Follow the bouncing ball to give at Charm event

Ping-Pong is a fast-paced game that demands absolute concentration from those playing, let alone trying to keep up with the ball as a viewer.

There will be a massive amount of Ping-Pong action taking place at an upcoming event, but once the final shots have been hit and the victors are crowned, everything will slow down and the end result will be a windfall for one local family facing financial hardships.

On Saturday, March 2, the annual Charm Ping-Pong Tournament will take place at the Oasis Center near Charm. It has developed a reputation of bringing in not only the finest amateur players in the area, but also some top-quality players from all around the state.

The tournament enters its eighth year, and with even more players expected than last year’s 340 competitors, there will be more than enough play to keep both players and viewers happy.

While the play is the fun, intertwined with the action on close to two dozen tables will be the goal of raising money for a local family struggling with medical bills.

This year’s recipient will be the David Allen Shetler family. Shetler recently underwent surgery that will keep him off his feet and away from work for several months, and the family is facing a growing number of bills.

“David and his wife have three small children, and the expenses of surgery and recovery are growing, so we really wanted to help them overcome some of those expenses through this tournament,” said Marlin Yoder, who heads up the tournament.

Pine Pallet owner Duane Hochstetler said they created this tournament eight years ago with an eye on helping others, and because there is such a huge interest in this area for Ping-Pong, they felt it would be an ideal way to get people together for a good cause.

How popular is Ping-Pong in the area? Yoder said there is a regular weekly gathering of table tennis enthusiasts numbering around 160 people who get together on Friday nights at a large local shop and compete. Many of those players will be on hand for this tournament, as will a growing number of players from outside the area looking for a real challenge.

“The talent level here is wild, and it’s not just the adults,” Yoder said. “We’ve seen kids under 10 years old come in here and exhibit some incredible talent.”

Last year the tournament raised upward of $25,000, with the help of the food stand that will be operated by Charm Northeast Church this year.

The tournament will begin with registration at 8 a.m. and action at 8:30 a.m. There is no preregistration, and the suggested entry donation to compete is $10. Each contest in the double-elimination tournament will be a best-of-three format playing to 15.

“Last year the Oasis was just about at capacity,” Yoder said. “Not only do we have that many competitors, but we also have a number of fans who simply come and take it all in. And this year we even added another table.”

The tournament features several different divisions including a 10-U, 14-U, Ladies, 30 and over, and the open division.

In addition to the nonstop action, there will be a raffle filled with prizes.

One of the main raffle items will be 500 square feet of epoxy flooring surface coating. In addition, there are many other prizes including a one-week Florida vacation for two with a round-trip travel through Pioneer Trails, a prize that includes a home in Pinecraft, a Troxus eBike, a Pure Rise Up softball bat, a complete Milwaukee tool set, a $150 gift card to Charm Fabrics and a 350 Legend gun.

“Our community really came through with some incredible prizes,” Yoder said.

Raffle tickets are $20 each or six for $100, and patrons need not be present to win. Tickets for the raffle may be purchased the day of the event up until the drawing at 1 p.m. If anyone would like to purchase raffle tickets prior to the event, they can find them at Pine Pallets or at participating Charm merchant stores. People also may call to purchase tickets at 330-893-2614 or Yoder at 330-600-8941.

The event also will provide plenty of food, with the church members of Matt and Joanna Yoder providing both breakfast and lunch. Breakfast will include breakfast sandwiches, pastries, coffee and juice while there will be a full lunch menu featuring burgers, hot dogs, and plenty of sides and desserts as well as baked goods.

Another way people can aid the benefit tournament is by donating toward the $850 fee to rent the Oasis Center. Anyone wishing to help in that manner can call Yoder. All checks for the event should be written to Charm Share-N-Care with David Allen Shetler in the memo line.

The Oasis Center is located at 3460 Township Road 159 near Charm. Should anyone not be able to make the tournament but would like to donate to the fund, they may do so by sending their donations to Pine Pallet at 3869 Township Road 369, Millersburg, OH 44654.