18&U 10-Ball National Champion Sofia Mast
The 36th Annual BEF (Billiard Education Foundation) Junior National Pool Championships concluded on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at the Oakley-Lindsay Civic Center in Quincy, Illinois. Over 150 billiard student- athletes from 21 states attended this year’s event.
Junior Heyball National Championships sponsored by JOY Billiards
The week kicked off with the inaugural USA Junior Heyball National Championships played on 19 pristine Joy Heyball tables. Players and spectators were treated to high level pool by our 57 junior athletes who entered this new pool discipline.
22 & Under Men’s Junior Heyball National Championships
- Gold medalist: Payne McBride from Middleton, IN
- Silver medalist: Ben Kleinfelter from Perrysburg, OH
- Bronze medalist: Robert Orta from Odessa, TX
22 & Under Women’s Junior Heyball National Championships
- Gold medalist: Ava Weems from Tom Bean, TX
- Silver medalist: Tiffany Tang from Tallahassee, FL
- Bronze medalist: Kennedy Dunn from Newport, VT
18 & Under Boy’s Junior Heyball National Championships</>
- Gold medalist: Jamison Gall from Council Bluffs, IA
- Silver medalist: Adrian Prasad from Sacramento, CO
- Bronze medalist: Siyu Chen from Groton, MA
18 & Under Girl’s Junior Heyball National Championships
- Gold medalist: Sofia Mast from Wesley Chapel, FL
- Silver medalist: Savannah Easton from Las Vegas, NV
- Bronze medalist: Kennedy Dunn from Newport, VT
14 & Under Coed Junior Heyball National Championships
- Gold medalist: Hayden Ernst from Louisville, KY
- Silver medalist: Noel Montano from Colorado Springs, CO
- Bronze medalist: Isaac Garcia, Jr. from Denver, CO
As champions of the 18&U Heyball divisions, both Jamison Gall and Sofia Mast will receive an all- expenses paid trip to upcoming JOY’s WPA World Junior Heyball Championships (location and date are still TBD).
18&U 10-Ball National Champion Adrian Prasad
Junior National 8-Ball Championships sponsored by Lucasi Custom Cues
The next event to wrap up was the Junior National 8-Ball Championships sponsored by Lucasi Custom Cues, which saw many familiar competitors continue to take the podium.
22 & Under Men’s National 8-Ball Championships sponsored by Lucasi Custom Cues
- **Gold medalist: Adrian Prasad from Sacramento, CA
- Silver medalist: Payne McBride from Middleton, IN
- Bronze medalist: Landon Memberg from Saint Peters, MO
22 & Under Women’s National 8-Ball Championships sponsored by Lucasi Custom Cues
- **Gold medalist: Sofia Mast from Welsey Chapel, FL
- Silver medalist: Savannah Easton from Las Vegas, NV
- Bronze medalist: Jorden Helfrey from St. Joseph, MO
16 & Under Coed Junior National 8-Ball Championships sponsored by Lucasi Custom Cues
- Gold medalist: Hayden Ernst from Louisville, KY
- Silver medalist: Kaden Hillman from New London, WI
- Bronze medalist: Noel Montano from Colorado Springs, Colorado
10 & Under Coed Junior National 8-Ball Championships sponsored by Lucasi Custom Cues
- Gold medalist: Donovan Seymor from Raymond, CA
- Silver medalist: Able Kuhns from Cheyenne, WY
- Bronze medalist: Christian Montalvo from Ypsilanti, MI
As the champions in the 22&U men’s and women’s National 8-Ball Championship: Adrain Prasad won an invite and free entry into the 2024 WPA Men’s World 8-Ball Championship in New Zealand; and Sofia Mast won a free entry into a WPBA event for 2024.
Junior National 9-Ball Championships sponsored by Diamond Billiard Products
In the Junior National 9-Ball Championships sponsored by Diamond Billiard Products, 13-year-old Hayden Ernst was on a mission to not accept runner-up again this year. In the end, he defeated Wisconsin’s Damond Kahler with his parents and grandparents continually cheering for him. Mast defended her Junior National 9-Ball titles once again.
16 & Under Girl’s Junior National 9-Ball Championships sponsored by Diamond Billiard Products
- Gold medalist: Sofia Mast from Welsey Chapel, FL
- Silver medalist: April Gonzales from DFW, TX
- Bronze medalist: Kennedy Dunn from Newport, VT
14 & Under Girl’s Junior National 9-Ball Championships sponsored by Diamond Billiard Products
- Gold medalist: Jorden Helfrey from St. Joseph, MO
- Silver medalist: Kennedy Dunn from Newport, VT
- Bronze medalist: Savannah Easton from Las Vegas, NV
16&U 10-Ball National Champion Hayden Ernst
14 & Under Boy’s Junior National 9-Ball Championships sponsored by Diamond Billiard Products
- Gold medalist: Hayden Ernst from Louisville, KY
- Silver medalist: Damond Kahler from Appleton, WI
- Bronze medalist: Gavin Mathew from Frisco, TX
Junior National Straight Pool Championships sponsored by McDermott Cues
The Junior National Straight Pool Championships sponsored by McDermott Cues saw a slight format change this year. Going from match play to ball–in-hand challenges, the top four highest cumulative scores advanced to a single-elimination bracket for their respective divisions.
