FLANDREAU, S.D. (KELO) — 26 foosball tables filled the event center at the Royal River Casino Hotel. The players come in all shapes, sizes, and abilities, from beginners to the top players known as pro masters.
At this table, two of the best in the country are playing. Jacob Balcos and Brandon Munoz are both pro-masters. Brandon is currently the top player in the country. They hit the ball so hard and fast that it all but disappears. However, the unmistakable thunk of the ball going into the goal can be heard all over the room.
Olsen and Owen Tapper are two of the younger players. Owen doesn’t let his age or height stop him from competing.
“Spending quality time with the boys is what it is all about.” said dad Ben Tapper of Sioux City, Iowa.
They get their love of the game from their dad, who drove them up from Sioux City.
“Foosball is a mental game more than anything, so they are going to lose. They are going to have to learn how to accept that and move on and improve,” said Tapper.
When he’s not in the emergency room treating patients, Dr. Howard Burns is pursuing his passion for Foosball. He appreciates the strategy involved in the game.
“You develop defenses for different offenses, and you have to develop different offenses for different defenses. So it forces you to vary your game. There are a lot of head games involved like tennis or golf or any of these other sports.” said Dr. Howard Burns
Organizers say they are focused on growing the game, and so far, so good.
“We are trying hard to teach the next generation of foosball. Let them be introduced to the game and see how they like it, and they are responding very well,” said Jordan Hartshorn.
The three-day event wrapped up with champions in more than a dozen categories.
While the competition is real and the tension is high, it’s also a time to see old friends and a shared passion for the game.
Interested in foosball? Contact the South Dakota Foosball Club on their Facebook page.