Squad nails the science of table tennis

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You never know when you might stumble upon something special. Maybe something you never even knew existed in your corner of the world. Maybe in a sport that is a little off the beaten path.

Tucked away in a basement cafeteria at the Bronx High School of Science is where you’ll find something special, unique even. Between the wrestling mats and vending machines is where you’ll meet Stuart Symons, a social studies teacher by day for the past 14 years, but the coach of a little-known Bronx dynasty in his after-school hours.

Here in this cramped cafeteria is where the Bronx Science boy’s table tennis team sets up shop, the cafeteria doubling as its home court. In just its third year of existence, since it became a varsity sport in the Public School Athletic League (PSAL), Bronx Science has steamrolled its competition with unbeaten regular seasons the past two years and a 7-1 mark already this year. That’s right, one regular-season loss in two and a half seasons of play. Sort of makes them the Golden State Warriors of the Bronx table tennis circuit.

“Table tennis is only three years old in the PSAL and it started with 12 schools,” Symons said. “Bronx Science was one of the original 12 and they were looking for someone to volunteer to become the coach and I enjoy table tennis. I always had fun playing when I was younger so I thought it would be fun to coach the team. And we’ve been lucky to always had skilled players who were able to teach their peers.”

The enthusiasm for table tennis at Bronx Science is palpable. Symons estimated that as many as “50 to 60 kids try out for the team each season, a team that has just seven starting positions and sees a roster that fluctuates between 12 to 14 players. So yes, competition is fierce for the few spots.

But the talented players that do make the team have helped turn Bronx Science into a juggernaut in the sport.

Bronx Science, table tennis, Stuart Symons, Sean Brennan
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