“Serve, rally, hydrate, repeat,” chanted Matthew Wei, a Project Pull intern at the SFPUC.

Wei, an incoming senior at Abraham Lincoln High School, huddled with his fellow teammates on SFPUC’s “Powerful Paddlers” team to strategize how to beat their opponents. They were determined to place in this year’s competition.

Over ten SFPUC staff participated in the 9th Annual Ping Pong Tournament that took place in Chinatown and the Bayview on Saturday, August 3. SFPUC Commissioner Vietor also competed on behalf of the agency. Mayor London Breed kicked off the event with an inspiring and passionate speech, leading into a thrilling competition.

For the past few years, the SFPUC has provided water to players and spectators at the annual ping pong tournament. This friendly event connects City agencies with various community organizations to build and bridge relationships.

After several hours of intense competition against other City agencies, including the Police Department, Public Works, SFMTA, and local community organizations, the Powerful Paddlers made it to the semi-finals. They soon earned third place in the competition out of a few dozen teams, winning a number of competitive matches against other respectable teams from throughout the Bay Area.

For Wei, he never thought an internship with the City would include fun and recreation outside of the office. “Competing with fellow interns and co-workers in this event taught me about the value of teamwork inside and outside the office,” reflected Wei. “This is definitely something I can bring back to the classroom when school starts.”