Featured Player – Jeff Mason Table Tennis

Sandy Mason

Sandy Mason is the General Manager of the Ambridge TTC, but much, much more than that. Sandy is much more interested in biking, hiking, gardening and walking than playing table tennis. However, she does enjoy watching good table tennis matches, especially of our players at the US Open. As a retired public school teacher and principal of an alternative school, Sandy brings her life-long teaching experiences and public relations skills into the Melody Ballroom. It’s her calm, kind, people-pleasing manner that players notice and appreciate at the front desk of the Ambridge TTC. Sandy signs players up for classes, lessons, tournaments, and all other activities at the club. She runs the front desk, taking care of players who come in for their first time or the regulars who have been with the club for over 4 years. When people want to talk about something other than their Forehand loops and Hasagawa serves, Sandy’s there for all of us. Whether you need the first aid kit, a drink of cold water, or to sign-up for the upcoming class that’s going to change your life, Sandy is the person in charge. Sandy keeps the club going with snacks, flowers, 500 balls off the floor into the containers, classes working smoothly, scheduling all the lessons, set-ups and tear-downs, and all the physical operations of the Melody Ballroom. The Ambridge TTC thanks Sandy for her outstanding job and appreciates her friendly, kind manner at the front desk. Sandy’s manner sets the fun, easy-going tone, and peaceful atmosphere that the club is known for. Thanks for running the greatest table tennis club in Portland, Sandy!

Alan Peters

Alan Peters started it all. Alan asked Jeff and Sandy to come to the Ambridge Event Center in June of 2014 and start a club. After three years at the Ambridge Event Center he moved his event business and the Ambridge TTC over to the Melody Ballroom. Alan also got the MAC TTC off the ground and has set up coaching programs, open play nights, and big tournaments. He is the owner and manager at the Melody Ballroom and the one to thank for our great club. Alan has played all the racket sports and plays table tennis with enthusiasm and great defensive skills. He is known for his happy disposition and fun attitude toward life in general. If you want to rent any of the smaller spaces for events or the Melody Ballroom itself, talk to Alan and he’ll help you out.

Jake Lanigan

Jake Lanigan is small but powerful. Standing at just about 4 feet, his forehand is anything but small. Jake has played off and on at the club for the past 3 years and has developed a very strong attack game. He has participated in many of the classes and training sessions as well as the once a year MAC Kids’ Camp in July. We hope that Jake will become a more serious and dedicated junior player at the Ambridge TTC and will join the other 15 strong kids that play in the leagues and tournaments. Jake is the son of Steve Lanigan who plays in the Monday Training Sessions. It’s such a great feeling to see father and son playing a sport together and having a great time.

Joel Sommer

Joel Sommer is the best definition of our club. He has been at the center of the club since it’s start. Starting out at the novice level three years ago, he now plays as an advanced player. He is in the Advanced Training Program and is now moving toward the Master level (2000 USA rating). He plays a strong attack game with looping from both wings, but watch out for his forehand. It’s a winning powerhouse! With skills in playing, coaching, and working with people, Joel has taken over for Jeff as the head coach when Jeff has been injured. If you are interested, he also teaches individual lessons at the club. There are so many talents that Joel possesses. He is a musician, author, rapper, song writer, skateboarder, table tennis champion/coach, great guy, and a proud father. Joel is a model player and person at our club who always shows a good sporting-like attitude. He is definitely one of the brightest lights at the Ambridge TTC.

Jan Williams

Jan Williams is one of the funniest players at the club, or at least some people find his dry British humor that way. He usually adds side comments and self-deprecating statements about his game as he plays. However, he is a good player and played well in the U.S. Open in Las Vegas last December. Jan’s attack game continues to improve from a beginning level to an intermediate status as he plays in the Tuesday Intermediate Training Program. Jan is a very good sport and a super asset to the club. Jan is the proud father of Evan Williams who is one of our top junior players. Although Jan defeated Evan just a month ago, he knows his time is limited until Evan takes a giant leap forward to the Advanced level. We are very happy that Jan is a regular member of the Ambridge TTC and that he keeps us all laughing and smiling as he plays at the club.

Ellen Glover

Ellen Glover is the owner and lead therapist at Broadway Physical Therapy and Sports Rehabilitation Center in Portland. She plays in the Beginning/Novice class and the leagues when she has the time. However, operating this fantastic PT clinic is a full time operation not including being the mother to Evan Williams and wife to Jan Williams. As Ellen develops her double wing attack game, she also acquires more knowledge about the movement and potential injuries of this sport. She and her assistant have helped players at the club by giving advise and suggestions for overall training and play. If you want a great Physical Therapy clinic nearby, this is person to talk to. We just hope that Ellen will make some more time for her own table tennis development. Great to have a super PT and another kind person at our club.

Angela Ballard

Angela Ballard is one of our most active coaches at the club. She teaches individual lessons on Sundays all morning then coaches in the Beginning/Novice Class at 3:00 pm. In addition to her coaching at the Melody Ballroom, Angela also teaches the TT classes at Reed College and has worked as the coach at the MAC. Angela will be helping Jeff in the MAC Kids’ Camp at the MAC in July, 2018. Angela is an excellent coach who gets all of her students started on the right track. Her own personal game style is close to the table attack game with a strong forehand. When she’s not teaching so much and has some more time, she’s planning to work on her own game. Angela plays in the Tuesday Intermediate Training Sessions. Her regular day time job is a public school P.E. teacher. Let Sandy know at the front desk know if you’re interested in getting some coaching from Angela. You may not know this about Angela, but she also teaches her own house cats many amazing circus feats and acrobatics.

Steve Lanigan

Steve Lanigan is one of our backbone players at the Ambridge TT club. He has been with the Ambridge TTC from the start and continues to take classes, play in the leagues, and dramatically improves his game as time moves forward. Steve plays an attack game featuring a lot of spin on all shots. He also has a powerful forehand smash shot which he’ll use whenever he gets the opportunity. Steve is the proud father of Jake Lanigan who is a small but powerful junior player (already featured in this section). You may not know, but Steve is a very avid and talented wild river enthusiast. He takes several raft, kayak and canoe trips down the wild rivers of the West and has some exciting stories to share. Steve is a champion at paddle power.

Brian Yoder

Brian Yoder is one of the top players at the Ambridge TTC. He receives coaching in the Thursday Advanced Training Program and plays in the Open leagues with the other top players in the club. Brian has a great all around attack game. His backhand is very strong and he finishes the point with his big forehand loop-kill. Brian has currently been playing at the 1800-1900 level and is just 100 points away from playing consistently at the 2000 Master level. We will look forward to Brian making that Master mark and beyond in the next year. Brian is now a certified school teacher and most often works with many special needs kids in the Portland area. Best of luck, Brian.

Steve Marcy

Steve Marcy is one of the funniest players at the club. Ask any of the 30 Ambridge club players that have played in the past two U.S. Open Championships in Las Vegas and they will agree. Steve is an Intermediate level player that is on the edge of attaining his advanced status. His wicked forehand side-spin loop is tough to return even for master players. As an ex-super athlete (especially bicycling), this guy is a real competitor and a nice guy too. With some incredible play and serious coaching from Jeff, Steve defeated the #1 ranked U.S. Champion at the U.S. Open this past December. Yes, she was 10, but she looked at least 11. Steve also is one of the Club Coaches at the Ambridge TTC. What a great asset to our club.