Ping Ponging Camaraderie

By ANGELA FOSUHENE-APENTENG/Contributor 

University Center staff  hosted a ping pong tournament in the The Patriot Zone on Sept. 30. This event is a part of a series of other weekly tournaments.

“I’m doing one every single Monday to help build campus culture, that’s kind of the incentive why I did it,” said staff member Ronnie Carnes.

Carnes coordinates these weekly recreational and video games competitions in hopes of establishing a campus culture. 

“If you look at that table (of competitors at the tournament), some of the people didn’t know each other, but they’re all having a bond,” he said. “They’re forming it over a game they love. Then they’re gonna compete for it and build more for that reputation, meeting people they’ve never met before over something they love.”

Eight players competed in the ping pong tournament.

Nursing student Cassidy Adams was one of the competitors. Despite her busy class schedule, being a Patriot Zone staff member allows her time to practice.

“I’ve been playing since the spring,” Adams said. “I started playing because my friends would come in here to the PZ, and I liked it. Picked it up. Competing in these tournaments, I think you can see their skill level and they can help you build up to their skill or whatever, you know. If I know I can beat them, then I’m playing to win. If I’m not, I’m just playing to get better.”

Natalie Hernandez came out to watch the tournament. She was invited by Carnes.  She wishes more people participated in campus events.

“I don’t think there’s enough interest in events like this,” Hernandez said. “I don’t think they really know about events like this, but I would like to see more engagement. I feel like tournaments bring some type of camaraderie to this school, bringing people together, making new friends, meeting new people.”