The Nightmare Comes True: Ryan Gibson Captures His First Oregon State Table Tennis Championship

A historic trophy, a championship rematch, and a day of memorable battles at Paddle Palace

October 24, 2026 | Paddle Palace | Tigard, Oregon

A Championship Tradition Dating Back to 1940

For more than eight decades, Oregon's table tennis players have competed for the opportunity to add their names to one of the state's enduring sporting traditions.

Standing proudly inside Paddle Palace in Tigard is the Oregon State Championships trophy, an impressive piece of table tennis history. Topped by a winged victory figure and flanked by two table tennis players, the trophy's engraved plates preserve the names of champions and finalists dating back to the inaugural championships in 1940.

Among the names appearing on the trophy are Harold Pillan and Carl Cole, whose repeated appearances reflect the competitive history of the event.

On Saturday, October 24, 2026, another name earned its place in that history.

And appropriately enough, it was a Nightmare.

Ryan "The Nightmare" Gibson captured his first Oregon State Open Singles Championship, defeating Ryan Hoarfrost in four closely contested games, 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9.

But Gibson's victory was only one chapter in a day filled with dramatic five-game battles, rising junior stars, unexpected upsets, and the friendships and rivalries that make Oregon's table tennis community special.

The Oregon State Championships trophy preserves the names of champions and finalists dating back to the inaugural competition in 1940.

The Nightmare Finds His Winning Formula

For Ryan Gibson, formerly of Charlottesville, Virginia, the road to his first Oregon State title began with a disappointing defeat.

Exactly one month before the State Championships, Gibson lost to Ryan Hoarfrost in the finals of the Fall Open.

Rather than simply returning to the practice table, Gibson went to work on both his equipment and his game.

As a Paddle Palace product specialist, Gibson understands the importance of finding the right blade and rubber combination. After experimenting with several rubbers, he enlisted the help of teammates, colleagues, and coaches to fine-tune his preparation.

Lunch-hour matches with Ayllon and doubles partner Kerry Blum helped him settle on his equipment setup. Evening training with Phong Ho and two-time U.S. Olympian Sean O'Neill provided opportunities to practice under pressure, particularly in games beginning at 7-8.

Gibson also worked individually with coach Christian Lillieroos on his technique and sharpened his competitive instincts through challenging matches with Daniel and David following group lessons.

Gibson explained:

"I lost to Ryan Hoarfrost in the Finals of the fall open exactly one month before the state tournament. After swapping a few rubbers, as every good product specialist does, I got with my teammates to lock in a winning formula.

I want to thank everyone who trained with me the past couple weeks. From lunch matches with Ayllon and my doubles teammate Kerry, I was able to lock in my setup.

After work, I was also lucky enough to get training in with Phong Ho (1993 & 1996 State Finalist) and Sean O'Neill (2006 & 2010 State Champion) to practice some 7-8 deciding point games.

My coach Christian Lillieroos was huge in getting my technique down from my individual lesson and I was able to play some tough matches with Daniel and David after our group lesson.

The finals could have went either way, but I know all the extra sessions made all the difference."

When the two Ryans met again for the Oregon State Championship, Gibson turned the tables.

His improved placement, confident attacking game, and ability to execute under pressure helped him take the opening two games. Hoarfrost fought back to claim the third, but Gibson closed out the fourth, 11-9, to secure the championship.

Hoarfrost, who also serves as CEO of Paddle Palace, took the result in stride.

"At least we knew a Ryan would win the State title before the match began! 'The Nightmare' lived up to his namesake and Paddle Palace is thrilled to have him working for our team to provide his expert insight into every rubber and blade known under the sun!"

For Gibson, the victory was the payoff from a month of preparation, adjustments, and support from the players who make Paddle Palace their table tennis home.

The Nightmare had found his winning formula.

Unfortunately for Hoarfrost, there was no return policy.

Champion Ryan Gibson and finalist Ryan Hoarfrost met for the second time in a tournament final in just one month.

Women's Singles: Selvakumar Takes the Title, Schmidt Finishes Second

Dharshanika Selvakumar captured the 2026 Oregon State Women's Singles Championship, adding her name to the tournament's history.

Hanna Schmidt earned runner-up honors, finishing second after losing only to Selvakumar in round-robin competition. Melissa Beland claimed third place, while Zorka Saleeby finished fourth.

Final Standings:

1. Dharshanika Selvakumar, Champion

2. Hanna Schmidt, Finalist

3. Melissa Beland, Third Place

4. Zorka Saleeby, Fourth Place

Dharshanika Selvakumar displaying the Oregon State Women's Singles Champion's Plaque and her 1st place Certificate.

Junior Singles: Packard Wins a Counterlooping Classic Against Hu

One of the most entertaining matches of the 2026 Oregon State Championships came in the Junior 14 & Under Singles final, where Welly Packard defeated Christopher Hu in a thrilling contest.

