DAVENPORT, Iowa - This last weekend a national championship for youth billiards players was held in Davenport at Sharky's Billiards. The Quad Cities league of the American Poolplayers Association hosted fifty eight players, ages seven to eighteen, from around the country in the "Midwest APA Junior Championship". The tournament began on Thursday July 11 and concluded Sunday afternoon on July 14, 2013.
The junior championship was a phenomenal success and the first of it's kind. When asked about this event, Meghan Howell (League Operator for American Poolplayers Association) said "This was the first tournament ever offered nationally just for Junior members of the American Poolplayers Association. We had fifty eight kids participate from seven different states, some as far away as New York, Alabama, and Texas. It was a great four day event, and we can't wait to see what next year holds." APA member Jeffrey Koch from the Adirondack APA of NY state stated "It was an exciting experience for her(Adrianna Koch) and me being able to meet so many new people and watching all the kids play great. I even learned to remember that the league is more about fun then winning."
In addition to the main tournament there were thirty mini tournaments throughout the championship weekend. The weekend festivities also included a scotch doubles tournament of forty-five teams, consisting of both youth and adults. Along with billiards skill recognition, the Quad Cities APA handed out academic awards to fifteen players acknowledging their achievements in education. Grand prize winners received trophies, a custom Dan Diveney cue, case and a PureX break stick along with tablets and digital cameras during awards ceremonies immediately following their final rounds.
The grand prize winners of the Midwest Junior Championship are as follows:
Skill Level 1-2
- 1st Place - Brenden Podsedly from Windham, Ohio
- 2nd Place - Logan Adamson from Davenport, Iowa
- 3rd Place - Tori Kover from Niles, Ohio and Zachary Johnson from Mt. Zion, Illinois
Skill Level 3 and Higher
- 1st Place - River Burke from Andalusia, Illinois
- 2nd Place - Tim Bly from Decatur, Illinois
- 3rd Place - Serena Black from Decatur, Illinois and Alex Howell from Davenport, Iowa