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High school students from around Utah showed their athletic prowess during the State Invitational Table Tennis Tournament, held Saturday at Granger High School in West Valley City.

“Pingpong is not just a garage game, it’s a serious sport,” said Walter Poelzing, tournament organizer and Granger High School math teacher, in a press release prior to the event. “When you look internationally, it’s one of the top sports played around the world, along with soccer. Here in Utah, table tennis is just beginning, but we have a few top national players in our state. We’re excited to host this special event; these high school kids are intense, focused and committed to win.”

Forty-six high school students competed, representing Hillcrest, Brighton, Granger, Skyline, Waterford, Syracuse, Cottonwood, American Fork, Bingham, Taylorsville, Itineris Early College High School and Wasatch.

Check out the Tribune’s gallery for photos of the event.

(Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune) Hillcrest junior Tammie Tam serves the ball to Syracuse junior Tanner Bouwhuis during the first state-wide Utah High School Table Tennis Tournament at Granger High School Saturday, January 13, 2018. Organized by math teacher Walter Poelzing and sponsored by Salt Lake City Table Tennis, 46 high school students from all over the state competed. ÒPing Pong is not just a garage game, itÕs a serious sport,Ó said Walter Poelzing, math teacher at Granger High School and organizer of the Invitational. ÒWhen you look internationally, itÕs one of the top sports played around the world, along with soccer. Here in Utah, table tennis is just beginning, but we have a few top national players in our state. WeÕre excited to host this special event; these high school kids are intense, focused and committed to win.Ó Schools participating include Hillcrest, Brighton, Granger, Skyline, Waterford, Syracuse, Cottonwood, American Fork, Bingham,Taylorsville, Itineris Early College High School and Wasatch.

(Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune) Hillcrest junior Bryan Guo competes during the first state-wide Utah High School Table Tennis Tournament at Granger High School Saturday, January 13, 2018. Organized by math teacher Walter Poelzing and sponsored by Salt Lake City Table Tennis, 46 high school students from all over the state competed. ÒPing Pong is not just a garage game, itÕs a serious sport,Ó said Walter Poelzing, math teacher at Granger High School and organizer of the Invitational. ÒWhen you look internationally, itÕs one of the top sports played around the world, along with soccer. Here in Utah, table tennis is just beginning, but we have a few top national players in our state. WeÕre excited to host this special event; these high school kids are intense, focused and committed to win.Ó Schools participating include Hillcrest, Brighton, Granger, Skyline, Waterford, Syracuse, Cottonwood, American Fork, Bingham,Taylorsville, Itineris Early College High School and Wasatch.

(Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune) Syracuse junior Ryker Craythorne competes during the first state-wide Utah High School Table Tennis Tournament at Granger High School Saturday, January 13, 2018. Organized by math teacher Walter Poelzing and sponsored by Salt Lake City Table Tennis, 46 high school students from all over the state competed. ÒPing Pong is not just a garage game, itÕs a serious sport,Ó said Walter Poelzing, math teacher at Granger High School and organizer of the Invitational. ÒWhen you look internationally, itÕs one of the top sports played around the world, along with soccer. Here in Utah, table tennis is just beginning, but we have a few top national players in our state. WeÕre excited to host this special event; these high school kids are intense, focused and committed to win.Ó Schools participating include Hillcrest, Brighton, Granger, Skyline, Waterford, Syracuse, Cottonwood, American Fork, Bingham,Taylorsville, Itineris Early College High School and Wasatch.

(Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune) Cottonwood freshman Max Huang, left, and American fork freshman Greydon McMullin compete during the first state-wide Utah High School Table Tennis Tournament at Granger High School Saturday, January 13, 2018. Organized by math teacher Walter Poelzing and sponsored by Salt Lake City Table Tennis, 46 high school students from all over the state competed. ÒPing Pong is not just a garage game, itÕs a serious sport,Ó said Walter Poelzing, math teacher at Granger High School and organizer of the Invitational. ÒWhen you look internationally, itÕs one of the top sports played around the world, along with soccer. Here in Utah, table tennis is just beginning, but we have a few top national players in our state. WeÕre excited to host this special event; these high school kids are intense, focused and committed to win.Ó Schools participating include Hillcrest, Brighton, Granger, Skyline, Waterford, Syracuse, Cottonwood, American Fork, Bingham,Taylorsville, Itineris Early College High School and Wasatch.

(Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune) Players compete during the first state-wide Utah High School Table Tennis Tournament at Granger High School Saturday, January 13, 2018. Organized by math teacher Walter Poelzing and sponsored by Salt Lake City Table Tennis, 46 high school students from all over the state competed. ÒPing Pong is not just a garage game, itÕs a serious sport,Ó said Walter Poelzing, math teacher at Granger High School and organizer of the Invitational. ÒWhen you look internationally, itÕs one of the top sports played around the world, along with soccer. Here in Utah, table tennis is just beginning, but we have a few top national players in our state. WeÕre excited to host this special event; these high school kids are intense, focused and committed to win.Ó Schools participating include Hillcrest, Brighton, Granger, Skyline, Waterford, Syracuse, Cottonwood, American Fork, Bingham,Taylorsville, Itineris Early College High School and Wasatch.

