Ping-Pong Club Bounces into J-DHS

For the first time at Jamesville-Dewitt High School ping-pong balls are flying through the air. Orange balls dash from paddle to paddle as students gather during activity period in the main gym foyer to watch and play the exciting game.

The Ping-Pong Club meets once or twice a week during activity to play ping-pong against each other. Though they often meet on Thursdays, there is not a set meeting day. When the club administrators decide to meet, they usually inform their members through the announcements.

The Ping-Pong Club sets up their three tables in the main gym foyer. They have a casual day when they just play for fun, and a competitive day when they compete against each other. The club hopes to raise money to purchase new tables soon.

Junior David Zhang created the club in September and is its current president. Zhang developed it because he recently noticed that a lot of people really enjoy Ping-Pong as a sport and as a social activity. "He started it because he thought it was an interesting idea," says sophomore Larry Duan, one of the club's three administrators.
As president, Zhang makes the big decisions, makes sure all the fundraisers work out, and maintains good relationships with everyone in the club.

Duan says that even though the club is new, there are a lot of members. Leo Brown, social studies teacher and advisor of the club, says that there has been a "really good response."

However, Mr. Brown says that they don't know exactly how many people are in it. Forty people normally show up at the meetings and Duan says that over 100 people have joined the club's Facebook group.

Freshman Saadat Badruddin, a member of the ping-pong club, says, "Many people don't come on a regular basis. People normally come if they have time."

Badruddin joined the Ping-Pong Club because he has played for a long time and wanted to improve his skills while competing. He was astounded by the growing enthusiasm for ping-pong at J-DHS and he says he doesn't want more people to join because there are so many people already enrolled in the club.

Even though she is not a member, sophomore Mina Huckins said, "It sounds interesting and fun. It's an entertaining way to spend time with friends."

"I don't know much about the Ping-Pong club, but I heard it's fun," said sophomore Liz Pieri. "I think it's a good way to spend activity period because you can relax and socialize with friends."