Ethan Johnson and Elliott Lammers approach the green table, paddles in hand. They ease quickly from palling around to sorting out who wins the first serve.
The eighth-graders had set up the hand-me-down ping pong tables and nets before more than two dozen of their peers poured in after St. Joseph Catholic School dismissed. The junior high club has been meeting monthly for several years - a place for fun, to hang out with friends.
Although Johnson and Lammers are known as the top two players, they set the tone with their easygoing attitude.
But it was a good matchup, drawing several spectators. Johnson delivered his speed serve but Lammers pulled out the win with some surprising net action.
When the first 11 points were reached in the tournament round, the pair shook hands and went on their separate ways joking and bantering as junior high boys do.
"I like the competitiveness; it's fun," Lammers said. "But don't take it too seriously; we just try to have a good time."
The cathedral undercroft was filled with similar junior high boys and girls having as much fun casually talking as they did at the tables with a paddle in hand.
Lammers picked up his interest at his grandmother's house, and when he discovered the club as a sixth-grader, he invited Johnson. Once Johnson joined the club, his family got a table and now they play almost every weekend.
"It's something fun to do as a family," Johnson said. "It's not as competitive as other sports ... and you don't get hot and sweaty."
Passing on the love of the sport seems to be a trend in the Capital City the last several years. Several clubs have formed and an uncountable number play in their homes.
Seventh-graders Jessica Cowley and Sabrina Hackmann have enjoyed playing table tennis on a real surface with paddles, compared digital ping pong on their phone or Wii.
"It's harder, more of a challenge," Cowley said. It's definitely worth looking forward to the last Tuesday of the month, Hackmann said.
Similarly, these junior high players are looking forward to continuing their table tennis interests at Helias Catholic High School. Chip Malmstrom organized the Ping Pong Club there about seven years ago, after his lifetime activities class.
An average of 30 students show up on Thursday nights in the cafeteria commons or old gymnasium.
"I like it; it gets kids together after school in a safe setting to be social and have fun," Malmstrom said.
From a teacher's perspective, Malmstrom noted the hobby also improves conflict resolution and hand-eye coordination.
The growing ping pong enthusiasm extends beyond the schools, too.
A group plays regularly at the Missouri National Guard Ike Skelton Training Site.
And the Capital City Table Tennis Club has been in place for many years, said Louis Scheppers. The club meets from 6-8 p.m. Thursdays in the basement of Shikles Gym, 1200 Linden Drive. They occasionally host a class through the Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department.
The club has a few young people, but most are seasoned players. Dr. Dave Scott placed fourth at a world competition in the over age 70 division.
Table tennis also reaches across cultures. Member Louis Scheppers noted they have members from Ukraine, China, Russia and Turkey.
The evening club is "pretty competitive," but it's also a place for beginners to learn, Scheppers said. The first night is free, and the club has about a dozen members who attend each week.
"Regular players need a place to play," Scheppers said. "I enjoy it and you get a lot more exercise than people think."