Senior and Ping Pong Captains Adam Chen and Jonathan Lou led the Niles West Table Tennis team to state championships this past February. Reflecting on their final year as captains, they take pride in their leadership. 

Having been part of the ping pong team since his sophomore year, Lou takes pride in witnessing the team’s remarkable growth over the years.

“The best thing about being a team captain for me is helping the newer players improve and step into the shoes of us more experienced players. It has been amazing how much all of us have improved over the past few months, and our team is going to be in good hands for future seasons,” Lou said.

Both Chen and Adam go the extra mile to help the team get better, which doesn’t go unnoticed by their peers.

“Adam and Jonathan are great captains because not only are they amazing players, they teach us how to get better. They always bring a lot of energy and excitement to practice. There has been so much improvement from the whole team this year. Seeing the ping pong program grow and change and have so much success throughout high school has made a big impact on me,” senior Max Spector said.

Before the championship game this year, the captains gathered all the players, reminding them of their capabilities.

“We did a huddle, and talked about how much work we put into being in the state championship. I told them that, ‘let’s use this hard work to play our best and make the work we did over the season worth it,'” Chen said.

Despite finishing second overall, they’re proud of the team’s growth, not just as athletes, but as individuals. Lou, in particular, acknowledges his role in boosting team morale.

“My job as both a captain and a teammate is to help my teammates reach their fullest potential as ping pong players and to make sure we are not just building a team, but a community. If we end the season closer to each other than we started and even better at the sport, I’m a happy guy,” Lou said.

Chen has also been focused on being the team’s role model and enjoys seeing their improvement throughout the season. 

“Many of the underclassmen have been coached by me and I enjoy being able to teach them how to play and improve their skills. Some responsibilities of being a captain is being able to communicate with the team, encourage them, as well as mentor and help make the team better,” Chen said. 

Both coaches, Jerry Pope and Emanuel Rivera, are extremely proud of the exceptional leadership Lou and Chen displayed as captains, serving as outstanding representatives of the team.

“Adam is a determined and passionate table tennis player. His leadership and knowledge of the sport has made a significant impact on the team and our success. The role of his co-captain, Jonathan Lou, can’t go unnoticed since he also played a key role in raising the playing level of the team,” Rivera said. 

The team is grateful for Chen and Lou’s commitment to the Niles West Ping Pong team!