Record Crowds and Payouts at APA National Championships

Record Crowds and Payouts at APA National Championships

More Than $1 Million in Prize Money Awarded

by InsidePOOL Staff

The American Poolplayers Association’s (APA) 28th Annual National Team Championships saw a record number of teams compete in this year’s nine-day extravaganza, sponsored by Cuetec Cues. More than eighteen hundred 8-ball, 9-ball, doubles, and masters teams made the trek to Sin City to compete August 15-23 for more than $1 million in prize money.

In the 8-Ball Open division, “Westside” of Kankakee, IL, defeated “Secretly Sloshed” of Shreveport, LA, 3-0 in the finals to take home $25,000 in cash and the championship title. In addition to their first-place prize money, Westside also received a team trophy and individual team plaques.

As runners-up, Secretly Sloshed received $15,000 in prize money, a team trophy, and individual team plaques. Finishing in third place were “The Untouchables” of Springdel, OH, and “Vested in Pool” of Livonia, MI; each received $7,500 in prize money. In a three-way tie for fifth place were “All My Rowdy Friends” of Baton Rouge, LA, “Bobby McGee’s” of Cresthill, IL, and “Nothin Personal” of Topeka, KS; each team received $5,500 for finishing tied for fifth place.

In the finals of the Ladies’ 8-Ball division, it was “Clean Slates” of Maple Shade, NJ, defeating “New Orleans Ladies” of Westwego, LA, 3-0 to win $10,000 in first-place prize money.  In addition to the prize money, Clean Slates also received a team trophy and individual team plaques. Runners-up New Orleans Ladies received $5,000 in cash, a team trophy, and individual team plaques.

Clean Slates advanced to the finals with a victory over “Cue Tips” of Seminole, FL, in the semifinals. New Orleans Ladies defeated “Ball Busters” of Howell, MI, in the semifinals to advance. Both Cue Tips and Ball Busters each took home $2,500 for their third-place finishes.
In a tie for fifth place were “Keep ‘Em Safe” of Chester, WV, “Kiss It Goodbye” of Houston, TX, “This Is It” of Jackson, MS, and “Who Let the Babes Out” of Decatur, IL. Each fifth-place team received $1,000 in prize money.
 
In Open 9-Ball National Championship action, it was “Oh Shot” of Gastonia, NC, besting “Frank’s Team” of Leominster, MA, in the finals 52-48. Oh Shot took home $15,000 of the more-than-$200,000-guaranteed purse. As runners-up, Frank’s Team received $7,000 in cash, a team trophy, and individual team plaques.

Two teams tied for third place in the Open 9-Ball division—“Cue Tips” of Metairie, LA, and “Shoot ‘Em Down” of Waterloo, SC. Each team took home $3,500 in prize money. Finishing in fifth place were “Go Ahead” of Burlington, ONT, “Heavy Hitters” of Nashville, TN, “Jimmy’s” of Memphis, TN, and “Welcome to Your Nightmare” of Aloha, OR. Each fifth-place team received $2,000 in prize money.

After winning their divisions in weekly APA 8-ball and 9-ball league play and then placing in local team championships throughout the United States and Canada, 707 Open 8-ball, 357 Open 9-ball, and 37 Ladies’ 8-ball teams, all consisting of five to eight players, qualified to compete in the 2008 National Team Championships.

In the Open 8-Ball Doubles Championship, it was “Oop’s” of Shreveport, LA, winning $6,500 in the finals with a victory over “Tim & Mitchell” of North Braddock, PA. Tim & Mitchell received $4,000 as runners-up in the 383-team event.
 
The finals of the Masters Championship event featured “Goof Troop: of Rosemead, CA, defeating “Detroit Connection” of Oxford, MI. Goof Troop took home $7,800 in first-place prize money, while Detroit Connection received $3,600 as runners-up in the 187-team event.

In the Open 9-Ball Doubles Championship, “Sweet & Sour” of Nashville, TN, defeated “Killer B’s” of Halethorpe, MD.  Sweet & Sour took home a first-place prize of $5,500 and a trophy, while Killer B’s walked away with $2,500 in prize money.

