Mark Hazinski

Mark Hazinski
Mark Hazinski practicing before a match.
Born April, 20th 1985
South Bend, IN
Residence Plano, TX
Alma mater Texas Wesleyan University
Occupation Professional Table Tennis Player
Style Shakehand Attacker (Right Handed)
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg)


Mark "Haz" Hazinski is an American professional table tennis player. He was born on April 20, 1985 in South Bend, Indiana and grew up in Mishawaka, Indiana. Hazinski started playing table tennis at the age of nine, by the age of 15 he became the youngest player to make the US Men's National Table Tennis Team. Mark simultaneously represented the USA Men's Team and USA Junior team for 4 consecutive years (2000-2003).

As a youth Hazinski was personally trained by USA Olympic Coach Danny Seemiller and Mark Nordby. Danny Seemiller was recently spotted coaching Mark in the semi-finals of the 2014 USA National Championship, held in Las Vegas, NV. Hazinski also spent multiple years (2004–2006) playing professional sports leagues in Germany and Sweden. In 2006 Mark decided to put his professional career on hold to attend Texas Wesleyan University on a full scholarship for academics and Table Tennis.

Mark Hazinski (right) hits a backhand shot during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Career

Hazinski's professional career can be dated back to 2000, at the age of 15, when he first made the USA Men's National Team. From that point to today, Hazinski is a 10 time USA Team Member. Here are many of Mark's top accolades during that time period:


In Mark's early career he enjoyed training and playing professionally in Europe. From 2004-05 Hazinski played for Oberalster VFW Club which is located in Hamburg, Germany and in 2005-06 Mark played for Ängby Sportklubb in Stockholm, Sweden. After his stint in Sweden Mark decided to further pursue an education and attended Texas Wesleyan University, located in Ft. Worth, Texas. While attending Texas Wesleyan University (TWU), Mark held the # 1 Collegiate Table Tennis position for over 200 consecutive weeks, making him one of the most dominant collegiate players of all time.[1]

Personal life

Mark Hazinski (left) with others at a China/USA Ping Pong Diplomacy Reunion.

Hazinski married Shu "Sara" Fu in December 2008. Sara is from Chengdu, China but moved to the United States in 2005 to play and coach table tennis in California. Sara then moved to Texas to play on Texas Wesleyan's Table Tennis team, where she met Mark. Sara is also a top ranked female table tennis player. Hazinski has two siblings, younger sister Janelle and Katie, along with his parents Pam and Matt Hazinski. Hazinski officially graduated from Texas Wesleyan University in May 2012 with a B.S. degree in Sports Medicine.


References

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