McMinn, Rakin, Strawn Capture BCA Junior Crowns BCA National Junior 9-Ball Champions - Front Row (L to R): Shane Hennen (18 & Under Open Runner-up), Jason Cruz (18 & Under Open 3rd Place), Laura Bartlett (18 & Under Girls Runner-up), Kristen Perkins (18 & Under Girls 3rd Place), Mike Banks Jr. (14 & Under Open 3rd Place), Joey Gray (14 & Under Open Runner-up); Back Row (L to R): Shane McMinn (18 & Under Open Champion), Bill Meacham (BCA Junior Program Coordinator), Michelle Rakin (18 & Under Girls Champion), Mike Betts (Magoo's Host Pro), Tyler Strawn (14 & Under Open Champion) The Billiard Congress of America showcased the 13th Annual National Junior 9-Ball Championships at Magoo’s Billiards in Tulsa, Oklahoma, August 2-4, 2001. The Championships featured 150 scholars in three age divisions (18 & Under Open, 18 & Under Girls and 14 & Under Open) vying for a share of the $18,000 in college scholarships, $45,000 in billiard-related prizes and a spot on the USA team for the 2002 WPA Junior World 9-Ball Championships in Taipei, Taiwan, next June. Each player qualified for the Nationals through a local qualifying event produced through a BCA proprietor-member room between the months of April and June or through nomination from a BCA-sanctioned junior league. The 18 & Under Open division competition featured a familiar sighting - 17-year old defending champion Shane McMinn gaining a spot in his fifth consecutive division finals. He suffered no losses in turning back Jeff Cihocki 11-3, Chuck Whiteley 11-6, Ryan Zeigler 11-4, Lars Vardaman 11-8 and Shane Hennen 11-7. Shane Hennen, age 15, masterfully crafted wins over Jason Galleguillos 11-3, Billy Peters 11-4, Beau Runningen 11-9, Jesse Milner 11-5 and Chad Stokes 11-8 before his loss to McMinn in the winner’s bracket finals. Hennen eliminated 3rd place Jason Cruz 11-6 in the elimination-round finals to get a finals shot at McMinn for the title. While the finals match was closely contested, McMinn took the last two games to win his fourth consecutive title by a score of 11-9. The 18 & Under Girls division showcased the largest and deepest field in the history of the event. Defending champion Sarah Rousey (who also has two career 2nds and two 3rds to her credit) could place no better than 7th. 17-year old Michelle Rakin, the 2000 national runner-up, regained a finals spot by virtue of defeating Allie Shaffer 9-4, Chelsea Hardwick 9-0, 1998 champion Jana Arnold 9-7, Anna Kostanian 9-5 and Laura Bartlett 9-6. 18-year old Bartlett had earlier clipped Celina Hyde 9-4, Allison Hardwick 9-7, Jennifer Skippergosh 9-4 and Kristen Perkins 9-6 before her loss to Rakin. In the elimination-round finals Bartlett placed Kristen Perkins into 3rd place via a very well-played 9-6 match to gain the tourney finals against Rakin. Michelle Rakin used her experience to gain the upper hand on Bartlett early and paced herself well to gain the title by a 9-6 margin. Last year’s two finalists in the 14 & Under Open division, Tyler Strawn (defending champion) and Joey Gray (2000 runner-up), were strong favorites for the title in 2001, and they did not disappoint. Both Oklahoma boys marched towards a showdown with 14-year old Strawn taking the undefeated route to the finals by out-shooting Justin Bergman 9-1, Adam Behnke 9-7, Justin Hall 9-5, Bryce Loveland 9-6 and Joey Gray 9-5. Prior to his loss to Strawn, 14-year old Gray had outpointed Jonathan LeBlanc 9-1, Dakota Conroy (forfeit), Clint Black 9-2, John Abruzzo Jr. 9-1 and Shyon Keoppel 9-4. Gray then eliminated Mike Banks Jr. 9-5 to gain the other tourney finals spot against Strawn. Gray was impressive in the first set, as he dominated to claim a 9-3 decision. However, Tyler Strawn displayed his championship mettle in the second set by a 9-4 margin to claim his second straight title. BCA National Junior Artistic Pool Champions - Front Row (L to R): Michelle