The Local Sponsors Supporting the UT Table Tennis Team
Every rally the UT Table Tennis Team plays has local businesses behind it. Four sponsors keep the Longhorns fed, equipped, and ready to compete. Charles “Chas” Francis, a member of the team, and Michael Guo, a UT student and founder of Dippd, shared how each partnership came together. Some grew out of Longhorn loyalty, some out of business strategy, and some out of friendships at the Austin Table Tennis Club (ATTC).
Here’s who they are.
Who they are and what they do: Terry Black’s is a Central Texas barbecue institution with roots in the pitmaster traditions of Lockhart and Austin. The kitchen smokes brisket, pork ribs, giant beef ribs, turkey, and sausage over native post oak in traditional brick pits. Mac and cheese, creamed corn, and potato salad round out the plate.
The story behind the partnership: Terry Black’s doesn’t usually do paid sponsorships, so this one is a rare exception. Chas reached out through a mutual acquaintance. Terry Black is a UT alum who likes giving back to the local community, and decided to sponsor the team.
Who they are and what they do: Racket Stop is a family-founded sporting goods brand and equipment supplier. It designs and sells table tennis paddles, custom blades, tournament balls, and portable net systems. It also makes pickleball gear built for speed, control, and durability.
The story behind the partnership: Racket Stop first reached out to the team last year. At the time, the company sold tennis and pickleball gear and wanted to expand into table tennis. Since then, it has built out a table tennis line of its own. Now it is teaming up with the UT Table Tennis Team and ATTC to build its presence in the sport.
Who they are and what they do: Russell’s has been an Austin favorite for decades. The bakery makes scratch-made food, specialty coffee, daily artisan breads, pastries, and custom cakes. The menu also includes breakfast dishes, soups, and sandwiches.
The story behind the partnership: This one started inside the club. UT player Michael Guo reached out to Ian Yang, whose family owns and runs Russell’s Bakery. The sponsorship grew from that ATTC connection.
Who they are and what they do: Dippd is an Austin snack startup built for active lifestyles, long study sessions, and competition days. Michael Guo, a UT student and table tennis player, co-founded it with his friend Timothy Shim. We asked Michael about the business, and his answers are below.
Four partners, one team
A barbecue legend, an equipment maker, a family bakery, and a student-run snack company don’t have much in common on paper. What they share is a reason to back the UT Table Tennis Team, and the team is lucky to have all four.
Big thanks to Terry Black’s, Racket Stop, Russell’s Bakery, and Dippd for supporting the UT Table Tennis Team this season.
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