Making the trip worth it for Columbia's Fortenberry

By By Ryan Satcher/staff writer
June 16, 2002
A showing of 22 competitors for the first-ever table tennis competition in the State Games of Mississippi pleased event commissioner James Hearn..
While most of the competitors were from the Meridian area, some traveled from out of town for the event. A couple players from Hattiesburg and Laurel participated, as well as one competitor from the South Mississippi town of Columbia.
According to Fortenberry the event was a success and worth the trip.
Fortenberry defeated Rosie Cole to take the gold medal in the Women's Senior division.
Herb Bennett, a coach from the Hattiesburg area, defeated George Shaw to take the gold medal in the Men's Seniors division.
J.B. Moore took the Men's 40-44 year-old division by beating James Short.
In the Men's 30-34 year-old division, Narasimhan "Tiger" Ramakrishnan beat Jerome Harvey to take the gold. Clyde Hearn finished out the event with a bronze medal.
Ragan Denham beat Brandon Grace in the championship of the 15-19 year-old division to take the gold. Joseph Corbitt took bronze in the division.
J. Stoddard defeated Deanthony Dean to take the gold medal in the younger portion of the 10-14 year-old divisions. Brandon Kneipp won the bronze.
Mark Kneipp beat Dawson Dyess to win the gold in the older 10-14 year-old division. Paris Hearn took the bronze medal in the group.
Holly Corbitt won the Junior division by beating Shane Mitchell. Jennifer Hearn took the bronze.