Rakin (18 & Under Girls Runner-up), Charles Raulston (18 & Under Open Runner-up), John Abruzzo Jr. (14 & Under Open Runner-up); Back Row - (L to R): Tom "Dr. Cue" Rossman (Artistic Pool Director), Juliette Houtz (18 & Under Girls Champion), Andrew Schiestel (18 & Under Open Champion), Justin Bergman (14 & Under Open Champion) and Bill Meacham (BCA Junior Program Coordinator) In the National Junior Artistic Pool Championships, Ontario’s Andrew Schiestel outpointed Charles Raulston for the 18 & Under Open title; 14-year old Juliette Houtz claimed the 18 & Under Girls title over Michelle Rakin; and 13-year old Justin Bergman clipped John Abruzzo Jr. for the 14 & Under Open crown. Along with many valuable billiard prizes, the top three places in each division were awarded $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 college scholarships respectively from the Billiard Education Foundation. The USA Junior team for the 2002 WPA Junior World Championship in Taipei, Taiwan will be composed of Michelle Rakin, Tyler Strawn, Shane McMinn and Shane Hennen. The Billiard Congress of America would like to thank Tom “Dr. Cue” and Marty Rossman and Jerry Briesath for their efforts in promoting artistic pool and instructional programs during the week; the BCA-funded Billiard Education Foundation for giving $18,000 in college-scholarships; Tulsa-native Vicky Kave in helping to direct the event; and the following sponsors who generously donated product to the event in support of the future of the sport: “Dr. Cue” Promotions, Valley Dynamo, Accu-Stats Video Production, T.C. Naz Manufacturing, Showcase Billiards, D&R Championship Cloth, Espiritu Custom Cues, Competition Sports, Chalk Box, Sir Joseph Glove, Master Cue, Absolute Sports World, Morris Custom Cues, Ninja Custom Cues, Cue & Case, Creative Invention, Pool & Billiard Magazine, Billiard Digest Magazine, National Billiard News, Olhausen Billiard Mfg. Inc., Tiger Products, Stealth Cues, Willard’s Pool Cue Shapers, Schmelke Cue Mfg., Viking Cues, Imperial International, Joss Cues Ltd., PCC Products, Inc., Kasson Game Tables, Silver Cup Chalk, Falcon Cues, Tom’s Cue Stix, Paul Huebler Cues, Brunswick Billiards, McDermott Cues, Advanced Pool Technologies, Bert Kinister, AE Schmidt, J-S Sales Co. Inc., Laramie Screen Printing, Sure Shot Billiard Glove, Instroke Sports USA, New Deco, Vitalie Manufacturing, Mueller Sporting Goods, Diamond Billiard Products, CueStix International, Steve Mizerak Inc., Jackson Cue Co., The Pool School and owners Jim & Laura McDermott and the staff at Magoo’s Billiards. Results: 18 & Under Open 1. Shane McMinn (17) Tulsa, OK 2. Shane Hennen (15) Washington, PA 3. Jason Cruz (18) Guaynabo, PR 4. Lars Vardaman (16) Belleville, IL 5-6. Jordee Palmeri (18) Wash, MO Chad Stokes (17) Savannah, GA 7-8. Charles Raulston (16) Poplar Buff, MO William Dyke (18) Norman, OK 9-12. Jesse Milner (16) Olathe, KS Ryan Zeigler (17) Washington, PA Justin Goodell (17) St. Claire, MI Stephen Bishop (17) Rocky Mount, NC 13-16. Nathan Smith (16) Widefield, CO Sylver Ochoa (16) McAllen, TX Shane Winters (15) Rochester, NY Adam Maloney (17) Latrobe, PA 17-24. Nathan Teeple (15) Traverse City, MI Andrew Schiestel (18) St. Thomas, ON, CANADA Jon Rawlins (17) Mesquite, TX Matt Berry (17) Tulsa, OK Matthew Cummings (18) Tucson, AZ Beau Runningen (17) West St. Paul, MN Chad Lund (17) Deforest, WI Chris Reid (17) Dartmouth, NS, CANADA 25-32. Tim Horne (16) Beloit, WI Josh Lewis (15) Ft. Wayne, IN Billy Peters (15) Godfrey, ON, CANADA Zach Cikanek (18) Hinsdale, IL Chuck Whiteley (18) O’Fallon, MO Nicholas Stanislowsky (15) Ft. Edward, NY Dustin Byrd (16) Marietta, GA Tommy Hotaling (17) Broken Arrow, OK 33-48. Ryan Balks (16) Holland, MI Derek Berlanga (17) Island Lake, IL Kelly Kyle (18) High River, AB, CANADA Michael Sanders, Jr (17) Russellvile, AR Bradley Harrelson (15) Alto, GA