Austin senior Ben Kubesh is as dedicated to his sport as any other high school athlete.

He drives to Rochester twice a week to play tough competition, and he spends plenty of time honing his skills in Austin as well.

But while some athletes draw big crowds, Kubesh has to settle for playing the Austin High School cafeteria after classes are done for the day.

Kubesh and nine other Austin students competed on the Austin tennis table tennis team this past school year and the group, which was formed less than a decade ago, hopes to continue to grow.

Kubesh helped put the team on the map this season when he took first in the state doubles meet with a partner from Lakeville and third in state singles. At the team meet, he went unbeaten in singles play and unbeaten in doubles play with Austin junior Alex Thorson.

“We’ve kind of grown from year to year. It’s still relatively casual, but we’re getting more competition each year,” Kubesh said of the table tennis team. “My goal is to make it a lettering program so that we will get a few more students to try it out.”

Thorson is preparing for the start of golf season right now, but he was glad to use the winter as a chance to keep competing.

“I love playing, but it’s more of a hobby than a game for me,” said Thorson. “When I was playing with Ben at state, I was getting pretty frustrated over a couple of points. But for the most part it’s pretty relaxing.”

While he plays relaxed, Thorson doesn’t play soft. He’s earned the nickname ‘the hammer’ for his aggressive, flat-hitting game, which compliments Kubesh, who plays heavy on backspin with placement.

Casual table tennis players are not likely to keep up with the style the Packers play as they hold plenty of scrimmages with each other throughout the year.

“A lot of people just casually hit back and forth. But when you’re playing at a certain level, you put your whole body into the shot and you’re kind of exploding into the shot like in any other sport,” Kubesh said. “When we play someone at the high school just trying it, they’re usually impressed. We always give them some tips so they understand it a little more.”

When the team plays doubles, teammates play every other ball so the change of pace is key. Thorson especially remembers when he and Kubesh beat a top-ranked player from Mounds View at the team state doubles round.

“It was fun to beat him, because he was getting pretty cocky,” Thorson said.

Kubesh hopes to continue playing table tennis next year as he plans to attend the University of Minnesota, where they have a club team that competes in intercollegiate events.

Thorson hopes Austin’s team continues to grow and he’s hoping for a strong season next year.

“Austin is the next powerhouse table tennis team, clear room on the mantle, we’re bringing home some trophies,” he said.