If you’re looking for an inclusive and unique community at Western Washington University, the Ping Pong Club might be just that. The club offers a welcoming space for anyone, ping pong player or otherwise.
The club, which meets every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Fairhaven lounge, has a warm and welcoming vibe and is full of ping pong players of all levels.
“There’s a lot of people who come to ping pong club that have never played before… We have enough people here though that are relatively experienced that help kind of show the ropes to newcomers,” Ellie Krulish, the club president, said.
Krulish joined Ping Pong Club during her first year at Western and slowly but surely moved up in the ranks. First, she became “unofficial equipment manager,” moving on to vice president in her second year. After the former club president graduated, Ellie was voted into the position by her peers.
“I do like being president,” she said. “It’s a casual club, so the presidency is much more for bits and jokes.”
Krulish laughs at her title but she gives herself much less credit than she’s owed. Besides just holding the title of “Madame President,” Krulish also does all the work for the tournaments that the club hosts. She stores all the equipment, makes announcements on the club’s Instagram and presents herself as a friendly face to all the newcomers who arrive at the club.
Otto Loidhammer, a junior and active club member, explained that he came across it during his first three days in Bellingham. He and his roommate went to the info fair and quickly found the club’s table.
“All the clubs on campus are super welcoming but ping pong we just had more of a response to,” Loidhammer said. “Everyone here is here to do the same thing and it’s to have fun. It’s not even to play ping pong, it’s to have fun and hang out.”
The club offers much more than just a space to play the game. It’s also a space where you can come and do homework, hang out with your friends and listen to some fantastic music. Rock, grunge, alternative, you name it and you’re bound to hear it.
Meeting new people at ping pong club is inevitable, and if you’re not careful, you might just end up meeting your best friends.
“I’ve met people here that I’m still friends with today,” Loidhammer said.“It’s funny to say that I’ve made my group of friends from one thing…I’ve made deep connections with people but mainly it has been from this club.”
Ping pong brings people together and it’s not just these college kids that are experiencing it. Sudden Valley Table Tennis Club, located in Sudden Valley, is open to all ages and levels of experience. John Philbeck, the club’s founder, said he wants it to be open to anyone and create a place where people can have fun and learn.
“90% of what we do is not play [to win], we don’t keep score. We just volley back and forth and we’ll do that all night long and just have a great time,” Philbeck said.
Ping pong clubs form connections at any age and if there’s one thing I can recommend to those of you reading this right now, it’s to go find a table, a paddle, and some friends, and start playing the game.
“Try it once…ping pong is a silly sport…If you’re afraid of it, don’t be. It’s so much fun to come try and hit a ball across a table,” Krulish said. “No one can look cool chasing a ping pong ball.”
Adeline Roesler-Begalke (she/her) is a first time reporter for The Front this quarter. She is a public relations major and a hopeful film studies minor. When not reporting, you can expect to find Adeline on her couch watching movies with her friends. You can reach her at adelinerb.thefront@gmail.com.
