ACUI Collegiate Pocket Billiards National Championship

The ACUI Collegiate Pocket Billiards National Championship, in recent years known more specifically as the ACUI Collegiate Nine-ball National Championship, was an amateur United States annual pool competition for university and college students, organized by the Association of College Unions International (ACUI). It was founded in 1937,[1] and was one of ACUI's longest-running programs. In June 2020, the ACUI made the decision to discontinue their National Collegiate Pocket Billiards program.[2]

Format and other event details edit

The championship featured separate men's and women's divisions and champions since 1939.[1] The event and its regional qualifying tournaments followed Billiard Congress of America (BCA) / World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) world-standardized rules, and were double-elmiination in format. The championship was a BCA-sanctioned event, with champions listed as such in BCA's Billiards: The Official Rules and Records Book. BCA was involved in the events' promotion to varying degrees over the years, as was the Billiard Education Foundation (which operates the Junior National Nine-ball Championships, sometimes held jointly with the ACUI event since 2005[3]). First- through fourth-place prizes were scholarship funds, ranging from US$1,000 down to $100 as of 2007.[3]

The championships were usually held in May or June, with qualifying local tournaments held at individual educational institution campuses (or nearby facilities) during the fall and spring semesters.[4] Regional, multi-state playoffs were held toward the end of the spring semester over a weekend, alongside other ACUI competitions, including table tennis, and College Bowl-style trivia.

Name edit

The name of the ACUI championship changed over time, reflecting the particular pool discipline featured in the event. It was most recently known as the ACUI Collegiate Nine-ball National Championship (among various shorter formulations).[2] Collectively, the events were known as the ACUI Collegiate Pocket Billiards National Championships (among shorter formulations).[1][5] The event was sometimes referred to as international,[6] owing to ACUI's name, but was a US national title.

Champions and records edit

History of ACUI Billiards Champions since 1937: [7][8]

Men's Champions edit

Year Champion Champion's School/University Tournament Host
2019 Andreas Madsen Lindenwood University University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
2018 Andreas Madsen Lindenwood University Purdue University
2017 Chris Reinhold Lindenwood University University of Michigan
2016 Sharik Sayed Lindenwood University Arizona State University
2015 Landon Shuffett Lindenwood University University of Akron
2014 Landon Shuffett Lindenwood University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
2013 Raymond Linares Miami Dade College–Kendall Arizona State University
2012 Matt Shilinski University of Maryland–College Park Indiana University Bloomington
2011 Raymond Linares Miami Dade College–Kendall Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
2010 Raymond Linares Miami Dade College–Kendall University of Michigan
2009 Adam Maloney Texas A&M University Illinois State University
2008 Redante Rakin California Polytechnic State University–San Luis Obispo         The University of Arizona [9]
2007 Andy McKinn California State University–Los Angeles Minnesota State University, Mankato [10]
2006 Lars Vardaman             Southern Illinois University–Edwardsville The University of Arizona [11]
2005 Lars Vardaman Southern Illinois University–Edwardsville University of Michigan [12]
2004 Lars Vardaman Southern Illinois University–Edwardsville University of Colorado Boulder [13]
2003 Adam Smith Michigan State University
2002 Jason Cruz University of Puerto Rico
2001 Jason Cruz University of Puerto Rico
2000 Ruben Silva Jr. Pikes Peak Community College
1999 Blucer Rajagukguk Syracuse University
1998 Christopher Biddle University of Connecticut
1997 Anthony Piazza Colorado State University
1996 Anthony Piazza Colorado State University
1995 Kevin Carlberg Montana State University
1994 Max Eberle James Madison University
1993 Max Eberle James Madison University
1992 David Uwate University of Florida
1991 Frank Alonso University of Nebraska–Lincoln
1990 Marc Oelslager St. Cloud State University
1989 Gary Asbell Florida State University
1988 Nick Kucharew Mohawk College
1987 Bill Beardsley University of Michigan–Flint
1986 Gary Asbell Florida State University
1985 No tournament held
1984 Gary French California State College–Stanislaus
1983 Robert Madenjian Kansas State University
1982 Thomas Golly Penn State University
1981 No tournament held
1980 Rob Hovick University of Minnesota–Duluth
1979 Peter Lhotka University of North Dakota
1978 Steve Cusick University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign
1977 Jay Hungerford Arizona State University
1976 John Cianflone Rutgers University
1975 Bob Jewett University of California–Berkeley
1974 Dan Louie Washington State University
1973 Dan Louie Washington State University
1972 Andrew Tennent University of Wisconsin
1971 Keith Woestehoff Ohio University
1970 Nick Varner Purdue University
1969 Nick Varner Purdue University
1968 Marshall Boelter University of Illinois–Chicago Circle
1967 Richard Baumgarth Purdue University
1966 William Wells Tulane University
1965 William Wells Tulane University
1964 William Hendricks Southern Illinois University
1963 Larry Galloway Indiana University
1962 Robert Burke University of Oregon
1961 Jim Finucane University of Notre Dame
1960 Henry Parks Indiana University
1959 Donald Dull State College of Washington
1958 Lloyd Courter State University of Iowa
1957 Joseph Sapanaro Suffolk University
1956 Joseph Sapanaro Suffolk University
1955 Rodney Boyd Ohio State University
1954 John Beaudette Michigan State College
1953 John Beaudette Michigan State College
1952 Bill Simms University of Georgia
1951 Leroy Kinman Eastern Kentucky State
1950 Leroy Kinman Eastern Kentucky State
1949 Leroy Kinman Eastern Kentucky State
1948 Jack Brown     University of Utah
1947 Leif Mabie University of Florida
1946 No tournament held
1945 No tournament held
1944 J. Zvanya Indiana University
1943 Leif Mabie University of Florida
1942 Leo Bonimi Cornell University
1941 Lloyd Green University of Kansas
1940 John O. Miller University of Wisconsin
1939 Peter Choulas Colgate University
1938 J. L. Geiger University of Florida
1937 John O. Miller University of Wisconsin

