Local man brings top-level table tennis to Havre

Physician and table tennis enthusiast Terry Hankins has set up the Havre Table Tennis Club in the lower level of the Atrium.

Players of all experiences over the age of 12 are welcome to come and play for free.

Hankins started the club at the Atrium Wednesday, Nov. 27, attracting other enthusiasts through his Facebook page and by hanging flyers around town.

"My goal is to have pretty much adults, 13 years and older, playing, its not for kids to play," Hankins said. "These are expensive, professional tables, so it's more of a serious ping pong club."

Even if people lack experience, returning to the club regularly will help them improve their game. If people play enough they can get good in a hurry, Hankins said.

Growing up in California, Hankins' father taught him and his brother how to play at an early age, he said, and he has played for around 40 years, but with the demand of medical school Hankins took time off from table tennis to focus on his studies. It wasn't until Hankins finished school and moved to Long Island, where there was a big tennis table community, he then started playing every week with phenomenal players, he said.

Hankins moved to Havre in 2012 because of his career, and chose to stay because, as a child, his family would drive across country every summer for two weeks to his grandparents' cabin in Minnesota, and they would go through Glacier National Park.

"I thought that was the most incredible, beautiful place I had ever seen," Hankins said. "So if I could get close to Glacier I thought it would be a good place to start over."

Hankins found a friend in Steve Huston in Havre, an avid table tennis player who taught the sport as a physical education teacher, and the pair played together twice a week for six years until Houston fell ill in 2018.

"Steve and I were about the same level as far as skill, a more advanced level, but not expert like you see in the Olympics." Hankins said. "I miss Steve tremendously, but I also miss playing the game and what I found was that I would have to travel 200 miles to find somebody to play. I finally got tired of that and literally two weeks ago ... the Atrium let me rent a pretty run down unit, but it's certainly fine for playing table tennis."

Hankins bought two Donic Waldner Classic 25 professional tables with extra-high-quality paddles for people who don't have their own, and is in the process of setting up another table at his space in the Atrium.

Hankins said he feels that table tennis is one of the few sports people can safely participate in during the COVID-19 crisis because the players are kept 12 feet apart during game play.

"I made a rule for the club that you wear a mask when you are just observing, but when they get to the table they can take it off," Hankins said.

Players regularly meet at the Atrium every Saturday from 2-5 p.m., but if that time doesn't work, interested players can call or text Hankins at 406-390-0150, find him on Facebook, or email him at [email protected], to schedule a time to play.