2014 Sun Lakes - Saddlebrooke Mixer

SLTTC members holding the black paddles David Zapatka, David Novikoff,

Jack Richey, Bill Aichele, Alan Behr and Steve Langer

The Robson Cup

David Zapatka

The third annual Robson Cup Table Tennis Match between Saddlebrooke and Sun Lakes was held March 8 at Saddlebrooke in this alternate home and away tournament for Robson Communities bragging rights.

For the first time in the Cup’s three-year history, Saddlebrooke defeated Sun Lakes to wrench the coveted Cup from the Sun Lakes Table Tennis Club. At the end of the 2013 Sun Lakes match, Saddlebrooke’s team captain, Joe Staker, emphatically stated his team would win in their third attempt to bring the Cup to Saddlebrooke the following year and that’s exactly what they did.

Sun Lakes players Steve Langer, Alan Behr, Bill Aichele, Jack Richey, David Novikoff and David Zapatka each played two singles and two doubles matches in the popular Cup format. Despite bringing their “A” game, Saddlebrooke was too much for our team this year.

The matches were extremely competitive but Sun Lakes lost the close ones. Before the result was final and the teams were still battling for the win, the match of the day was Jack Richey and David Zapatka playing doubles against Saddlebrooke’s top doubles team. With match point in hand, a frenetic counter attack and smash rally ensued with Saddlebrooke’s top player Greg Hlushko crushing what appeared to be a forehand crosscourt winner. However, Jack Richey ran it down against the wall, back to the table and hit a game-winning above-the-head backhand counter smash to win the match. The players and spectators from both teams erupted in applause as they left their seats in appreciation of Jack’s tremendous effort.

In traditional fashion the winning team is pictured with their paddles turned to the red side and the losing team is pictured with their paddles turned to the black side in the group picture above.

If you are interested in table tennis and would like to pursue this exciting sport, please contact Alan Behr, ABehr@aol.com or David Novikoff, novi@wbhsi.net for more details regarding the Sun Lakes Table Tennis Club.