22 & Under Men’s Straight Pool National Championships sponsored by McDermott Cues
- Gold medalist: Adrain Prasad from Sacramento, CA
- Silver medalist: Eddie Vonderau from Blacksburg, VA
- Bronze medalist: Aidan Wagner from Sparrow Bush, NY
- Bronze medalist: Brayden Bowen from OKC, OK
22 & Under Women’s Straight Pool National Championships sponsored by McDermott Cues
- Gold medalist: Savannah Easton from Las Vegas, NV
- Silver medalist: Jorden Helfrey from St. Joseph, MO
- Bronze medalist: Sofia Mast from Welsey Chapel, FL
- Bronze medalist: Alessandra Alejandro from Elmhurst, NY
16 & Under Boy’s Junior National Straight Pool Championships sponsored by McDermott Cues
- Gold medalist: Eddie Vonderau from Blacksburg, VA
- Silver medalist: Shane Petrick from Houston, TX
- Bronze medalist: Hayden Ernst from Louisville, KY
- Bronze medalist: Landon Wiser from Norman, OK
16 & Under Girl’s Junior National Straight Pool Championships sponsored by McDermott Cues
- Gold medalist: Jorden Helfrey from St. Joseph, MO
- Silver medalist: Sofia Mast from Welsey Chapel, FL
- Bronze medalist: Avah Weems from Tom Bean, TX
- Bronze medalist: April Gonzales from DFW, TX
In additional to the tournament for Straight pool, the BEF also committed to recording and providing $1000 scholarship for the high runs throughout the tournament. This year, Eddie Vonderau from Blacksburg, VA captured the boys high run with 44 balls, and Savannah Easton from Las Vegas, NV secured the girls high run with 28 balls.
Junior National 10-Ball Championships sponsored by Iwan Simonis
The main event to wrap up the week was the Junior National 10-Ball Championships sponsored by Iwan Simonis and this event determined who would represent Team USA at the 2024 WPA World Junior Championships in New Zealand. As a bonus, two additional 22 & Under divisions were added to the 10- Ball event. It’s no surprise that Mast and Easton met up in a thrilling hill-hill final once again while Prasad and Ernst continue to display their dominance on their own respective 10-Ball divisions.
22 & Under Men’s National 10-Ball Championship sponsored by Iwan Simonis
- Gold medalist: Adrain Prasad from Sacramento, CA
- Silver medalist: Bryzen Manipula from Ontario, Canada
- Bronze medalist: Ben Kleinfelter from Perrysburg, OH
- Bronze medalist: Jamison Gall from Council Bluffs, IA
22 & Under Women’s National 10-Ball Championship sponsored by Iwan Simonis
- Gold medalist: Savannah Easton from Las Vegas, NV
- Silver medalist: Avah Weems from Tom Bean, TX
- Bronze medalist: Kennedy Dunn from Newport, VT
- Bronze medalist: Kaitlyn Giddens from Clinton, NC
18 & Under Boy’s National 10-Ball Championship sponsored by Iwan Simonis
- Gold medalist: Adrian Prasad from Sacramento, CA
- Silver medalist: Eddie Vonderau from Blacksburg, VA
- Bronze medalist: Payne McBride from Middleton, IN
- Bronze medalist: Kaden Hillman from New London, WI
18 & Under Girl’s National 10-Ball Championship sponsored by Iwan Simonis
- Gold medalist: Sofia Mast from Wesley Chapel, FL
- Silver medalist: Savannah Easton from Las Vegas, NV
- Bronze medalist: Leigha Belieu from Waukee, IA
- Bronze medalist: Marissa Du from Sammamish, WA
16 & Under Boy’s National 10-Ball Championship sponsored by Iwan Simonis
- Gold medalist: Hayden Earnest from Louisville, KY
- Silver medalist: Robert Orta from Odessa, TX
- Bronze medalist: Reed Larson from Sioux City
- Bronze medalist: Kaden Hillman from New London, WI
All three 10-Ball world qualifying champions: Adrain Prasad, Sofia Mast, and Hayden Earnst will have the airfare and accommodations cover for their trip to the 2024 WPA World Junior 10-Ball Championships coming up this September in New Zealand.
With sprawling number of events and disciplines the junior athletes participated throughout the week, the BEF also awarded scholarships for Micheal Repici’s Girls in Billiards Scholarship funds to the following champions: Sofia Mast, Savannah Easton, Jorden Helfrey, and Avah Weems.
This year’s Brendan Crocket sportsman award recipients were Avah Weems and Jakob Ross for their continual demonstration of exceptional sportsmanship and behavior throughout the week. Both winners were awarded Meucci Cues as a token of appreciation and setting the standard for how a cue sport athlete should act on and off the table.
In addition to all the pool these young athletes competed in throughout the week, the BEF also recognized over 80 competitors that had a GPA of 3.5 or better and acknowledged them with an All- American Academic medal.
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.
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