Shane Van Boening
Longmont, Colo., May 17, 2024 – The Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame will welcome a generational talent, a league and tournament promotor, and a leader in billiard media to the Hall of Fame class of 2024. The United States Billiard Media Association today announced that South Dakota’s “SVB” Shane Van Boening, amateur league owner and professional tournament promoter Mark Griffin, and Billiards Digest publisher Mike Panozzo have earned induction into the sport’s most prestigious club.
Van Boening, 40, in his first year of eligibility, was the overwhelming leader in the voting, named on 96% of the voting ballots. He will enter the Greatest Players wing of the BCA Hall of Fame, while the late Mark Griffin and Mike Panozzo, 60, will be honored in the Meritorious Service category. The BCA and the USBMA will induct them on Friday, Nov. 29, at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando in conjunction with the Mosconi Cup.
Born July 14, 1983, to a pool-playing family in Rapid City, South Dakota, Shane Van Boening began playing pool as a young child and quickly became one of the country’s best bar table players, winning numerous national amateur titles. Venturing into the professional arena in the early 2000s, the “South Dakota Kid” immediately established himself as a top-tier player. Since then, he has won virtually every significant title in the game, including a WPA World 9-Ball Championship, a WPA World 8-Ball Championship, and five (5) U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship titles. He is considered to be the greatest American player of his generation and arguably one of the top five players in the world over the last 15 years.
“Being inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame is the coolest thing ever,” Van Boening said about his election. “You think about how many years you’ve played pool and everything that it took to get to the top. It means you’ve won a lot of tournaments and championships. There are so many great players in the Hall of Fame, and now I get to be alongside them. It means a lot.”
Mark Griffin
Mark Griffin’s passion was always working to support and grow the billiard industry. Griffin had been a player, certified instructor, premier table mechanic, pool room owner, member of the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) Board of Directors, league and tournament promotor, table manufacturer, sponsor, investor, mentor, and innovator. A double-lung transplant recipient in 2015, Griffin passed away in 2023 at 76 years old, after a battle with brain cancer.
Among his many billiard-related activities, Griffin had acquired the Billiard Congress of America’s amateur pool league in 2004 and created CueSports International (CSI) as its parent company. Through CSI, Griffin had also created and sustained several premier tournaments including the US Open 10-Ball Championship, US Open 8-Ball Championship, US Open One Pocket Championship, and US Open Straight Pool Championship among many others. In 2018, Griffin sold CSI to Ozzy Reynolds, who had previously been CSI’s general manager.
“Mark definitely left the sport better than he found it,” shared Reynolds. “His contributions will continue to be felt for generations to come. I cannot think of a more deserving person for this honor.”
Mike Panozzo
Mike Panozzo devoted his entire professional career to billiards media. Billiards Digest publisher, Luby Publishing, hired Panozzo, a journalism major at Marquette University, directly out of college in 1980 to be the editor for the company and eventually he rose to became the publisher of Billiards Digest in 1994.
Panozzo served on the BCA Board of Directors from 1991-1992 and from 1998-1999 and has served extensively on its Promotions Committee in addition to chairing its Hall of Fame Committee. He served as a board member of the Billiard and Bowling Institute of America (BBIA) and was its president in 2001. He was honored with the BCA President’s Award in 2005 and received the BBIA Industry Service Award in 2017.
“I’m shocked…it’s a very strange feeling, to be honest.” Panozzo said when informed of his selection. “Anyone who knows me know how passionate I am about the significance and importance of the BCA Hall of Fame. I can honestly say that in 44 years in this industry, I never ever thought about being in the Hall of Fame. I’m beyond humbled that people in this business, for whom I have a great amount of respect, considered me worthy of being included!”
About the United States Billiard Media Association
Founded in 2007, the United States Billiard Media Association (USBMA) is a non-profit association dedicated to elevating the visibility and status of billiards in the media at large. The USBMA consists of professional print, radio, TV, public relations, and Internet media persons who cover cue sports. One of the association’s main functions is electing of billiard media members to the Billiard Congress of America’s Hall of Fame Board for the purpose of nominating and electing players and notable figures to the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame.
About Billiard Congress of America
Founded in 1948, the Billiard Congress of America is a non-profit trade organization dedicated to growing a united, prosperous, and highly regarded billiard industry through Billiard Congress of America leadership. The Billiard Congress of America seeks to enhance the success of its members and promote the game of billiards though educational, marketing, and promotional efforts, annual industry trade shows and other programs designed to encourage billiards as a lifestyle and make pool everybody’s game. For more information, visit www.bca-pool.com or call 303.243.5070.
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