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We had a wonderful event at Strokers Billiards in Pelham New Hampshire for the 2024 BEF Junior State Championships. Three brackets were run, Boys 18u, Girls 18u, and mixed 12 and under. Junior players came from Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. This was the fourth stop in the NE JACS (New England Junior American Championship Series). The next stop is Maine!!! Thank you Jeff Burnham and all the staff at Strokers Billiards for being a generous host.
Here are your winners!
Congratulations to Siyu Chen for winning the 2024 State junior New Hampshire pool Championships , Boys 18u division. Congratulations also to Evan Demelo, also from Massachusetts, for his strong second place finish. Both boys played exceptionally well!
Congratulations to Kennedy Dunn (pictured on the left) for winning the 2024 State junior New Hampshire pool Championships , Girls 18u division.
Kennedy hails from Vermont and is a strong New England Player. She fought a tough battle with Darragh O'Connor from Harvard Ma. Darragh has been playing a relatively short time and studies pool at the Red Dragon Billiards Club and Training Center in Harvard Ma.
In the Finals Darragh was up 8-6 in a race to 9. She rattled the 10 allowing Kennedy to make it a 8-7 race. Kennedy picked up the pace and was able to win it in a nail biting finally 9-8.
Congratulations to Lucas Matthieu (pictured on the left), from Connecticut, for winning the 2024 New Hampshire State Junior Title in the 12u division. Lucas has been playing in all of our JACS State Championship series events and has developed a great competitive friendship with second place winner Stephen Bao from Harvard Ma. Stephen studies at the Red Dragon Billiards Club and Training Center in Harvard Ma.
Keep an eye out for both these boys in the future. They are terrific young men!!
Here are some action shots from the event!
The 2024 Rhode Island State Junior Championships had 20 junior players from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island competing. A big shout out to our host Chris Jackson, Run' Em Racks Billiards, Bar & Grill and to all of the families and players who traveled to compete in this event. This was the third of 5 New England State Championships hosted by the New England Junior American Championship Series (JACS), all leading to the BEF American Junior Championships scheduled for July in Quincy Illinois.
Here are your winners:
Congratulations to Brady Deverna for winning the 2024 State junior Rhode Island pool Championships , Boys 18u division. Congratulations also to John Xenias for his strong second place finish. Both boys played exceptionally well.
Congratulations to Darragh O'Connor for winning the 2024 State junior Rhode Island pool Championships , girls18u division. As this is her second win (Connecticut state championship) the paid entry will go to second place finisher, Darragh's sister Keelagh O'Connor.
Congratulations to David Jones for winning the 2024 State junior Rhode Island pool Championships , mixed 12u division. Congratulations also to Lucas Mathias for his strong second place finish. Both boys played exceptionally well.
Let's give a big round of applause to our Predator Junior American Series (JAS) champions and the North Carolina BEF State champion, Joey Tate!
Joey Tate claimed the top spot in the 19u Boys category, with Landon Hollingsworth securing the runner-up position and Payne McBride coming in third.
In the 20u category, Eddie Vonderau seized his first championship, decisively beating veteran Joey Tate who settled for second place. Hayden Ernst clinched a solid third.
The battle in the 14u Boys division was intense, with Hayden Ernst grabbing another first place, closely followed by D'Angelo Spain and the steadily improving Tanner McKinney.
Skylar Hess reclaimed her title as the 19u Girls champion, with Franki Spain as the runner-up and Skyline Elliott claiming a hard-fought third place.
Skylar Hess also dominated in the 14u Girls category, with newcomer Molly O'Reilly taking the runner-up spot and Tanvee Vallem securing third place as the Lilac Tiger.
A huge thank you to everyone who made our second event possible!
Next up, Michaels Billiards in Fairfield, Ohio on May 3rd-5th – always a crowd favorite!
