Reading the Spin

Name: Jamie Pan

Grade: Senior

Position: 1st Singles

Hand Dominance: Rightie 

Height: 5’5

Hair Color: Brown 

Eye Color: Brown 

Date of Birth: August 29, 2008

When and how did you start playing table tennis and what inspired you to join?

The first time I played table tennis was the summer before freshman year, in the basement of an Airbnb. From there, I picked it up for fun and found it to be interesting. Then, I remember freshman year being in a bathroom stall and seeing a poster for tryouts. Me and my best friend Amelia Ramdass were supposed to go, and she bailed on me, but I still ended up going for fun. I never thought I would get on the team or stay on the team, but I’m very glad I took the initiative to try out. 

Do you play table tennis outside of the PSAL? If so, do you notice any differences between playing outside versus for Stuy? Do the practices and meets differ much? 

I used to play for the Lily Yip Table Tennis Club. Table tennis is a very individualistic sport, so as part of a team, your job is to boost morale—not necessarily think “we’re all in this together.” You really are alone for your match, but the team will help with confidence and give advice. 

When I was playing competitively outside of the PSAL, each game was a little more tumultuous than the games inside the PSAL because the environment is very different. The game is usually in a very big venue, it’s very noisy, and there’s a lot going on, so you really need to lock in way more and filter out more of the unnecessary noise and really focus on yourself. 

What is your jersey number, and what made you choose that number?

My jersey number is 29. My birthday is on the 29th. 

How do you think the closeness of the girls’ and boys’ teams helps support a productive and warm environment? 

We practice together and we’re all just very blunt with one another. If there’s something we notice that can be improved, we’ll just give it to you straight up. I personally don’t enjoy fluff when it comes to advice. That’s one way I’ve grown while practicing together with the boys’ team. It gives you more perspectives because we all have different playing styles and getting to play with everybody on both teams is super fun because you learn something from them. I like to think of practice and playing with each of the members as a form of trial and error. 

What is your favorite Peglegs memory?

Mayor’s Cup 2025 was really fun. It was the beginning of a very new form of tournament. It was from the top two schools from the public school league and the top two schools from the private school league—Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, Horace Mann, and UNIS. Getting to meet new people is already a fun thing to experience, and on top of that, it was very challenging. 

In your opinion, what are the best and worst parts about table tennis?

The best part is for sure the people. They’re all super nice and they’re so driven and they inspire me to be better every single day. They definitely taught me to be patient when I come across an issue, and kind of just adapt to a rapidly changing environment, whether that be in or out of a game. Seeing table tennis athletes from different schools at any tournament is fun, [and so is] seeing people you always see for the game itself. Once you’re off the court, you also make small talk, you learn a little about them, and you become friends in the process, even though you’re technically “opponents.” I dislike that there’s a shortage of fair and official referees in PSAL table tennis. It’s usually up to the player to call any mistakes, whether that be serving mistakes or to call out balls out of bounds that were called in [but] this is sometimes a little hard to tell when the ball hits the edge of the table or skims off the net. And having more official umpires would not only improve the efficiency during tournaments—because a lot of time is lost to arguing on the sidelines—but it would also push more athletes to be more proactive about their own game. 

Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?

Nobody can touch my shoulders before my game. It’s a very odd superstition, but I need to be very zen and free-flowing and flexible, and I feel like you’re all up in my personal space if you’re doing all that. I also listen to “What More Can I Say” by The Notations before every game. 

Has being captain changed your outlook on table tennis? What did the role entail?

Being captain pushed me to realize I not only need to be calm for the sake of myself and my own game, but I need to be calm and collected to serve as someone who can ground my teammates when they’re having a tough time. Being captain hasn’t really changed my outlook on table tennis, but it has changed the way I coach my teammates. I try to give them a glow and a grow, and I try not to be as harsh on them as I am on myself. I usually finish my game first, so I would follow up with every game that was going on while I was playing. For example, if 1st doubles was playing—because usually there’s going to be two or three matches at the same time during a game with another school—when I finish my match, I’ll go check up on the other two and I’ll see how they’re doing. If they need help I’ll stay there and watch, and I’ll coach on the sideline.

Do you have plans to continue playing table tennis in college or in the future?

Yes, I would love to continue playing table tennis. Whether with a club or recreationally, it’s super fun. I would love to meet more people in the table tennis world.

What would you like to say to the Peglegs for next season?

You guys are super amazing! Never doubt yourselves. I have had such a fun time with y’all and you guys are going to kill it out there. Always remember to have fun on and off the court. Don’t forget to do your chant every now and then. Go Stuy! Don’t be scared to take initiative and stand up for yourself. Don’t worry, don’t hesitate. Cold water doesn’t get warmer if you jump in later. 

Fun Questions:

Funniest Teammate: Karen Au-Yeung

Favorite Table Tennis Team/Player: Judy Hugh

Favorite Hit: Backhand smash

Favorite Sports Drink: Ice cold orange juice 

Favorite PostGame Meal/Snack: Spicy cumin lamb noodles from Xian Famous Foods 

Hobbies: Hiking, biking, and going on reading dates with friends 

If You Could Play Any Other Sport: Wrestling

Fun Fact: I’m really brainrotted but my screentime is only two hours total.