Dustin Wilgus (17) Van Wert, OH Orlando Garcia (18) Arlington, TX Billy Painter (17) Ronceverte, WV Dirk Vander Ploeg (17) Jenison, MI Daniel Nazzarett (16) Albuquerque, NM Josh Geha (15) traverse City, MI Joe Evans (18) Blanchard, OK Frank Urbaniak (18) Colorado Springs, CO William Parker (15) Bacliff, TX Zack Gippert (15) Loveland, CO Lloyd Moreland (15) Cam Denton, MO 49-64. Joe Curry (18) Arlington, WI Antonio Fidelibus (18) Philadelphia, PA Steven Smith (15) Tampa, FL Brian Reich (18) Schaumburg, IL Mike Coehrs (18) Oregon, OH Chris Beckett (15) Traverse City, MI Ruztin Cortes (17) Daly City, CA Stephen Liverpool (15) Brandon, FL Jason Niesman (16) Freeport, IL Derek Davis (16) Sanford, NC Joey Rushton (15) Villa Park, IL Scott Burns (15) Rio Rancho, NM Seth Richardson (18) Granby, MO Jason Galleguillos (16) Salinas, CA Christopher Dionne (18) Wareham, MA Robbie Blazek (16) Columbus, OH 65-70. Jeff Cihocki (18) Boynton Beach, FL Philip Wishart (15) Tulsa, OK Donald DeLong (16) Inman, NE Daniel Franck (18) Lake Worth, FL Jason McCloskey (16) Clarance, PA 18 & Under Girls 1. Michelle Rakin (17) Daly City, CA 2. Laura Bartlett (18) Littleton, CO 3. Kristen Perkins (18) West Coxsackie, NY 4. Melissa Morris (17) Desert Hot Springs, CA 5-6. Anna Kostanian (13) Albuquerque, NM Mary Rakin (13) Daly City, CA 7-8. Pamela Treadway (13) Monroe, MI Sarah Rousey (18) Bloomington, IL 9-12. Juliette Houtz (14) Middletown, PA Jennifer Skippergosh (13) Palatine, IL Jana Arnold (18) Texarkana, AR Allie Shaffer (15) Shoreline, WA 13-16. Breanne Carey (14) Ingleside, IL Chelsea Hardwick (9) Evansville, IN Kelly O’Heron (18) Wausau, WI Michelle McDermott (17) Tulsa, OK 17-24. Celina Hyde (14) Demorest, GA Laura Orozco (9) Salinas, CA Dana Tonjum (17) Apple Valley, MN Laura Lindauer (18) Miami, FL Allison Hardwick (11) Evansville, IN Alexandra Calabrese (11) Auburn, PA Regina Rakin (14) Daly City, CA Tracy Willie (18) Holy Cross, IA 25-32. Jessica Gippert (14) Loveland, CO Megan Pekala (18) Naperville, IL Rachel Sawyer (16) Kennett, MO Crystal Rowlett (12) Alto, GA Sarah Thayer (18) Chandler, AZ Ryla Ortiz (11) Owasso, OK Natalie Smith (11) Widefield, CO Brittany Castellano (14) Lutz, FL 33-36. Rebecca Hughes (13) Delaware, OH Stephanie Rhodes (18) Rapid City, SD Jessica Bailey (13) Albuquerque, NM Jessica Pierson (17) Webb City, MO 14 & Under Open 1. Tyler Strawn (14) Owasso, OK 2. Joey Gray (14) Bethany, OK 3. Michael Banks Jr. (13) Blue Springs, MO 4. Justin Hall (13) Ellenton, FL 5-6. Bryce Loveland (14) Midwest City, OK Shyon Keoppel (14) Oklahoma City, OK 7-8. Kyle Crichton (13) Georgetown, TX Justin Bergman (13) Fairview Heights, IL 9-12. Daniel Rakin (12) Daly City, CA Telly Kikrilis (13) E. Stroudsburg, PA John Abruzzo Jr. (14) Villa Park, IL P.J. Morcombe (14) Hillsborough, NC 13-16. Xavier Willis (13) Orange Village, OH Kyle Kleis (14) Westfield, MA Jonathan Fasking (14) Wann, OK Adam Behnke (12) Holy Cross, IA 17-24. Matthew Davis (14) Noble, IL Michael Alfonso (13) Fall River, MA Dante Rakin (12) Daly City, CA Clint Black (14) Universal City, TX Josh Marlowe (13) Battle Creek, MI Raphael Montoya (14) Denver, CO Rudy McGill Jr. (14) Janesville, WI Adam Hordos (12) Calgary, AB, CANADA 25-32. Jonathan LeBlanc (13) Fort Worth, TX D.J. Mitchell (14) Porter, OK Zach Robinson (11) Columbus, KS Kenny Hobbins (13) Rochester, NY Shane Jackson (13) Weirton, WV Charles Van Loucks (12) Englewood, CO Drayton Aldridge (12) Boone, NC Dakota Conroy (14) Tucson, AZ 33-44. Shawn Carlson (14) Beloit, WI Sean Wright (11) Loveland, CO Prescott Buckwold (13) Vero Beach, FL Tony Bushman (14) Holy Cross, IA Michael Reno (13) Odessa, MO Joshua Dodd (14) Baldwin, GA Dominic Riccobene (14) Albuquerque, NM Tommy Najar (13) Las Cruces, NM Ryan Behnke (10) Holy Cross, IA Alex Jones (14) Palatine, IL Marcus Ramirez (14) Sterling, IL Kevin Deal (14) Savannah, GA