Payne-Miller and Stoner Win at Highland Table Tennis Tournament
(By Danny Seemiller)

Four members of the South Bend Table Tennis Club took home trophies from the South Shore/ Butterfly Table Tennis Championships held December 29 and 30 in Highland, Indiana.

Dion Payne-Miller, won the Under 2100 event, and Marty Stoner won the Under 2200 events. Payne-Miller and Coach Danny Seemiller placed second in the Open Doubles event.  Ronnie Coleman claimed second place in the Under 1750 event. Payne-Miller and Stoner placed third in the boys’ eighteen years and under event.

In the Open Singles Yichi Zhang rallied from a 3-1 deficit to defeat Sharon Alguetti 4-3. A spectacular match and $800. for Yichi. In the Youth events Sharon Alguetti won the 18 Boys and Sid Naresh the 15 boys. Nandan Naresh was the 13 Boys Champion. In the girls events Maria Sirakova won the 15 and 18 and under events and $1,500. for her effort. Rachel Zhou finished 2nd in both 15 and 18 and under  events. Melynda Jia won the 13 girls. Thanks goes to Si Wasserman, South Shore Sports, South Bend TTC and Butterfly for providing the sponsorship for this 15th Highland tourney.

This was the 15th year that the South Bend Table Tennis Club sponsored the Highland event. More than 130 players from New Jersey to Missouri competed in 26 events. The event boasted $10,000 in prize money, one of the largest prize offerings of any US tournament.

The tournament was sponsored by the South Bend Table Tennis Club. The club is coached by Danny Seemiller, five times US nationals champ and two-time US Olympic coach. The club, located at the Beacon, 4210 Lincolnway West in South Bend, is open Tuesdays 7:30-9:30, Thursdays 6 – 9:30, Saturdays and Sundays 2 – 6 pm.

For more information, contact:

Coach Danny Seemiller,

Tel. 574-261- 4545
danseemillertt@gmail.com