Wesleyan finishes tied for third
at Table Tennis Championships

RESULTS

BALTIMORE, Maryland - The Texas Wesleyan Table Tennis team finished tied for third place November 26-28, at the 2004 North American Open Table Tennis Championships.

The tournament is considered the largest table tennis tournament in the world, with over 140 table tennis courts.  There were over 200, 3-5 player teams entered in the tournament. The team knocked off the New York Russian Club, 5-1, and the Maryland Table Tennis Club, 5-1, in its preliminary group.  After being placed in Group A, Wesleyan went 3-1, defeating the New Jersey Table Tennis Club, 5-3, the China Cadet team, 5-4, and the Quebec team, 5-1, before falling to the New York Table Tennis Club, 5-4.

In the quarterfinals, Wesleyan took out Mexico, 5-2, but fell to England, 3-1, in the semifinals. During the tournament, junior Eric Owens won 16 games versus only two losses.  Freshman Dinko Kranjac finished the tournament with a 9-7 record, while freshman Kfir Silberman went 6-3, and sophomore Courtney Roberts finished 6-8.

"We played unbelievably well the entire tournament," head coach Christian Lillieroos said.  "We had luck on our side and finished ahead of some really good teams.  This was one of the best showings we have ever had." The Texas Wesleyan Table Tennis team had won the College division the last three seasons, but that division was cancelled this year, forcing Wesleyan into the Open Division.