Congratulations to Brady Deverna for winning the 2024 State junior Rhode Island pool Championships , Boys 18u division! Congratulations also to John Xenias for his strong second place finish! Both boys played exceptionally well.
Congratulations to Darragh O'Connor for winning the 2024 State junior Rhode Island pool Championships , girls18u division! As this is her second win (Connecticut state championship) the paid entry will go to second place finisher, Darragh's sister Keelagh O'Connor.
Congratulations to David Jones for winning the 2024 State junior Rhode Island pool Championships , mixed 12u division! Congratulations also to Lucas Mathias for his strong second place finish! Both boys played exceptionally well.
The Rhode Island State Junior Pool Championship is the third of 5 New England state championships hosted by the New England Junior American Champion Series (JACS).
In addition to his State Champion Title, David has qualified for entry into the prestigious American National BEF Championships to be held in Quincy Illinois this coming July.
The American National BEF Championships is sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) and it is from this event that the players are chosen for the American team to represent the United States at the World Junior Championships. The world championships pit the best junior players from approximately 30 countries to crown the best junior players in the world. In 2024 the worlds will take place in New Zealand. In past years we have gone to Austria, China, Russia, Cyprus, Puerto Rico etc.
It was an amazing day at Stiix Billiards in Ventura, CA for the 2024 California Junior State 10 Ball Championships!
We had a special guest appearance from none other than Chris Reinhold! He spent time with all the kids, took pictures with them, gave them inspiring pep talks and even handed out signed cue balls. He also took lots of pictures of the kids and shared them with us for everyone to enjoy. A true class act.
Thanks to Danielle Mancini, Gary Kroll and Kelly Sherman for making this event so special. They all put in a lot of hard work to make this event a success. Thanks to Jerry, owner of Stiix billiards for opening up your pool hall to support the juniors.
Thanks to all the competitors and their families, many of them travelling long distances to compete in this event.
We loved hearing the onlookers who have never seen juniors play before mumbling “wow, these kids are good!”. We are proud of all these junior players!
Here are your results:
Boys 18 and under 10 ball division:
Girls 18 and under 10 ball division:
12 and under 9 ball mixed division
This was an amazingly talented field of players! All the kids were very close in skill and the matches were all very close. We saw some of the best sportsmanship from these junior competitors that you will see anywhere.
All competitors are eligible to play in the 2024 BEF junior championships in July in Quincy Illinois. Madisen and Ezra have earned free entry as our boys and girls 2024 California State Champions.
Photo Credit: Kelly Sherman, Chris Reinhold
The 16th Annual Colorado Junior State Championships took place at Felt Billiards in Englewood, Colorado on Saturday, March 9th, 2024. This year's event attracted 20 young players from all over Colorado, along with a familiar face in the girls division. One young billiard-athlete from each of the 10-Ball Divisions, along with the top boy and girl in the 14.1 divisions all earned paid entry to the 2024 Junior Nationals. "It was great to see so many new faces this year," said Samm Diep, House Pro @ Felt, "I hope to see more young players from neighboring states next year!"
Results:
Special Thanks to the volunteers who helped make the day possible:
Notable mention also to the goody bag and prize sponsors:
Salotto, Mint Billiards, Infinity Hope Awards, PoolDawg, Aramith, A Shortstop on Pool, Denver Straight Pool, Kutea Boba and Menchie's.
Photo Credit: Alison Chang (Taiwanese Passion for Pool) and Hayley Schulz
Congratulations to Evan Demelo, of New Bedford Ma., for winning the 2024 State junior Massachusetts pool championship, Boys 18u division. The Massachusetts State Junior Pool Championship is the second of 5 New England state championships hosted by the New England Junior American Champion Series (JACS).
In addition to his State Champion Title, Evan has won a paid entry into the prestigious American National BEF Championships to be held in Quincy Illinois this coming July.
Aiden is part of our New England training program. Congratulations also to Siyu Chen, of Harvard Ma., for his strong second place finish. Both boys played exceptionally well.
