Abigail Eswine
Contributing Writer
It’s 2:35p.m. on a Thursday and the final bell has just rung. Fifteen students, more or less, make their way to the hallways outside John Raimondo’s office and begin pulling out three ping pong tables from storage rooms. Chatter fills the emptying halls before the students get down to business.
Ping pong club has been at WGHS for two years, with Linda Coleman, English and SSD teacher, sponsoring for both. The club meets every other Thursday from 2:35p.m. until 4p.m.
Claire Hoeing, junior, has been club president since year one. Hoeing said she got the position by simply asking Coleman if she needed any help, a few meetings after the club began. She described her role as stressful, but fun. She helps work to keep the students “under control” and “keep it PG.” She also teaches new members how to play ping pong.
Hoeing has played ping pong since age six, when she learned with cousins at family gatherings.
Coleman said she too has enjoyed ping pong since she was little and had a ping pong table in her house. Now, she said she still loves it because it’s a “physical activity, but you don’t have to be real athletic to do well.” Coleman added ping pong is “the kind of sport where you can carry on a conversation.”
Hoeing agreed, saying her favorite part of the club is talking with her friends while playing.The atmosphere is “playful,” said Hoeing, but added they do have “serious games” as well.
Ping pong club is independently run by the students. Both a president, Hoeing, and vice president currently lead the group; however, Coleman said the club will be attempting to phase out the presidents and turn it into a total group effort with equal responsibilities.
Currently the club doesn’t compete; however, Coleman said the goal is to “eventually network with other schools competitively.”
Ping pong club has three tables, two from Parent’s Club and one donated from a parent, and are trying to gather more. By adding tables, said Coleman, the club can engage more students.
