Easthampton – Carolyn Porter was literally a one-woman team.
Noel Abbott, owner of Zing! The table tennis club understands table tennis as a “great equalizer”.
He wanted everyone to start playing.
With this philosophy, Abbott has created a Monday women’s table tennis night at his facility. He didn’t get many followers, but he had Porter, who played table tennis every week, for almost a year to hone his skills. When the women’s table tennis night was about to come to a complete halt, Porter decided to take over the event.
She created flyers and brought them to LGBTQ+ social events throughout Pioneer Valley. It created a following for Monday night sporting events. Under Porter’s tutelage, women’s table tennis became popular in East Hampton, creating an accomplished new group of players who loved the sport.
“Most people have only experienced playing in basements as kids,” says Porter.
Porter will welcome and shape new players drawn from LGBTQ+ dances and other social events. She gives new players individual lessons, teaching grips, hits, spins, and other skills, and works with players each week to improve their abilities.
“Anyone can pick up a paddle and get better quickly,” she explained.
Porter says most people first come to Zing on Monday nights. I’m not really into sports, I’m looking for connections and community. But she said they often stick around because the game is worth playing at any level.
“[The group] I realized that table tennis is such an incredibly fun and challenging sport that it just doesn’t have enough of a reputation on the streets,” said Kayla Lubriel, our weekly attendant.
Loubriel began attending this summer after meeting Porter at an LGBTQ+ contra dance event in Northmapton.
Many of the regular women’s table tennis players are older, but the players have a wide range of abilities. Some women have difficulty bending over to catch the ball, while others play in wheelchairs. However, despite the difficulties, all players can occupy space on the table.
“I go to dance spaces where women have set aside space for themselves. It can exist in many other spaces as well,” Porter explained.
Before the pandemic hit, about 20 regulars attended the bi-weekly event. When Porter relaunched the group in March 2022, that number began to grow, with new players joining each week.
“What’s great about the second wave of table tennis is the steady stream of young, committed women,” Porter said. “The opportunity to play with young women opened up a new world for me.”
Loubriel, 21, from Amherst, agrees.
“Women’s table tennis is a place where we can connect with women across generations and where we can be part of the new queer community in Western Massachusetts,” she said.
Some women-only LGBTQ+ spaces have come under fire in recent years for being transphobic. Monday’s group started with only cisgender women, but nonbinary and transgender athletes also participated in paddle sports.
“The name represents a generational shift, but I would welcome a change of it,” Porter said. “Playing with these people helped me understand them better.”
“I love teaching, so I did this,” she continued.
Porter has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education and taught sports to people with disabilities before starting her career in facilities management.
Zing also has well-attended, gender-neutral competitive nights. These nights are difficult for beginners and are almost completely filled with men. Players can hone their skills on Monday nights before starting to play with higher-level players at the gym, Porter said.
“The purpose of starting Zing! is to create a welcoming sanctuary where people are welcomed on a deep level,” said Abbott.
Jing! Also one of her two official sites for the American Table Tennis Youth Association, Abbott said she hopes more women will join the league. She also has scholarships for her children to attend.
Women’s table tennis is free for members and $10 for two hours for non-members.
“I want to create a space where people can express themselves freely,” Abbott concludes.
Bella Levavi can be reached at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.
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