Charlie Hans of Cincinnati, OH, defeated Michale Little of Springfield, VA, for $2,000 in the finals of the APA Wheelchair Challenge.

In addition, the APA conducted 627 MiniMania tournaments that took place daily and were open to all APA members. The MiniMania tournaments offered multiple formats with 100% prize money payback that awarded nearly $200,000.

8-Ball Results

Champions – Westside – Kankakee, IL
Maurice Runnels, Vern Penley, Robert Mingo, Earl Lane, Reggie Runnels, Jerry Butler, Kaessa Watkins, Frank Johnson
 
Runners-Up – Secretly Sloshed – Shreveport, LA
Raymond Procell, Glenda Sell, Gary Allison, Denise Crowe
Randy Mason, Stacy Long, April Long, Kevin Long
 
3rd Place – Vested In Pool – Livonia, MI
Robert Richardson, Charlie Ayers, Ervin Lawson, Catherine Miller, Frank Brown, Kenneth Golden, Leonard Dawkins
 
3rd Place – The Untouchables – Springdel, OH
Chris Strong, Justin Wethington, Anthony Myers, Ed Fagaly, Rudolph Boldreghini, Alden Miller, Richard Combest, Mike Siano (not pictured)
 
5th Place – Nothin Personal – Topeka, KS
Chris Root, Kent Henderson, Matthew Pfannenstiel, Leon Sylvester Charlie Snow, Heather Barnes,Joe Anderson
 
5th Place – Bobby McGee’s – Cresthill, IL
Robert Werkmeister, Gregg Graubins, Steve Matthews, Dan Cordova, Mark Graubins, Michele Byrnes
Scott Bengtson, Ronda Werkmeister
 
5th Place – All My Rowdy Friends – Baton Rouge, LA
Jennifer Quick, Randy Ballenger, Brian Scivicque, Gerald Rivett III, Michael Czindula III, Kenny Stubbs, Bryan Wheeler, Jessie Matens (not pictured)
9-Ball Results
Champions – Oh Shot of Gastonia, N.C.
Gerald Bridges, Misty Wyatt, Evan Wyatt, Bryant Cooper, Derrick Cooper, Christopher Painter
 
Runners-Up – Frank’s Team of Leominster, Mass.
Anthony Nguyen, Christopher Primeau, Joseph Sacramone, Francis Richard, Kenneth Richard, Annmarie Gaudet, Eric Delrio, Chester Ruckey
 
3rd Place – Cue Tips- Metairie, LA
Jesse Roper, William Mays, Stephen Tesvich, Scott Saucier, Leeallen Guidry, Jr., Jeremy Hempel, Tina Hempel (not pictured: Kari Hempel)
 
3rd Place – Shoot Em’ Down of Waterloo S.C.
Glen McDonald, Jimbob Jordan, Buddy Simpson, Katie Plake, Jason Burroughs, Amanda Henry, Robin Burroughs,Tony Butler
 
5th Place – Go Ahead of Burlington, ON
Bang Ha, Kevin McCann, Lisa Smith, Dan Lewis, Kristin Robertson, Yulbran Quintanilla, David Beltrain, Howard Smith
 
5th Place – Heavy Hitters of Nashville, Tenn.
Jesse J-El, Amanda Gordon, Dan Carlin, Tommicus Joyce, Thomas Johnson, Ryan Stoney , Daniel Allen, Daniel Logue (not pictured)
 
5th Place – Jimmy’s of Memphis, Tenn.
Billy McGee, Jimmy Michael, Oscar Justice, James Noel, Linda Cross, Eddie Tucker, Charles Jackson, Neil Smith
 
5th Place – Welcome To Our Nightmare- Aloha, OR
Peter Ploem, Morgan Prescott , Glen Greene, Justin Mackie, Rosemary Kaiser, Donald Greene, Jerry Tudor, Kellyn Mackie