Club of the Month:

Caruso Middle School Table Tennis Club

Deerfield, Illinois • By Larry Hodges

Everyone wants to see table tennis in our schools – but like the weather, everyone talks about it, but few do anything about it. Craig Tafel has done something about it.

Four years ago, Tafel, a 6th grade science and English teacher at Caruso Middle School in Deerfield, Illinois (near Chicago), and Jon Keasling (a recently retired teacher) began the Caruso TT Club as a tournament site for the middle school’s 6th to 8th graders. The club soon developed a ladder system for ranking players and creating matchups, which has been used to this day. There are four divisions: 6th grade boys, 6th grade girls, 7th-8th grade boys & girls, and "Elite," which is the top eight players, regardless of grade or gender.

This past season the club had 95 members, including about 25 who are USATT members and played in USATT tournaments – probably one of the top two clubs in the country in terms of USATT junior members. (They’ve had about 45 over the past four years.) Their top player is Jim Waltz, rated 1636, who has won the school championship three years in a row. Tafel says that it was Waltz’s play that pushed him to improve his own game, from around 1200 three years ago to its current 1786. He says, "I look forward to the day when he handles me with ease, although my pride has managed to delay this inevitable outcome."

Each season ends with the school championships just before Spring break, with about 50 kids playing each year. The Open Division Championship trophy is now named after Waltz. The Girls’ Division Championship Trophy is named after Mr. Robert "Bobby" Serota, who passed away recently after a three-year battle with cancer. Serota’s daughter, Deborah, is one of the school’s all-time best players, and the Serota family is legendary for their class, dignity and athleticism, according to Tafel.

The school also has a pre-season tournament, called the "Ted ‘Coach’ Friedman Invitational," in honor of long-time USATT member Mr. Friedman. Friedman donated a Newgy robot to the program, and was an inspiration to everyone at the club. He is now 80 years old, and living in Lexington, Kentucky with his new wife, and is still an active player.

The club was recently featured on a local children’s television show called "Up ‘N Running," which was broadcast throughout the Chicago area. The kids explained the basic rules, equipment and strokes for the piece, which was featured on a show called "indoor superstars." It was a great experience for all of the kids, and they were proud of their efforts.

The club started out with "loaner" tables – i.e., cheap ones. However, they have gradually been purchasing $350 tables, and Stiga Clipper VM nets, which have held up well. They now have five tables, and use three-star balls for all practice sessions.

Local clubs have been very supportive of the program. Primo Madrigal, who runs the Schaumburg club, has been very supportive to the kids who play in the Schaumburg leagues and tournaments. "Without him, the club truly would not exist, as his encouragement and kindness kept me involved with the sport during the time that I was first playing at a serious level," said Tafel. Englebert Solis, who owns the Chicago Table Tennis Club, has also been wonderful to the kids, according to Tafel. Solis helped put on exhibitions before basketball games, supervised them on long driving trips to tournaments, and helped coach the more advanced students, such as U.S. #10 Under 14 Jim Waltz.

The club fees are nominal – $2/student for the full season. They also pay a quarter for each "ladder match."

Tafel has also taught a table tennis class in the school district’s summer school program for the past three years. This past summer there were four classes, with ten students in each, and a waiting list.

One change that might hurt them: the school district will soon be charging all students $18/season to participate in intramural and club activities. Tafel is worried that this might act as a deterrent for some kids, and is trying to find alternate sources of funding to raise $1800 – $18 each for 100 kids.

Tafel said he is really looking forward to next season, with about 15 of their players playing at the 800 level or better. He said, "It’s pretty exciting to see what has resulted from something that began for me as a casual interest in our sport just four years ago!"