The Varsity Table Tennis Team capped their undefeated 11-0 season with a close win, beating Fieldston 3-2 in the Independent School Table Tennis League Finals (ISTTL) and marking the team’s third straight ISTTL victory.

The team played league matches against other schools to qualify for the semifinals and the finals, Captain Jiya Chatterjee (12) said. Table tennis games are structured with three doubles and two singles games, and the team who wins more games wins the match. There are nine players on the school’s team —  three play singles, four play doubles, and two substitute.

The team’s win was one of their best yet, especially considering they had to rally and make a comeback, Siddhant Jain (10) said. “We pulled off a miracle after being down 0-2 in the match.” Much of the team’s success can be attributed to the players’ consistency, Jain said. “Everybody on the team is good enough to be the best on the team on their day,”

Going into the game, Chatterjee felt a lot of pressure because it was the most important match of the season. “I told myself that I wouldn’t let my opponent dictate the point,” she said. 

Jisang Kymm (11) and Nalla Sagna (12) worked together in a close doubles match that won the school the ISTTL championship, Henry Levinson (12) said.

During the match, players have to constantly adjust their tactics based on what is working and what isn’t, Jain said. “You’re trying to capitalize on the weaknesses of the opponent and trying to be as smart as you can to beat them.” 

Table Tennis Coach Caroline Surhoff said that the players’ dedication kept the team strong. “Every single member of this team is dedicated to their sport in terms of committing to each other and being the best they can be,” she said.

Surhoff applauded the five seniors, in particular, for the team’s success. “They have years of playing experience and competition, which worked to their advantage many times this season, especially the championship match.”

The team’s success can be attributed to the community they built, Chatterjee said “We genuinely wanted to see each other succeed.”

Their efforts have paid off: the team has been incredibly successful over the past seasons, Levinson said. “We haven’t lost a game against another school in two years.”