The Wichita State University Shocker table tennis team continued its winning ways in the divisional tournament on Feb. 27. The Shockers looped, lobbed and ripped their way to a third consecutive division title, qualifying for nationals.

Don’t call it ping pong around this squad, though.

“I’ve gotten tired of trying to explain it to people,” said PJ Phachantry, member, manager and founder of the table tennis team. “I normally invite them to come out and play with us, then they can really see.”

“Ping Pong’s a rec (recreational) sport, and table tennis is an Olympic sport,” he said.

As founder and member, Phachantry started the team from scratch, did his own recruiting and built the team into a successful divisional powerhouse.

“Last year and this year we’ve just been really solid,” he said.

Dennis Mai, a member of the Shocker table tennis team, said the team’s tight bond helps when it plays tough competition.

“We’re all like a really tight, close family,” he said.

Wichita State’s division includes schools from Kansas and Nebraska. To win its division, the Shockers had to knock off the University of Kansas, Kansas State University and the University of Nebraska.

Phachantry started the table tennis team as a freshman in 2008. He went to high school at Northeast Magnet High School in Wichita, Kan., just blocks from WSU. He’s currently a junior majoring in finance and accounting.

High expectations

Phachantry plans on continuing the success of the program. He sees himself working with the team after graduation and has some high expectations for future Shocker table tennis players.

“I don’t ever want to lose a division title ever again,” said Phachantry.

“One of our next big goals is to bring in more talent,” he said.

Phachantry and the squad began planning to recruit internationally. Top talent is just another one of Phachantry’s goals for the team. In the meantime, the Shockers have their eyes set on the College Table Tennis Association National Championships.

On to nationals

The Shockers just returned from the Missouri Winter Games on March 19. They have only the Hutchinson Open on April 9 before the NCTTA Championships played on April 15-17.

“It is quite the reward for all of the team’s hard work this season,” said Phachantry. “We want to make sure that this program is always heading forward in the right direction and continually bringing home division titles and representing WSU on the national stage.”

The Shockers hope to cap off a solid season of competition at nationals. The experience, along with the competition, is something they’re sure not to forget.

“The competition there is just out of this world; it’s amazing,” said Mai. “It’s a good experience for everybody.”

Championships will be held April 15-17 in Rochester, Minn. More than 40 different colleges and universities will compete for national titles in singles, doubles and team events.

For more information on the National College Table Tennis Association Championships, visit http://www.nctta.org/champs/2011/index.html. To learn more about the Shocker table tennis team, follow them on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/49ywjut.