by Andy Kanengiser

NCTTA Media Chair

A star studded roster of sponsors is signed up for the 2018 national collegiate table championships in the Lone Star State.

The Sports Capital of Texas, Round Rock will be the place to be April 20-22 for the iSet national collegiate table tennis games. Round Rock did a great job hosting the national tournament attracting more than 250 players in 2016. NCTTA leaders anticipate a bigger and even better tournament with its stellar lineup of sponsors on board.

"Our biggest tournament of the year is a huge success thanks to our sponsors,'' says NCTTA President Willy Leparulo. " We can't thank them enough for all they do from one season to the next. This year is no different.''

Sponsors like USA Table Tennis play an awesome role. Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the group is the national governing board for the support of table tennis in the United States. The organization creates opportunities for athletes and coaches to in participate year-round. They are involved in nearly 300 clubs and over 350 tournaments per year in the USA. USATT sanctions events like the U.S. Open and U.S. Nationals.

In addition, USA Table Tennis officials are responsible for selecting and training teams for international competition including the Pan American and Olympic games. It is a member of the International Table Tennis Federation and is affiliated with the United States Olympic Committee.

Other star sponsors in the 2018 championships lineup include equipment sponsors Double Fish and Gerflor.

Based in Guangzhou, China, Double Fish has been in the table tennis business since 1954. Double Fish balls are used by players at NCTTA tournaments in the USA and Canada earlier in the year. The balls will be flying around and spinning at the April games at the Round Rock Sports Center. Double Fish's bragging points included supplying equipment at the 2017 NCTTA championships in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and at the 2016 ITTF-North America Cup.

Founded in 1937 in Lyon, France, Gerflor is a leading floor manufacturer. The company provides resilient sports flooring.

DHS, the company many know as Double Happiness, served as the official supplier for the World Table Tennis Championships in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017. The company produces balls, rubber blades, bats and other items. DHS was the official supplier at the Olympic games in 2008 and 2012.

The games are now titled after iSet, and NCTTA officials were delighted to welcome them aboard earlier this year, Leparulo noted. "The iSet announcement was a shining moment for us in the collegiate table tennis world.''

When nearly 300 student-athletes, coaches and volunteers travel to the 2018 tournament near Austin, they are likely to encounter several of the event's leading sponsors.

 "Please take the time to thank them for their support of collegiate table tennis,'' Leparulo said. "It would be impossible to stage our premier event of the year without their support. They stand tall in the eyes of NCTTA leaders.''

Consisting entirely of volunteers, the NCTTA is a non-profit that promotes and governs the Olympic sport of table tennis at the college level in North America.

The 2018 iSET College Table Tennis Championships is hosted by the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association and the Round Rock CVB and is one of the premier table tennis tournaments in North America featuring 6 events: Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles, and Men’s/Coed Teams, Women’s Teams.  The event is sponsored by iSET, Double Happiness, Gerflor, Double Fish and USA Table Tennis

Players and spectators alike will enjoy a jam-packed weekend of table tennis at the iSET College Table Tennis Championships. The event starts Friday April 20th and continues through Sunday April 22^nd.

About NCTTA

The National Collegiate Table Tennis Association (NCTTA) is a non-profit organization established exclusively for promoting the sport of table tennis at the college level. As the national governing body for college table tennis in the United States and Canada, NCTTA organizes intercollegiate competition throughout North America. www.nctta.org

About USA Table Tennis

Headquartered in Colorado Springs, USATT is the national organizing body for table tennis in the United States, serving 9,000+ members and nearly 300 clubs. USATT sanctions 200+ events a year including the US Open and US Nationals. USATT is affiliated with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), as well as the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Table-Tennis