Club Spotlight: Portland Table Tennis Club

By Bruce Bayley

The Portland Table Tennis Club (PTTC) was created in 1939 and has been going strong every since. Like many USATT clubs, the PTTC has played in many locations over the years. Currently the club plays at the Tualatin Hills Athletic Center (THAC) the year around; David Douglas and Clackamas High Schools during the school year; and Parkrose High School and Community Center during the summer. The club is unique based on the fact that its membership allows one to play at the various sites in the numerous programs that PTTC offers.

On Wednesday night at David Douglas the club offers round-robin league play where stats are kept to allow weekly winners to move up or down particular tables based on level of play. On Sunday and Tuesday night at THAC, the club has open play where players are free to start with drills or to play friendly matches. On Saturdays from 1pm to 10pm the STIGA tables are full at the Center. You can expect to play a full assortment of juniors, seniors, loopers, choppers, former national team members and state champions at any given club night.

The club has a number of innovative programs that were created thanks to the one and only Jim Scott. The Big Whack school tournament crowns the best elementary, middle, and high school players in the state each year. In addition to singles championships the club supports a dynamic league for boys and girls that gives all players a chance to represent their school for top honors.
Through the direction of Tim Titrud, the State Games of Oregon is run every year and then is followed by the Oregon State Championships with a traveling trophy that has been presented to the Open Champion since 1939. The Club also runs a number of lower rated USATT events (like the U1200) to encourage more players to join the association and organized play. The club’s premier event is the Bob Viducich STIGA Pacific Rim Open which is in its nineteenth year.

The club continues to run smoothly thanks to the great volunteer board of directors that meets the first Thursday of every other month and supports the school programs, junior training camps, exhibitions and demonstrations around town. For more information of club schedule and events please visit our new website at: http://www.portlandtabletennis.com