Club of the Month: Rockford Table Tennis Club

By Ed Hogshead, ldk-bsi@att.net

The Rockford Table Tennis Club (RTTC) may be one of the oldest organized clubs in the United States.  The archives at the local newspaper contain stories of league play during World War II – even an election of club officers made the front page of the sports section during the 1940’s.  The club, as it exists today, was rekindled during the 1960’s by Joe Newgarden (owner of Newgy Industries), Gary Gatchel (instrumental in designing the Newgy RoboPong), Paul Erickson, and others.

The club meets at the Flodin Boys and Girls Club in Rockford, Illinois on Mondays from 7 PM until 10 PM and Thursdays from 4 PM until 10 PM.  Adult club members coach up to 30 members of the Boys and Girls Club on Thursdays from 4 PM until 5 PM with the advanced juniors staying until 7 PM.  Adults can receive free coaching from 5 PM until 7 PM, also on Thursdays.

Over the past year, the RTTC has held USATT tourneys (more on the tourneys later), formed two-man handicap leagues, played a draw doubles tourney, completed a full-club singles round robin tourney, and just finished the club traveling trophy tourney won by Ed Hogshead for the eighth straight year – although it may be his last as many are improving quickly.

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