Rockford and NCTTA Meet Again - 2015 Midwest Regional Championships

Rockford, Illinois and the sport of table tennis seem to go hand in hand, and this weekend is no exception as the Rockford Convention and Visitor's Bureau worked with the Rockford Boys and Girls Club to bring in one of NCTTA's marquee events, the 2015 Midwest Regional Championships sponsored by Double Fish, Joola and TMS.

NCTTA Midwest Region Director, Kevin Li tells us about the partnership and history. "We worked with the Rockford CVB in 2013 with our National Championships plus one of our biggest supporters and competition manager is Ed Hogshead who is from the area. NCTTA and Ed have been working together for over a decade so coming to Rockford was a natural fit!"

With the help of Nick Polvalitis from the Rockford CVB and Chip Stoner from the Rockford Boys and Girls Club, the NCTTA is once again in a familiar place.

Speaking of familiarity are some of the schools participating in this weekend's event, particularly Lindenwood University. Lindenwood is one of two table tennis scholarship schools in the United States and are the tournament favorites, looking to repeat as regional winners.

There is stiff competition however, from the likes of the University of Minnesota, Wichita State and the University of Illinois just to name a few.

About 70 players from 10 colleges and universities will be in Rockford this weekend competing in Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Men's/Coed Team and Women's Team competition. With regard to college sports, it should be noted that the diversity of competition in table tennis sets it apart. The athletes at the 2015 Midwest Regionals are representing not only their academic institutions in the Midwest, but also different countries ranging from the United States and Canada to as far as Brazil, Egypt and Nigeria.

It should be a very competitive weekend!