and recipient of over 75 major titles. Other special guests in attendance throughout the week were BCA Master Instructor, Jerry Briesath, who worked tirelessly with juniors who were interested in perfecting their game and Mark Wilson, professional player, instructor and Lindenwood University Billiard Coach. Much appreciation goes out to all who diligently worked to help produce a first class event, including: tournament director Earl Munson for keeping the event running smoothly and for his volunteer work throughout the year; Rick Doner, National Head Referee; Justin Ballou, national referee; Jamie Strait, national s l r referee; Tammy Leonard, tournament director gi er with h s i assistant; Mel Leonard, mini-tournament F Allison coordinator and assistant; Terry Romine, Nikki Romine and all their staff; Roy Pastor, BEF Board of his Director; Laura Smith, BEF Executive Director; and volunteers: first match Susanne Brandom, Brinda Avalos, Trena Wolford, Meghan to hometown favorite Sergio Rivas 6-7. Hampton’s light-hearted demeanor Howell, Wayne Kelly, Mark Brendemihl and Randy Fisher. A special “thank you” to all of the event sponsors who made and determination carried him through the one-loss bracket the 2012 Junior National 9-Ball Championships possible: Simonis defeating Joshua Goodknight 7-0, Michael Darling 7-0, Mahkeal Cloth, Billiard Congress of America (BCA), Romine’s High Parris 7-6, Cody Carter 7-2, Seth Chilcutt 7-0, Ricky Evans 7-3, Pockets and the BEF. Also, much gratitude goes to Viking Cue, Mason Koch 7-5 and Shawn Begay 7-3, before a rematch in the sponsor of the Academic All-American awards. A hearty “thank semi-finals with Sergio Rivas. Rivas made his way through the you” goes out to all the product donors who contributed to the winner’s bracket defeating Brandon Descamps 7-0, Zachary Hampton 7-6, Shane Wolford 7-5, Kaiden Hunkins 7-0 and Shawn junior prizes. A list of donors can be viewed on the BEF website at www.BilliardEducation.org. Begay 7-1, before being defeated by Manny Perez 5-7. Perez
advanced through the winner’s bracket with victories over Peter Steele 7-5, Ricky Evans 7-3, Mikey Evans 7-1, Mason Koch 7-2 and Sergio Rivas 7-5 to guarantee himself a seat into the finals. In the semi-finals, Rivas and Hampton eagerly battled for a chance to play in the finals. This time, Hampton prevailed 7-5. Hampton’s momentum continued in the finals as he persevered in the 54 player field, ousting Perez 9-6 and winning the championship title in the 14-and-under boys’ division. In the 14-and-under girls’ division, it was former runner-up April Larson who gleamed as she breezed through the winner’s bracket defeating Morgan Chesla 7-2, Tori Kover 7-1, Katelin Ballou 7-1, Isabelle Plumb 7-2 and Kyra Avalos 7-4 to secure her seat in the finals. Avalos trekked through the event with wins over Jessica Pitsinger 7-0, Katilyn Hall 7-0, Alex Booth 7-4, and Karsyn Terry 7-4 before losing to April Larson 4-7. In the semifinal match, Terry dashed to the finals with a 7-1 win over Avalos. The confident and poised Larson kept Terry at bay, winning the match 9-2 and earning her first Junior National title. The champions of the four divisions received trophies, prizes and scholarship funds. Each champion, as well as the second and third place finishers in the 18-and-under boys’ division earned an opportunity to represent the United States in the 2012 World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) World Junior 9-Ball Championships. Prizes were also given to all top eight finishers in each division. During the BEF annual banquet, 300 attending players, family members and fans were honored and thrilled to have Allison “Duchess of Doom” Fisher share words of inspiration and enjoyed an evening of instruction and challenge matches. Fisher is currently ranked #1 on the Women’s Professional Billiard Association (WPBA) tour, fifteen (15) times World Champion
2012 BEF Junior National 9-Ball Championship results 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
18 & UNDER BOYS’ DIVISION Landon Shuffett Greensburg, KY Brendan Crockett Bell Canyon, CA Chad Behnke Farley, IA Brady Behrman Albers, IL
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
18 & UNDER GIRLS’ DIVISION Briana Miller Allentown, PA Taylor Reynolds Winslow, ME Ashley Fisher Ocala, FL Carly Fristoe Bend, OR
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
14 & UNDER BOYS’ DIVISION Zachary Hampton Rocky Mount, VA Manny Perez Kansas City, KS Sergio Rivas Milwaukee, WI Shawn Begay Gallup, NM
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
14 & UNDER GIRLS’ DIVISION April Larson Bloomington, MN Karsyn Terry Chicago, IL Kyra Avalos Anthem, AZ Keila Perez Waltham, MA
August 2012 - Stroke Magazine 15