cost of this event is ONLY $3.00, so come out and have some fun!
The USSTTA (United States Sandpaper Table Tennis Association) is also sanctioned a great Sandpaper Table Tennis Event on Friday night. This is a high skill event which removes the high spin and special rubbers from the game of Table Tennis and relies more on the actual skills of the players. Sandpaper Table Tennis is played to 21 points with players alternating serves at intervals of five, instead of two. Sandpaper paddles are available for any players who do not have one at the tournament. You can find out more about Sandpaper Table Tennis by visiting the USSATT Website.
It is very easy to REGISTER for any or all events at the Lakeland Tournament. Just click on the link below to find out information and to REGISTER ONLINE.
**************************************
FLORIDA LOCAL SENIOR GAMES-TABLE TENNIS
If you are age 50 or above, now is your chance to become involved in a great Table Tennis opportunity. Each year Florida has almost 20 local Senior Games in Table Tennis across the state. There are age brackets beginning at 50 and going up for both men and women singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles. It is a great chance to travel around the state and enjoy all the local attractions and play Table Tennis. Many seniors do just that! They plan a day trip or a weekend trip for a mini-vacation and enjoy playing table tennis while traveling. It is a fun trip and great exercise for our Seniors.
There are still 10 Local Senior Events for Table Tennis left this year in Florida, and of course the Florida Senior Games Championship in December of this year. Players who finish in the TOP 5 places in the local senior games qualify for the State Championship in Table Tennis.
Listed below are the 10 available Local Senior Games for Table Tennis in Florida. Sign up for one or all of them and have some great fun as you travel around the Sunshine State!
SUGGESTION: USE THE PHONE NUMBERS LISTED BELOW TO OBTAIN INFORMATION