The two young competitors put on a spectacular display of attacking table tennis, trading counterloops and producing extended rallies that brought the crowd to its feet.

Packard emerged victorious to claim the Oregon State Junior 14 & Under Singles Championship, while Hu earned finalist honors after an impressive performance.

Their championship battle provided a glimpse of the exciting young talent developing in the Pacific Northwest.

Final Standings:

1. Welly Packard, Champion

2. Christopher Hu, Finalist

3. Leo Kuzma, Third Place

4. Josiah McNatt, Fourth Place

Christopher Hu and Welly Packard thrilled spectators with an exciting counterlooping battle in the Junior Singles final.

Hoarfrost Survives a Five-Game Thriller Against Chase Melby

Before reaching the Open Singles championship match, Ryan Hoarfrost faced one of the tournament's toughest challenges during round-robin competition.

Chase Melby pushed the eventual finalist to the limit in an entertaining five-game encounter.

Hoarfrost captured the opening game 11-7, but Melby responded by taking the next two games, both 11-7.

Facing elimination, Hoarfrost rallied to win the fourth game 11-9 before squeezing out the deciding game by the same score.

Hoarfrost defeated Melby 11-7, 7-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9.

It was the kind of match that illustrates just how narrow the margins can be between advancing and going home.

Melby deserves considerable credit for pushing one of the tournament favorites to the brink.

Group 8: Molimbi Survives a Round-Robin Puzzle

Not every tournament drama unfolds in a championship final.

In Group 8 of the Open Singles competition, Landry Molimbi found himself in the middle of a three-way tie after Nitya Shah produced an impressive five-game upset over the group's top seed.

With the players tied in match victories, the group standings came down to game differential.

When the calculations were complete, Molimbi emerged on top, advancing through one of the day's most competitive round-robin groups.

It was a reminder that every game matters, even when a match appears to be slipping away.

Jonah Vu Makes His Mark Against Over 65 Champion Jay Crystal

One of the tournament's most entertaining results came courtesy of Paddle Palace's newest staff member, Jonah Vu.

The young competitor faced veteran Jay Crystal, who would go on to capture the Men's Over 65 Singles Championship.

Vu showed impressive composure in a five-game battle, winning 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7.

Crystal, whose connection to the film Marty Supreme adds an interesting dimension to his table tennis story, recovered from the defeat to earn the Over 65 championship.

For Vu, the victory was an encouraging result against an experienced opponent.

And for Crystal, the tournament proved that one difficult match doesn't have to define an entire day.

Daescu Claims Over 50 Championship

Nicholas Daescu captured the Men's Over 50 Singles Championship, finishing ahead of finalist Simon Engler.

Thomas Kung and Max Keswani were the losing semifinalists.

Daescu also enjoyed success in Open Doubles, partnering with Morar Artur to finish as runners-up.

Crystal Wins Over 65 Singles

Jay Crystal claimed the Men's Over 65 Singles Championship, finishing ahead of finalist Angel Palicte.

Paul Vernon and John Scott were the losing semifinalists.

Crystal's victory added another chapter to his long involvement in competitive table tennis.

Caption: Jay Crystal captured the Men's Over 65 Singles Championship.

Pidoima and Nguyen Capture Open Doubles

Pavlo Pidoima and Kevin Nguyen teamed up to win the Oregon State Open Doubles Championship.

The pair defeated finalists Nicholas Daescu and Morar Artur to claim the title.

Ryan Gibson and Kerry Blum, along with Jonah Vu and Jean-Luc Raffaele, were the losing semifinalists.

For Gibson, the doubles result complemented his Open Singles championship and capped an especially successful tournament.

Pavlo Pidoima and Kevin Nguyen teamed up to capture the 2026 Oregon State Open Doubles Championship.

2026 Oregon State Championships: Complete Results

More Than a Championship

The Oregon State Championships have always represented more than a collection of matches and medals.

They bring together generations of competitors, from young players experiencing their first major tournament to seasoned veterans whose names have become part of Oregon's table tennis history.

The historic championship trophy serves as a tangible reminder of that tradition. Each new champion joins a lineage stretching back to 1939.

The 2026 edition delivered everything that makes the tournament special: closely contested finals, dramatic upsets, exciting junior talent, and a community of players who challenge and support one another.

Special thanks go to tournament director Burke Walls for organizing the competition, along with the volunteers, players, families, and spectators who helped make the event a success.

And congratulations to all the 2026 Oregon State Champions.

As for Ryan Gibson, his first state title will be remembered as the year The Nightmare became a reality.

Some nightmares you wake up from. This one gets his name engraved on the trophy.

Complete Tournament Results: 2026 Oregon State Championships on OmniPong