Table tennis has come to Fountain Hills Middle School in a big way, with residents teaming up with physical education teacher Patti Schultz in order to give a more in-depth introduction to the sport to local students.

Over the past couple of months, Joe Bill, Wanda LaLoggia, Gene Mutuscow and teacher Patti Schultz have visited the physical education classes of FHMS every other Monday.

According to Schultz, the seed of the idea for these more focused tutorials on table tennis was planted by School Board member Edith Stock, who informed LaLoggia that the school had eight table tennis setups available for use.

“[LaLoggia] approached Joe Bill, a fellow Fountain Hills resident and competitive table tennis player, about the idea of offering lessons to the students,” Schultz explained.

“Together, they met with Principal Anita Gomez about this idea and found her to be very supportive.”

The group then met with the physical education department and hammered out the details for bringing a full table tennis lesson to FHMS.

After an initial skills evaluation, Schultz said that a plan was put in place to focus on the seventh and eighth grade students.

“Gene Mutusow, a table tennis player who plays regularly at the Fountain Hills Community Center, was recruited to help with the coaching,” Schultz continued.

Bill, LaLoggia and Mutusow went on to volunteer their time to teach FHMS students more advanced skills.

“Table tennis is such a great game to bring to the students because it is a lifelong sport that helps develop hand-eye coordination, balance and reaction times,” Schultz said.

“The seventh and eighth grade students love the chance to work with Bill, LaLoggia and Matusow. They are ecstatic when they find out it is a table tennis lesson Monday.”

Bill agreed, saying that the enthusiasm shown by some of the students during lessons has been “a bit contagious.”

“It is so rewarding to see growth not only in the students’ skill levels, but also in their enthusiasm for the sport,” he added.

LaLoggia echoed those sentiments.

“It has been wonderful to see the improvement from the students,” she added.

“I love the enthusiasm.”

Schultz said she’s watched her students improve with each lesson, and they especially like the chance to work with the table tennis robots utilized in the lessons.

“The robot serves continuous balls to the students and teachers them reaction time, proper paddle control, ball touch and hand-eye coordination,” she added.

“A tournament with awards is being planned for the final session on May 16.”

When asked why students have taken to table tennis so well, Schultz speculated that it’s because it is a game they can play with their friends at the Boys & Girls Club, at home and school.

“It allows students a chance to play at a competitive level,” she said.

“Many students have commented that they played with parents and grandparents outside of class and are now beating them, when before that was not the case.”

As physical education teachers, Schultz said she and her colleagues hope students will get a spark of interest in any type of sports, fitness or movement-based activities they are exposed to.

“Table tennis is a lifelong activity and, just as Bill, LaLoggia and Matusow continue to play, we hope that the students, too, can continue to play throughout their lives,” Schultz said.

“The volunteers would love to have a group of students continue their interest and possibly create a club or team that will compete against others in the Valley. We hope to continue the partnership in the future so that more students are introduced to the sport of table tennis.”