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(Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune) Hillcrest junior Tammie Tam serves the ball to Syracuse junior Tanner Bouwhuis during the first state-wide Utah High School Table Tennis Tournament at Granger High School Saturday, January 13, 2018. Organized by math teacher Walter Poelzing and sponsored by Salt Lake City Table Tennis, 46 high school students from all over the state competed. ÒPing Pong is not just a garage game, itÕs a serious sport,Ó said Walter Poelzing, math teacher at Granger High School and organizer of the Invitational. ÒWhen you look internationally, itÕs one of the top sports played around the world, along with soccer. Here in Utah, table tennis is just beginning, but we have a few top national players in our state. WeÕre excited to host this special event; these high school kids are intense, focused and committed to win.Ó Schools participating include Hillcrest, Brighton, Granger, Skyline, Waterford, Syracuse, Cottonwood, American Fork, Bingham,Taylorsville, Itineris Early College High School and Wasatch. (Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune) Hillcrest junior Bryan Guo competes during the first state-wide Utah High School Table Tennis Tournament at Granger High School Saturday, January 13, 2018. Organized by math teacher Walter Poelzing and sponsored by Salt Lake City Table Tennis, 46 high school students from all over the state competed. ÒPing Pong is not just a garage game, itÕs a serious sport,Ó said Walter Poelzing, math teacher at Granger High School and organizer of the Invitational. ÒWhen you look internationally, itÕs one of the top sports played around the world, along with soccer. Here in Utah, table tennis is just beginning, but we have a few top national players in our state. WeÕre excited to host this special event; these high school kids are intense, focused and committed to win.Ó Schools participating include Hillcrest, Brighton, Granger, Skyline, Waterford, Syracuse, Cottonwood, American Fork, Bingham,Taylorsville, Itineris Early College High School and Wasatch. (Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune) Syracuse junior Ryker Craythorne competes during the first state-wide Utah High School Table Tennis Tournament at Granger High School Saturday, January 13, 2018. Organized by math teacher Walter Poelzing and sponsored by Salt Lake City Table Tennis, 46 high school students from all over the state competed. ÒPing Pong is not just a garage game, itÕs a serious sport,Ó said Walter Poelzing, math teacher at Granger High School and organizer of the Invitational. ÒWhen you look internationally, itÕs one of the top sports played around the world, along with soccer. Here in Utah, table tennis is just beginning, but we have a few top national players in our state. WeÕre excited to host this special event; these high school kids are intense, focused and committed to win.Ó Schools participating include Hillcrest, Brighton, Granger, Skyline, Waterford, Syracuse, Cottonwood, American Fork, Bingham,Taylorsville, Itineris Early College High School and Wasatch. (Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune) Cottonwood freshman Max Huang, left, and American fork freshman Greydon McMullin compete during the first state-wide Utah High School Table Tennis Tournament at Granger High School Saturday, January 13, 2018. Organized by math teacher Walter Poelzing and sponsored by Salt Lake City Table Tennis, 46 high school students from all over the state competed. ÒPing Pong is not just a garage game, itÕs a serious sport,Ó said Walter Poelzing, math teacher at Granger High School and organizer of the Invitational. ÒWhen you look internationally, itÕs one of the top sports played around the world, along with soccer. Here in Utah, table tennis is just beginning, but we have a few top national players in our state. WeÕre excited to host this special event; these high school kids are intense, focused and committed to win.Ó Schools participating include Hillcrest, Brighton, Granger, Skyline, Waterford, Syracuse, Cottonwood, American Fork, Bingham,Taylorsville, Itineris Early College High School and Wasatch. (Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune) Players compete during the first state-wide Utah High School Table Tennis Tournament at Granger High School Saturday, January 13, 2018. Organized by math teacher Walter Poelzing and sponsored by Salt Lake City Table Tennis, 46 high school students from all over the state competed. ÒPing Pong is not just a garage game, itÕs a serious sport,Ó said Walter Poelzing, math teacher at Granger High School and organizer of the Invitational. ÒWhen you look internationally, itÕs one of the top sports played around the world, along with soccer. Here in Utah, table tennis is just beginning, but we have a few top national players in our state. WeÕre excited to host this special event; these high school kids are intense, focused and committed to win.Ó Schools participating include Hillcrest, Brighton, Granger, Skyline, Waterford, Syracuse, Cottonwood, American Fork, Bingham,Taylorsville, Itineris Early College High School and Wasatch.

For 46 Utah high school students, table tennis is not just a ‘garage game’

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