Women's Champions edit

Year Champion Champion's School/University Tournament Host
2019 April Larson Lindenwood University University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
2018 Taylor Hansen Lindenwood University Purdue University
2017 Briana Miller Lindenwood University University of Michigan
2016 Briana Miller Lindenwood University Arizona State University
2015 Briana Miller Lindenwood University University of Akron
2014 Briana Miller Lindenwood University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
2013 Andrea Flores Portland Community College Arizona State University
2012 Michelle Yim University of Houston Indiana University Bloomington
2011 Delia Mocanu Northeastern University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
2010 Lindsey Dorn Purdue University University of Michigan
2009 Shari Cui University of Illinois–Chicago Illinois State University
2008 Milica Kozomara Northern Illinois University The University of Arizona [9]
2007 Eleanor Callado San Francisco State University Minnesota State University, Mankato [10]
2006 Eleanor Callado San Francisco State University The University of Arizona [11]
2005 Eleanor Callado San Francisco State University University of Michigan [12]
2004 Maria Juana University of Wisconsin–Madison University of Colorado Boulder [13]
2003 Eleanor Callado San Francisco State University
2002 Laura Lo University of Colorado–Colorado Springs
2001 Laura Lo University of Colorado–Colorado Springs
2000 Angela Mears University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
1999 Ellen Hale Florida State University
1998 Elania Wong University of Illinois–Chicago
1997 Heather Perrigoue University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
1996 Erica Testa University of New Hampshire  
1995 Heather Perrigoue University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
1994 Rachel Ross University of Washington
1993 Carla Swails College of Southern Idaho
1992 Laura Bendikas University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign
1991 Leanne Okada University of California–Berkeley
1990 Susan Tillotson Florida State University
1989 Cathy Petrowski North Texas State University
1988 Janet Dordell Penn State University
1987 Penny Beile University of Kentucky
1986 Kathy Trabue Ohio State University
1985 No tournamanet held
1984 Shirley Weathers Triton College
1983 Helen Yamasaki California State University–Los Angeles
1982 Jane Bartram University of Colorado
1981 No tournamanet held
1980 Shari Verrill University of Wisconsin–Madison
1979 Julie Bentz Fitzpatrick University of Wisconsin–Madison
1978 Mari Dana Heydon Oregon State University
1977 Julie Bentz University of Wisconsin–Madison
1976 Melissa Rice University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
1975 Debra Weiner Northern Illinois University
1974 Janice Ogawa Boise State University
1973 Marcia Girolamo State University of New York–Oswego
1972 Krista Hartmann Santa Fe Junior College (Gainesville, Fla.)
1971 Marcia Girolamo State University of New York–Oswego
1970 Catherine Stephens Western Washington State
1969 Donna Ries University of Missouri–Kansas City
1968 Gail Allums University of Iowa
1967 Shirley Glicen University of Miami
1966 Linda Randolph Iowa State University
1965 Susan Sloan University of Texas
1964 Barbara Watkins Bowling Green State University
1963 Barbara Watkins Bowling Green State University
1962 San Merrick Bowling Green State University
1961 Ann Sidlauskas Indiana University
1960 Darlene McCabe University of Oregon
1959 Jan Deeter Purdue University  
1958 Nancy Clark University of Iowa
1957 Judy Ferles University of Arizona
1956 Judy Ferles University of Arizona
1955 Lee McGary University of Oregon
1954 Joanne Skonning Purdue University
1953 Jackie Slusher Oregon State College
1952 Sondra Bilsky Purdue University
1951 Ramona Fielder South Dakota State College
1950 No tournament held
1949 Cora Libbey University of Wisconsin
1948 Jeanne Lynch Rhode Island State
1947 No tournament held
1946 No tournament held
1945 No tournament held
1944 Barbara Jackson Colorado State College of Education
1943 Mary Jean Noonan South Dakota State College
1942 Emily Ann Julian South Dakota State College
1941 No tournament held
1940 No tournament held
1939 Margaret Anderson University of Illinois

