Adam Hurwitz, a third year Global Studies major, has participated in Intramural Sports every quarter since his sophomore year, except when he studied abroad in Madrid, Spain for Fall 2010. Hurwitz is currently pursuing his hobby of table tennis by playing in the singles A-1 league.

While in Spain, he was still able to play his favorite sport.

“I played [table tennis] at a hostel in Barcelona,” Hurwitz said. It was awesome.”

Hurwitz explained how Intramural Sports are one of his priorities to fit in with his school schedule. He also plays Intramural indoor Soccer right now, making it the third time he’s played table tennis and soccer in the same quarter.

“I like to play both every quarter,” he said. “I usually try to get my classes early because games are at night.”

Hurwitz got into table tennis by playing ping-pong during tenth grade when he and his friends became interested in the sport.  Table tennis differs from ping-pong in that it has more formal rules and is played up to 11 points; ping-pong can vary in its rules and how long games last.

“I played all throughout high school,” Hurwitz said. “One summer that was pretty much all I did. I bought a table for my garage. I just played with my friends all the time … so I thought I’d try my luck with random competition [starting in 2009].”

A friend’s parents sparked Hurwitz’s interest in the sport.

“My friend’s dad was really good,” he said. “He used to play professionally in Ireland.”

Although he didn’t play for Intramural Sports right away, Hurwitz did make use of the ping pong tables in the residence halls his freshman year.

“I lived in San Nicholas and played there all the time,” Hurwitz said. “I’d go over to play in Anacapa a lot too.”

Hurwitz is interested in knowing what a table tennis career after college would be like.

“I’d really like to continue playing, if I’m able to,” Hurwitz said. “There are a lot of people who play in legit leagues.”

However, Hurwitz admitted that he unsure of what playing in such a league would consist of, “I don’t know anything about professional table tennis. There are probably a lot of people who play professionally in China.”

One of Hurwitz’ roommates, Connor Oakes, also plays in the A-1 league this quarter. They haven’t had an official match against each other this quarter, but they do practice together when they get the chance.

“Sometimes we go to the gym and play for a while,” Hurwitz remarked, and then explained why they won’t make a doubles team. “I don’t like doubles too much, it’s too chaotic. I just play it for fun.”

Hurwitz’s current record is 2-2, and has had some close matches so far.

“One game I was up two sets to zero, the other guy came back to tie it 2-2, but then I won the final set 11-9, so that was an exciting game to win,” Hurwitz said.

The best finish Hurwitz has had so far was third place in Winter 2010. Despite missing a couple games for being sick, he hopes to have similar success as the playoffs approach this quarter. He identified some of his toughest competition; besides Oakes, a graduate student Andrew Berman and first year Economics major Peng Zhang. Hurwitz is looking to make it back to at least the semi finals again.

“I should definitely have another good finish,” Hurwitz concluded.