JUDD TAKES SECOND STRAIGHT PING PONG TOURNEY

March 30, 2003

ROSEVILLE, Minn -- Adam Flaherty would probably tell you that sometimes it's all about the luck of the draw, and Friday night if it weren't for bad luck he wouldn't have any luck

Jake's goal was to play three matches Friday night.

at all. But for Adam it wasn't about who his opponent would be. It was about the schedule of the tournament.

The draw pitted Judd against Jake in the opening round of the ping pong tournament and Jake jumped out to an early lead by taking the first game of the best of three match 21-16. Judd stormed back by winning the next two sets by an identical score of 21-9 sending Jake to the losers bracket.

Here's where Adam's marathon began. His first match would be a very difficult two-game victory over Bill (21-16, 21-16). Next he would meet Mike, who drew the first round bye, and he took Mike out with a closely contested 21-18, 21-15 victory. In his third game in a row Adam was showing some fatigue. Judd took advantage of is fatigue by jumping out to a big lead in the first game and winning 21-7. Adam stormed back and made the second game close,

Adam had to play a tournament-high, five games.

but Judd prevailed in the end with a 21-19 game two victory. Judd was in the championship while Adam would wait in the losers bracket final to see who emerged from the losers bracket between Jake, Bill and Mike.

Bill continued his good ping pong run into the first game against Jake beating him 21-12. Jake came on strong following the first game, however, and took Bill out in games two and three (21-8, 21-12).

Jake's run would end in his next match, however, as Mike won the match in straight games, 21-6 and 21-19.

That put Mike into the losers bracket final against Adam. Adam, a little weary from his three consecutive games a short while before this match, dropped the first game to Mike 21-12. Mike and Adam battled hard in the second game with Adam winning 21-15. The rubber game was one of the better games of the tournament, but Adam prevailed again, over Mike, with a 21-17 victory to send him to the championship against Judd.

Mike won once, but lost twice to Adam.

Adam's tank was on "E," by the time the championship game started and Judd took the first game 21-6. Adam came out strong in game two, but didn't have enough left as he dropped 21-14. Judd took his second championship in a row, in FVWBL ping pong, and Adam took second place for the second time in as many tries.

While Judd won the tournament, Adam was arguably the most impressive competitor on Friday night as he finished the evening at 3-2.