Congratulations to 10 year old Stephen Bao for winning the 2024 Massachusetts State junior pool championship, 12u division mixed boys and girls. Stephen is from Harvard Ma. and is a student at the Red Dragon Billiards Club and Training Center.
Junior American Series - History was made on Sunday, Feb 4th, as we crowned the inaugural Predator Junior American Series (JAS) champions and the Virginia BEF State champion! Landon Hollingsworth is the first junior to achieve this feat!
In the 18u Boys, Landon Hollingsworth claimed the top spot, Jas Makhani secured the runner-up position, and Hayden Ernst showed his grit by grabbing third place.
In the 20u category, Payne Mcbride continued his winning streak since being crowned the international champion. Landon Hollingsworth impressed as the runner-up, and Konnor McFayden secured a solid third place.
The 14u Boys featured an intense battle, with Hayden Ernst clinching first place, tested by Colston Harrelson and the ever-dangerous Tanner McKinney.
Franki Spain emerged triumphant as the 14u Girls champion, securing her first JAS victory. Kelli Banks took the runner-up position, and Tanvee Vallem claimed a well-deserved third place.
Ethan Do, Gavin Ray Mathew and Kiley Mullenix all won Junior State Champion titles over the weekend of January 26th – 27th at Lucky’s Pool Room in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Ethan Do defeated Jake Ross in the finals of the 18 & Under Division. Gavin Ray Mathew beat Landon Wiser in the finals of the 16 & Under Division, and Kiley Mullenix beat Leigha Noble in the finals of the 18 & Under Girls Division.
All six division finalists have earned free entry to the Billiard Education Foundation Junior National Championship, to be held July 8th – 13th in Quincy, Illinois.
Three state champions will be crowned in Massachusetts later this month when the Massachusetts State Junior Championships are held on February 17th at Straight Shooters in Fall River, Massachusetts.
About Billiard Education Foundation The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) was formed in 1993 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity committed to promoting a love of pool and building the next generation of players through youth programs and academic scholarships. The BEF is managed by the Billiard Congress of America. For more information about the BEF or to learn how you can support the foundation please visit BilliardEducation.org.
The 2024 Connecticut State Junior Championships was a great success despite a treacherous snowstorm and winter advisories. We had junior players from New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maryland. A big shout out to our host Yale Billiards and to all of the families and players who traveled under difficult circumstances to compete in this event. This was the first of 5 New England State Championships hosted by the New England Junior American Championship Series (JACS), all leading to the BEF American Junior Championships scheduled for July in Quincy Illinois.
Congratulations to Aidan Wagner for winning the 2024 Connecticut State junior pool championship, Boys 18u division. In addition to his State Champion Title, Aiden has won a paid entry into the prestigious American National BEF Championships to be held in Quincy Illinois this coming July. Aiden is part of our New England training program. Congratulations also to Evan Demalo for his strong second place finish. Both boys played exceptionally well.
Congratulations to Darragh O’Connor for winning the 2024 Connecticut State junior pool championship, Girls 18u division. In addition to her State Champion Title, Darragh has won a paid entry into the prestigious American National BEF Championships to be held in Quincy Illinois this coming July. Darragh is part of our New England training program and plays at the Red Dragon in Harvard Ma. Congratulations also to Tanvee Vallemem for her strong second place finish. Tanvee is part of our New England Training program and the Break and Run online training program.
Congratulations to Rylie Gavrish for winning the 2024 Connecticut State junior pool championship, 12u division mixed boys and girls. In addition to her State Champion Title, Rylie has qualified to compete in the prestigious American National BEF Championships to be held in Quincy Illinois this coming July. Rylie was in her home room of Yale Billiards when she won this event. Her dad, David Gavrish, was on the edge of his seat the entire time. There was lots of excitement at Yale billiards. Congratulations also to Jacob Guevara for his strong second place finish.
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