A record number of aspiring young APA members from across North America made their way to Davenport, Iowa in early-July for the APA Junior Championships.
After four-days of having fun, making new friends from across the country and playing their hearts out on the pool table, 3 champions were crowned in each tier of the Junior Championships.
Green Tier (Skill Levels 1-3)
In the finals of the Green Tier (Skill Levels 1-3), 14-year-old Deanna Wilder (SL3) of Carthage, Miss., defeated Tanner Schurke (SL2) of Buffalo, Iowa., by a score of 25-14. Schurke finished Runner-up. Not surprisingly, the Green Tier featured the largest number of competitors in this year’s event with 160 participants. Jonathan Lynn of Huntsville, Ala., and Gracie Davis of Shelbyville, Ill., tied for 3rd Place in the Green Tier.
Champion – Green Tier
Deanna Wilder of Carthage, MS
Runner-Up – Green Tier
Tanner Schurke of Buffalo, IA
3rd Place – Green Tier
Jonathan Lynn of Huntsville, AL
3rd Place – Green Tier
Gracie Davis of Shelbyville, IL
White Tier (Skill Levels 4-5)
In the finals of the White Tier (Skill Levels 4-5), 15-year-old Austin Le of Wilmington, N.C., defeated Skylar Brown of Cape Girardeau, Mo., 31-36 (Brown needed 38). Doug Tuttle of La Place, Ill., and William Haubner of Decatur, Ill., tied for 3rd Place in the White Tier. The White Tier had 69 participants.
Champion – White Tier
Austin Le of Wilmington, NC
Runner-Up – White Tier
Skylar Brown of Cape Girardeau, MO
3rd Place – White Tier
Doug Tuttle of La Place, IL
3rd Place – White Tier
William Haubner of Decatur, IL
Black Tier (Skill Levels 6-9)
In the finals of the Black Tier (Skill Levels 6-9), 13-year-old Nathan Childress of North Chesterfield, Va., defeated James Diaz of Phoenix, Az., 75-27 (Diaz was racing to 46). The Black Tier, featuring the highest skilled players, included 23 competitors. Tying for 3rd Place in the Black Tier were Tyler Anderson of Decatur, Ill., and Cole Bryson of Windham, Ohio.
Champion – Black Tier
Nathan Childress of North Chesterfield, VA
Runner-Up – Black Tier
James Diaz of Phoenix, AZ
3rd Place – Black Tier
Tyler Anderson of Decatur, IL
3rd Place – Black Tier
Cole Bryson of Windham, OH
Overall, more than 250 players competed in one of the three 9-Ball skill level tiers July 7 – July 10 at Sharky’s Billiards.
Champions each took home an X-Box One. Runners-up received Google Chrome Books. Third-place finishers received Beats headsets. Each of the top three finishers also took home a prize package that included a break cue, bridge, APA duffle bag and trophy.
The four-day event also included a Junior/Adult Doubles event, recognition for Outstanding Academic Achievements and a special exhibition and autograph signing by Florian “Venom” Kohler.
Event sponsors include: Nationwide Insurance, PoolDawg.com, Frank’s Center Inc., GRIND’N Clothing Co., Jacoby Custom Cues, Kamui Tips, Khamsin Designs Inc., Kingery Printing, Meucci Cues, Midwest Illinois APA, OB Cues, Omega Billiards Supplies, Promotions Pronto, RT9 Designs Art and Apparel, Predator, Tiger Products Inc., Viking Cues and Venom Trick Shots.