(By Sean O’Neill, Hall of Fame)

USATT Hall of Fame Board of Directors Announces 2017 Inductees and Mark Matthews Achievement Award Winner

May 15, 2017 (Colorado Spring, CO) – The U.S. Table Tennis Hall of Fame Board of Directors is pleased to announce the names of those outstanding players and contributors to be honored with induction at this year’s annual banquet.

Athlete: Marcelino “Marcy” Monasterial. Contributors: Bowie Martin, Sr. and Scott Preiss. This year’s Mark Matthews Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Dell Sweeris.

The U.S. Table Tennis Hall of Fame Annual Induction Banquet 2017 will be held Thursday evening, July 6th during this year’s U.S. National Championships at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Tickets are available through USA Table Tennis Headquarters.  Please contact Andrew Horn at andrew.horn@usatt.org for tickets.

 Marcy Monasterial – Athlete

• 1992 Paralympic Games – Bronze Medalist
• 1990 World Championships for the Disabled – Quarter Finalist
• 1988 Paralympic Games – Quarter Finalist
• 1987 World Handicap Game – Silver Medalist
• 1957 World Championship – US Team Member

Bowie Martin, Sr. – Contributor

• 1960 Co-Founder of Martin-Kilpatrick Table Tennis Company
• 1977 USTTA Vice President
• Founder of Table Tennis Manufacturer’s Association (funded first USTTA Executive Director Position)
• 1977 Butterfly Table Tennis Club  (Full-time: Wilson, NC)
• USA Table Tennis National Team Clothing Sponsor (Butterfly)
• USA Table Tennis National Table Sponsor (Butterfly)
• USA Table Tennis National Ball Sponsor (Nittaku)
• Sponsor of over 100 top US Juniors and National Team Members

Scott Preiss – Contributor

• Former US World Team Trainer at the World Championships
• US National Table Tennis Touring Coach
• Former Director, US Olympic Training Center Resident Athlete Program
• Certified USA National Level Table Tennis Coach
• USA Table Tennis Ambassador

Dell Sweeris – Mark Matthews Lifetime Achievement Award

• 1965, 1967 &1969 World Team Member
• 1971 Canadian Open Singles Champion
• 1972 Ping-Pong Diplomacy Participant
• 4 x US Open Mixed Doubles Champion with wife, Connie
• USATT Board of Directors & Foundation Member
• 2010, 2012, 2014 US Open LOC Tournament Chairman