The 2015 winners and runners-up:

Women's division
First place: Briana Miller of Lindenwood University (defending 2014 division champion; 2010 Super Billiards Expo Nine-ball Champion (women's); former multi-year BEF Junior National Champion and 2010 WPA World Juniors runner-up; pro-am competitor in the WPBA since age 13)[14]
Second place: Alex Bayless of Southern Illinois University–Edwardsville
Third place: Rachny Soun of James Madison University, Virginia
Men's division
First place: Landon Shuffett of Lindenwood University, Missouri (defending 2014 division champion; Kentucky State Men's Nine-ball Champion; and former multi-year BEF Junior National Champion[15])
Second place: Sharik Sayed of Lindenwood University
Third place: Touy Bouapha of Madison Area Technical College, Wisconsin

As of 2007, the player with the record number of first-place titles was Eleanor Callado, then of San Francisco State University, California, winning the women's division four times, in 2003 and 2005–2007 (taking second place in 2004).[3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c https://www.acui.org/content.aspx?menu_id=14&id=13181
  2. ^ a b "Billiards". www.acui.org.
  3. ^ a b c "Pool & Billiard Magazine". 19 September 2011. Archived from the original on 19 September 2011.
  4. ^ https://uunions.umich.edu/billiards/article/acui-intercollegiate-recreation
  5. ^ http://billiardeducation.org/acui-announces-collegiate-national-contestants/ Archived 10 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ http://www.insidepoolmag.com/201206/billiard-news/national-collegiate-billiards-championships-underway.html
  7. ^ "History of ACUI Billiards Champions since 1937". 10 October 2016. Archived from the original on 10 October 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  8. ^ "9-Ball History of Champions". 27 December 2016. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  9. ^ a b "#1 Billiards Software, Pool Hall POS, Rental Management | 2008 BEF Junior Nationals ACUI Collegiate 9-Ball Championships Head to the University of Arizona Tuc". Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  10. ^ a b "July » 2007 » 9-Ball Billiards". Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  11. ^ a b "Betz's ACUI Page". www-personal.umich.edu. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  12. ^ a b "BCA July 2005 Press Releases". 9 January 2011. Archived from the original on 9 January 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  13. ^ a b "Betz's ACUI Page". www-personal.umich.edu. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  14. ^ http://billiardeducation.org/briana-miller/ Archived 4 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ http://billiardeducation.org/landon-shuffett/ Archived 4 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine

External links edit