Around the League-Surprises in the Lead!
Typically around this time in NCTTA, the first leg of NCTTA League competitions are getting complete. In NCTTA we follow a bit like what International Soccer does in that they have 2 legs (competitions) to decide who goes on: Fall semester and Early Winter/Spring. After the Fall we generally see the “usuals” in the lead, but this year we have a number of new schools taking those reins!
Universite de Montreal playing out of the Greater Toronto division is undefeated! Montreal hasn’t had a team in NCTTA regularly but when they do they bring everything to the table! Undefeated in Fall semester action with a team all above 2200 leaving University of Toronto and Western (typical Canadian TT powerhouses) regrouping. Let’s see what happens next year!
Wichita State University is the Texas Wesleyan of the Central Plains division, title after title year after year, but wait a second…Kansas State University has stepped up with a surprising division lead and a 3-2 win over the perennial champs of Wichita State. Anything can happen, let’s see if the Shockers of Wichita State come back in the Spring!
In the DC division, we generally see College TT stalwart, the University of Maryland at the lead. This year with a new transfer student from Emory University (Crystal Wang) has taken Johns Hopkins as the school team to beat! JHU attracted Crystal Wang, former USA National Team player and Emory University #1 to play for JHU as she continues her studies. What a difference a 2450 rated player makes! I wouldn’t count UMD out, it was only 3-2 in doubles and as we say in sports anything can and will happen! (JHU team pic featured below)
Dixie division which is Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi schools sees Louisiana State University (newcomer to NCTTA) at the lead. Baylor University is taking names in Texas led by two former USA National Team products: Sarah Jalli and Michael Tran.
Bottomline: it ain’t over till it’s over to quote Yogi Berra, but it is certainly looking interesting!
Check out NCTTA standings for 2024-2025 season here
Ping Pong Rockers Rocking the Northwest Region
FISU World University Games Summer Edition Held in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany
Related Posts
Remembering Bill Rasmussen: How ESPN Gave American Table Tennis a National Stage
Mikael Appelgren: The Swedish Master of Feel, Variation and Control
From Promise to Champion: Paddle Palace’s Mia Yang Captures U.S. National Title
Paddle Palace Retains the Club vs. Club Trophy
From First-Time Players to Future Stars: Summer Camp at Paddle Palace
Ryan "The Nightmare" Gibson Captures Paddle Palace Sunday League Championship
Seth Pech Breaks Down His First U.S. National Title
