Throughout the weekend our spectating ranks have been swelled by the 400 soccer teams taking part in a tournament at the same venue. Here, in our Championship match, they often looked dumb-founded by the intensity and athleticism of the play between David Zhuang and Thomas Keinath. Intense is hardly adequate to describe this pair. Their repeated meetings in STIGA North American Tour events have established a great rivalry. They never speak except to meet at the table, their competition is their bond. In 2005, they stand at a match apiece, David winning their meeting at West Covina, 4-0, and Thomas returning the favor at the New Jersey Open, also 4-0. David establishes the early momentum with an11-8 margin that puts Keinath into intense discussion with his cornerman, Wally Green. In the second game, David asks that a white-shirted spectator be moved...or is that to stop jumping around? In any event, the distraction is no help as Thomas evens the match, 11-9. These two are so closely matched today, that nerves of steel are needed. The game is considerably shortened as game in and game out they find themselves deadlocked at 6-6 or 7-7, effectively shortening each set to a four point game. 11-9, Keinath takes a 2-1 lead. 12-10, Keinath adds a deuce win in the fourth game and now has the staggering advantage of a 3-1 lead. What's more, David has now used his only time-out. Everything is breaking Keinath's way. One thing that is not breaking is David's determination to get back in this match, to sweep away the last obstacle between himself and his third Matthew Murad Memorial title. He comes out firing in Game 5, hellbent for leather, relentless attacking with high-risk shots...which all land! Quickly up 5-1, he takes the game 11-4, in dominating fashion, stepping around his backhand more often and increasing his work level. He'd like nothing better than to break Thomas' back with a game six victory...but now trails 7-4 with Keinath holding serve. This point strikes me as critical, as David would trail by only two and hold serve if he can win this one, but it's not to be as the two players go three, four, five shots in the rally before Keinath smokes a forehand right through the middle. Now down 4-8, the air has escaped the arena and David is visibly deflated. 11-5 is the final game score and Keinath etches his second straight STIGA North American Tour title.

As checks are presented and trophies given a home, the spectators head for their cars, excitedly chattering about this intense competition. Now on to the STIGA Open, June 25^th and 26^th in Easton, PA! At each tournament, the story is deepened and the tension is built, as history is made before our eyes on the STIGA North American Tour!