West London Varsity: Community at St Mary’s Table tennis team
Being a member of the St Mary’s Table tennis team means more than playing the sport. It means being part of a community.
The annual West London Varsity is an event that players look forward to. This year was no different.
The Simmies struggled to best rivals Brunel. The Stingrays led 2-0 in the final score combining both men and women’s events.
Despite this, the players were proud to represent their university. The Sports Gazette sat down with some of the members of the men’s team and coach Loch to discuss Varsity, table tennis and community.
Coaching St Mary’s Table tennis team during Varsity
Loch began coaching the teams as a student and has since returned after graduating. A sense of community attracted him to the sport.
He said: “Table tennis is unique compared to other sports. It’s so small. We don’t have a lot of people, but that means we can get quite close to one another.
“You get this kind of community feel. Everybody knows each other. It’s such a small group so you can get really close.”
Varsity has always been a high point for these close-knit group of players and the atmosphere this year has made the day that much greater.
“Varsity is always good fun,” he added. “[The weather] is beautiful. The real summer feeling is coming down. It’s getting me ready for summer.”
Community, playing and representing the Simmies at Varsity
For both players, being a member of the team means being part of a community.
One player said: “If I could round up [what it means] in one word, I’d say community.”
“The reason I’m still showing up is becuase I’ve made lots of lovely friends,” another added.
Representing the university at Varsity is a special occasion for both players: “It is quite special.
“We don’t like Brunel so it’s nice to play against them. Hopefully we’ll get a few wins and represent this side of London.”
Meanwhile, the other summed up the feeling in one word: “I would describe it by saying I’m proud. Proud to be playing for St Mary’s.”
The St Mary’s Table tennis team are always on the lookout to recruit new faces and talents to the team.
On how he would encourage people to join the team, one said: “You can join from any ability. If you’ve never picked up a paddle before it doesn’t matter. People of all abilities are welcome. It’s good fun.”
Table tennis, friendship and community. Being a member of St Mary’s Table tennis team will always mean gaining something greater than sport.
The Sports Gazette is providing the official cover of the West London Varsity follow the live blog for updates
