21 hours Ago
COLUMBIA — Every Tuesday, there's no place Tripp Roche would rather be than in St. Andrews Park , where he's been leading a "ping pong revolution" across South Carolina. The first-year student studying hospitality, retail and sports management at the University of South Carolina and the fifth generation of management at the state's oldest restaurant Villa Tronco (opened in 1901) has a full plate but still makes time for this hobby-turned-passion-turned-sensation.
"Racket sports here are really hot now, and table tennis doesn't really get that much attention as other sports," Roche said. "We want to bring something that's enticing and that the average person could have some fun to watch and play." Roche, a long-time ping pong enthusiast, has kept in touch with players across the Carolinas.
It was during a conversation with these peers when inspiration first struck, he said. "I got in touch with the North Carolina crowd," Roche said. "It just came about — 'Why don't I bring this to Columbia?'" Now in its 60th season, SC Philharmonic threads the needle between artistic, commercial success In June, he founded and began leading Carolina Pong , a table tennis club for the Carolinas based in Soda City.
Roche considers himself one of the pioneers of a more serious league — one that welcomes city spectators and semi-professionals, instead of only casual novice players — in the state. "This is something that has not really been done before in the table tennis community, especially in South Carolina," said Roche. "This is kind of a first.
" Despite the uphill battle, Roche has made some strides. In the past four moths, he's held weekly club meetings with locals and international players in St. Andrews Gym, hosted "Ping Pong and Pizza" events and made Carolina Pong's presence known at Columbia's First Thursday on Main series.
The club was also a sponsor for the inaugural Columbia Restaurant Summer Games . The Carolina Clash Ping Pong Tournament at Ambrosia Taverna brought competitive table tennis players from the Carolinas to Columbia Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024.
Most recently, Roche hosted a "Carolina Clash" tournament, which invited North Carolina's players to face off against South Carolina's for cash prizes. Main Street Greek restaurant Ambrosia Taverna hosted the event, but it was challenging to find the right venue. Just as critical, Roche said, was attracting top talent to Columbia.
Today's Top Headlines Story continues below Trader Joe's is coming to the Myrtle Beach area. The question is where. This historic Black neighborhood is surrounded by Myrtle Beach but not part of the city.
Why? These Myrtle Beach tiny homes are supposed to house homeless veterans. Why are they empty? FEMA feels the heat in North Carolina. But the agency says what they do is misunderstood.
70 years ago, Myrtle Beach faced one of its worst disasters: Hurricane Hazel Did you hear we're getting a Trader Joe's? Myrtle Beach fans react to the big news. James Island Charter High School coach charged with attempted murder It was a slow summer for some Myrtle Beach businesses. They think they know why.
Inmates sue SCDC, alleging underpayment for prison labor and deductions for room and board 4 of the country's fastest-growing churches are in this SC county, a new report shows "Surprisingly, money hasn't been that much of a challenge," said Roche. "But we had to come up with it to get those good players to want to come down here." Carolina Clash, which was hosted on Oct.
11, featured an afterparty with a live DJ, as well as signature drinks from Red Bull , the event's sponsor. The tournament attracted players ranging from an Augusta maven to a higher-education professional who was actively proctoring a test during the match. The Carolina Clash Ping Pong Tournament at Ambrosia Taverna brought competitive table tennis players from the Carolinas to Columbia Thursday, Oct.
3, 2024. "We had a lot of help, and it went really well," Roche said. "North Carolina wants a rematch.
" In the wake of the event's success, Roche said this won't be the last time Soda Citizens will be able to watch — or play — live ping pong. He has partnered with City of Columbia 's Assistant City Manager Henry Simons and Parks and Recreation Director Kenya Bryant to install ping pong tables across Columbia's downtown area. The first is currently open to the public.
It's located in the small plaza between the Tapp's Building and Cyberwoven on the 1600 block of Main Street. The city has also added three ping pong tables to the Finlay Park revitalization plan . Saluda's, Molto Vino restaurateurs to open restaurant in former Lexington Alodia's space "It's been huge, and the city's on board with it," Roche said.
"They really like what we're doing, and we're really grateful for that." In the future, Roche hopes to start a ping pong recreation league out of Columbia, which would meet on Saturdays during Soda City Market . Roche will model the league and programming after that of Bryant Park's in New York City .
And, in the meantime, he's gearing up for more heated tournaments to come. For more information on Carolina Pong's future events, including a "Southeastern Showdown" in January, refer to the club's Facebook page ..
