National champion looking to remain at Wesleyan

Ines Perhoc, a national Table Tennis Champion, is scheduled to receive her bachelor’s degree in marketing at December’s graduation ceremonies.“Ines is an important part of our team,” team mate Tina Chen said. “She makes everything fun. I really enjoyed playing with her and being her roommate.”

Perhoc started playing table tennis as a kid because, as she describes, she was hyper. She thought about boxing but decided to try table tennis, in part because her mom had a history with the sport. In 2006, she traveled to America, and specifically to Texas Wesleyan University, since she already knew Coach Jasna Rather.

Perhoc has played table tennis 17 years, three of them at Wesleyan. Her first year at Wesleyan was only the second year for women to play on their own, as all competitions were previously co-ed. “She is not only a strong women’s player, but has always been top-four in the program, including both male and female players,” Rather said.

While most students need at least eight semesters to graduate, Perhoc completed her degree in seven semesters, with many hours transferring from her schooling in Croatia. She completed a three-year degree, like an associate's degree in America, in kinesiology back home in Zagreb.

According to Perhoc, Texas Wesleyan's table tennis program is known around the globe."It is the only table tennis program in America that offers scholarships for its athletes," she said. Rather, Olympic champion and head table tennis coach, who is also from Croatia, was the key to Perhoc’s future in table tennis in America. “The reason I came to Texas Wesleyan and the reason I stayed are because of Jasna and the table tennis program. “If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be at Texas Wesleyan.”

Perhoc joined the national winning program in 2007. She won three team nationals, in 2007, 2008 and 2009. In 2007, Perhoc challenged rather at nationals and took second place. In 2008 she was the first woman at Texas Wesleyan to win in singles at nationals. In 2009 she won third place.

“The three or four days at nationals are very fun and definitely something special,” Perhoc said. “The team is together 24/7, and the experience is indescribable.”

Away from her racquet, she is a successful student, maintaining an institutional GPA of 3.6. She is a member of Business Delta Mu Delta, Mortarboard and the International Club.

“Ines is a good student and makes new friends everywhere. She is a cheerful person and fun to be around,” said Rather. “She is very strong mentally and a real team player. She is always there to help others.”

Perhoc plans to attend Texas Wesleyan’s school of education to pursue a master’s in education.

“I am in the process of applying for the program and hope to one day become an English teacher and table tennis coach,” she said.

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