Tomo Shirataki Wins Ping Pong Tournament

Tomo. Photo by Michael Sunderland. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

 Tomo Shirataki Wins Ping Pong Tournament

By Wanbli Hamilton '13

A hot breath of humid air filled the corners of the cave better known as Michael Sunderland’s classroom. This cavern seemed as though it came straight from the depths of Hades itself, but the table was cold as ice. The table was always a cold mistress to those who dared bring paddle to ball upon her relentless surface. This blistering day of May the 15th was marked forever in the great Record Halls of Sunderland as the clash of two mighty and esteemed warriors. Raising their paddles, the great pong samurai Tomoaki Shirataki, and his rival, the man about Red Cloud, Christian McGhee, endured a grueling three bout match of Ping Pong for the 1st annual Red Cloud Ping Pong tournament.

Back and forth Tomoaki and Christian battled to their wits end, each game closer and more enticing than the last. It was not till the last bout of three was the champion of Ping Pong revealed. This game was close as Tomoaki hacked and slashed with the burning passion of a great samurai warrior, as Christian held his ground with a firm grip and the solid stance of a mighty boulder. At game point of 20 to 15 Tomoaki could not let up as the guru of sport Christian McGhee began to make a comeback, but on this day Tomoaki Shirataki stood for the honor of his countrymen as he finished the game by a close 21 to 18 final score. Both men shook hands as titans would surely shake if such a battle was ever fought by them. Tomo left with a twisted back and a championship title no man of Red Cloud had ever seen before.

Editor's Note: To watch the final match in all its intensity, click here.