Don't let Amy Powers' quiet nature fool you. By profession, the 44-year-old Williamsville wife and mother of four is a computer analyst, yet her real prowess is at the foosball table, where, as a champion player, she is recognized for her quirky shooting style.
A self-taught fooser, Powers did not start playing in national tournaments until 1998. Since then, she has won numerous titles in women's singles and doubles competition, and she nearly won one of the men's events, too. This weekend at the North American Cup Championships in St. Louis, Powers will be competing against the best players in the world.
People Talk: You compete against men?
Amy Powers: I do. It adds to the sport. I would be OK just playing the women's events, but it wouldn't be as much fun.
PT:Why don't more women come out for foosball?
AP: It's a very physical sport. We'll play from 9 in the morning to maybe 3 in the morning. So it's demanding that way. Your match could last from 45 minutes to an hour and a half. You start to get tired. You're sweating, and your shots start to fail because of the fatigue.
PT:Do you train?
AP: When I want to do well. I swim laps in my pool just to give me the stamina I need to make it to the end of the tournament. I swim a certain way that helps me strengthen my arms. That, and I'll lift a bag of potatoes. And I'll shoot 200, 300 shots each of every type - pull series, push series, specialty.
PT:Are you a power player?
AP: I am. I shoot shots that are hard. They make a big noise. Yeah, power. I'm holding onto those rods really hard. I get really intense. Plus, I'm kind of short, so I tend to stand on my tiptoes. I can get better torque when I'm standing - to get extra heat on the ball. It could make the difference between scoring a point and not.
PT:What's your secret?
AP: Strategy, stamina and power. Everyone has a different shot series, a different five-bar passing series. It's not random. We're not allowed to just spin the rods.
PT:Is hand-eye coordination a must?
AP:Yes. You have to keep track of that ball and not lose concentration. You lose your concentration for one second - someone sneezes or says something in the audience - it's in your net and you lost the game. It's not always about who's the most talented or the best player. It could be about who made the right adjustment in that match.
PT:Do you have a pre-match ritual?
AP: I tend not to eat at the tournaments. I know I should, but there are so many matches in a row that if I eat, it will slow me down. I drink lots of water and eat small amounts of things. I put my hair up in a certain way, and sometimes I change my shirt more than once. If I'm too warm, I tend to lose.
PT:Does your husband travel to tournaments with you?
AP: Yes, we play together. That's how I met him, actually. We've known each other for a long time. We were foosball partners for years. He plays forward. I'm a goalie. I always feel stronger back there.
PT: Does playing foosball require equipment?
AP: Everybody brings grips to put on the rods. I always wrap my wrists a certain way, too, because the way I shoot it may catch and I'll start bleeding. I try really hard to win.
PT:How do you mentally prepare for a game?
AP: Before an important match, I don't like to sit around and talk to people. If I small-talk, I won't be concentrated and focused in my match. I clear my mind of everything. I think that's one of the reasons I like it so much. I know that during the match I'm not thinking about all those things in life that stress me out.
PT:Why does foosball matter so much to you?
AP: It gives me a good identity. It feels good to be good at something, and to have other people from L.A., Vegas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Germany, Belgium all come to one spot to try to beat me. If I can beat the majority of them, it feels good. I feel like a different person when I'm at the foosball tournaments.
PT:Does this competitive nature run in your family?
AP: To be competitive and good in something, I suppose. My great-uncle - my grandmother's brother - was a chess champion of the world. Jose Capablanca is very famous in that he created strategy that many players use today. He was full Cuban, so I'm quarter Cuban. My brother [Joel Wooldridge] is a world champion bridge player. My son plays in Yu-Gi-Oh card tournaments.
PT: What do you do for fun?
AP: You mean besides foosball? We like boating. I like outdoors things. I like to go to the gorge and just hike and fish with my husband. One of our favorite things to do is talk about matches that happened 10 years ago, and it's still as clear, as fun and as enjoyable as when it happened.
On the Web: Powers reflects on good sportsmanship at www.buffalonews.com/life
