A team to watch: Brian O’Connor and Mark Parsons

Brian O’Connor

Age: 25.75
Hometown: Larchmont, NY
Marital Status/Kids: “I am not sure what marital status means. If that is the same as martial arts status, yes, I have a yellow belt with two black stripes. Kids… no, I do not fight kids, although some in my class are pretty tough”
Hobbies: Tennis, beaches, bodybuilding, and Gossip Girl
Achievements in Tennis:
• Hold record at Binghamton University for most singles victories
• Team advanced to NCAA’s 3 times
• Two-Time National Grandfather/ Grandson Champion

How and When You Got Into Platform: ” I fell in love with paddle when I was a young bang-baller. I spent most of my childhood following women’s paddle, as my mother (Joanmarie) would bring me to all her local events and league matches.”

What You Like About the Sport: “The various styles of play provide for interesting matchups. Among the top teams strategies including: hard drives, heavy spin, frequent blitzing, drop shots, FYM’s, baggers and daggers, etc. Off the court, I enjoy the camaraderie, custom tee shirts and sneakers.”

What Paddle Do You Use and Why: “I use Mark’s old paddle (Wilson Slash) because he gave it to me.”

How Did You Pair With Your Partner: “I was in the right spot at the right time, and somehow he convinces me that it’s always my turn to sign us up for tournaments and write the check.”

Mark Parsons

Age: 30
Hometown: Norwalk, CT
Marital Status: Married to Dana
Children: Maddox, McKenzie and my man-child partner Brian
Team Affiliation: Proud Member of the “Jontourage”
Hobbies: “Posting on Paddlepro.com and working on my calves.”
Achievements in Tennis:
• University of Tennessee 1997-2001
• All American Singles Selection
• 8-Time All Sec Selection
• 2000 NCAA Final Four Team
• 2001 NCAA Finalist Team
• Career High College Singles #8
• Career High College Doubles #2
• ATP Career High 700

How and When You Got Into Platform: “Tennis in the snow wasn’t fun. I couldn’t see the lines. Platform legend Steve Baird introduced me to the sport.”

What You Like About the Sport: ” I love the strategy side of the game. It’s way more involved then tennis. The camaraderie off the court is comparable to no other sport I have played.”

What Paddle Do You Use and Why: ” I use the Viking Re-Ignite because Mike Cochrane told me to.”

How Did You Pair With Your Partner: “Community service of 50 hours. Need I say more.”

Team Tournament Results:
• 2008/’09: Semis in Long Island
• Quarterfinals in Philadelphia
• 5th at 2009 National Championships
• Singles Champion in 2008 and 2009 (Mark)

Team Goals:
To beat Mike Stulac in anything: checkers, darts, backgammon, curling … and avoid him like the plague in paddle tournaments.

O’Connor and Parsons on how they got together as a team.

Brian: “I was in the right spot at the right time, and somehow he convinces me that it’s always my turn to sign us up for tournaments and write the check.”

Mark:”Community service of 50 hours. Need I say more.”