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Table Tennis
By Peggie Evans
PHOTOS BY BURT ANES
The Table Tennis Club has enjoyed a 60% growth spurt since February. Some members play for fun; others play competi-
tively. From beginners to advanced, all levels of players are welcome to join the club.
Members of the Table Tennis Club Tillisch said she had never played the Club members proudly display their
are winning local, state and na- game when she joined the club. awards, medals and favorite photos on
tional awards in competition the club bulletin board..
while other club members are playing The club offers lessons for all levels, from
for fun, exercise and the camaraderie of beginners to advanced players. The club
club members. also has certified instructors to teach and
coach players.
“We make it a social event and fun ex-
ercise activity,” said Sharon Tillisch, The club has grown from 80 members
president of the rapidly growing club. “It’s to 130 members since February and has
better than exercising on a treadmill.” exclusive use of the Salado Room in the
Cowan Creek Amenity Center to play
“It gets your heartbeat up and improves table tennis all day Friday through Mon-
hand-eye coordination and foot move- day and certain hours Tuesday through
ment,” she said, plus it improves cognitive Thursday. The room is often filled with
thinking. members playing the sport. There are
hours for non-members to play, and pad-
“The main thing is it’s fun,” said club dles and balls are furnished and stored
member Phyllis Frey. Like most mem- in cabinets in the Salado Room.
bers, Frey plays for exercise and enjoy-
ment, not competitively. Members can also bring family members
and friends to play.
Some club members travel to tourna-
ments in Texas and nationally for table Table tennis, also called ping pong, has
tennis competition. John Houser, Tom been an Olympic sport since 1988.
Merkel, and Bill Turpin all won awards
recently in table tennis competition at Studies have shown that table tennis
the Texas State Senior Games in San improves cognition, motor functioning,
Antonio. attentiveness, concentration and endur-
ance. Other health benefits, according
“I have been playing for 78 years,” said to studies, include increased cardiovas-
Houser, 86. cular and cerebral blood flow.
92 | SUNRAYS JUNE 2015 ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG
