ACUI Collegiate Pocket Billiards National Championship

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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]

Contents

Format and other event details

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

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

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

Men's Champions

YearChampionChampion's School/UniversityTournament Host
2019Andreas MadsenLindenwood UniversityUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
2018Andreas MadsenLindenwood UniversityPurdue University
2017 Chris Reinhold Lindenwood UniversityUniversity of Michigan
2016Sharik SayedLindenwood UniversityArizona State University
2015Landon ShuffettLindenwood UniversityUniversity of Akron
2014Landon ShuffettLindenwood UniversityVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
2013Raymond LinaresMiami Dade College–KendallArizona State University
2012Matt ShilinskiUniversity of Maryland–College ParkIndiana University Bloomington
2011Raymond LinaresMiami Dade College–KendallVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
2010Raymond LinaresMiami Dade College–KendallUniversity of Michigan
2009Adam MaloneyTexas A&M UniversityIllinois State University
2008Redante RakinCalifornia Polytechnic State University–San Luis Obispo        The University of Arizona [9]
2007Andy McKinnCalifornia State University–Los AngelesMinnesota State University, Mankato [10]
2006Lars Vardaman            Southern Illinois University–EdwardsvilleThe University of Arizona [11]
2005Lars VardamanSouthern Illinois University–EdwardsvilleUniversity of Michigan [12]
2004Lars VardamanSouthern Illinois University–EdwardsvilleUniversity of Colorado Boulder [13]
2003Adam SmithMichigan State University
2002Jason CruzUniversity of Puerto Rico
2001Jason CruzUniversity of Puerto Rico
2000Ruben Silva Jr.Pikes Peak Community College
1999Blucer RajagukgukSyracuse University
1998Christopher BiddleUniversity of Connecticut
1997Anthony PiazzaColorado State University
1996Anthony PiazzaColorado State University
1995Kevin CarlbergMontana State University
1994 Max Eberle James Madison University
1993 Max Eberle James Madison University
1992David UwateUniversity of Florida
1991Frank AlonsoUniversity of Nebraska–Lincoln
1990Marc OelslagerSt. Cloud State University
1989Gary AsbellFlorida State University
1988Nick KucharewMohawk College
1987Bill BeardsleyUniversity of Michigan–Flint
1986Gary AsbellFlorida State University
1985No tournament held
1984Gary FrenchCalifornia State College–Stanislaus
1983Robert MadenjianKansas State University
1982Thomas GollyPenn State University
1981No tournament held
1980Rob HovickUniversity of Minnesota–Duluth
1979Peter LhotkaUniversity of North Dakota
1978Steve CusickUniversity of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign
1977Jay HungerfordArizona State University
1976John CianfloneRutgers University
1975Bob JewettUniversity of California–Berkeley
1974Dan LouieWashington State University
1973Dan LouieWashington State University
1972Andrew TennentUniversity of Wisconsin
1971Keith WoestehoffOhio University
1970 Nick Varner Purdue University
1969 Nick Varner Purdue University
1968Marshall BoelterUniversity of Illinois–Chicago Circle
1967Richard BaumgarthPurdue University
1966William WellsTulane University
1965William WellsTulane University
1964William HendricksSouthern Illinois University
1963Larry GallowayIndiana University
1962Robert BurkeUniversity of Oregon
1961Jim FinucaneUniversity of Notre Dame
1960Henry ParksIndiana University
1959Donald DullState College of Washington
1958Lloyd CourterState University of Iowa
1957Joseph SapanaroSuffolk University
1956Joseph SapanaroSuffolk University
1955Rodney BoydOhio State University
1954John BeaudetteMichigan State College
1953John BeaudetteMichigan State College
1952Bill SimmsUniversity of Georgia
1951Leroy KinmanEastern Kentucky State
1950Leroy KinmanEastern Kentucky State
1949Leroy KinmanEastern Kentucky State
1948Jack Brown    University of Utah
1947Leif MabieUniversity of Florida
1946No tournament held
1945No tournament held
1944J. ZvanyaIndiana University
1943Leif MabieUniversity of Florida
1942Leo BonimiCornell University
1941Lloyd GreenUniversity of Kansas
1940John O. MillerUniversity of Wisconsin
1939Peter ChoulasColgate University
1938J. L. GeigerUniversity of Florida
1937John O. MillerUniversity of Wisconsin

Women's Champions

YearChampionChampion's School/UniversityTournament Host
2019April LarsonLindenwood UniversityUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
2018Taylor HansenLindenwood UniversityPurdue University
2017Briana MillerLindenwood UniversityUniversity of Michigan
2016Briana MillerLindenwood UniversityArizona State University
2015Briana MillerLindenwood UniversityUniversity of Akron
2014Briana MillerLindenwood UniversityVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
2013Andrea FloresPortland Community CollegeArizona State University
2012Michelle YimUniversity of HoustonIndiana University Bloomington
2011Delia MocanuNortheastern UniversityVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
2010Lindsey DornPurdue UniversityUniversity of Michigan
2009Shari CuiUniversity of Illinois–ChicagoIllinois State University
2008Milica KozomaraNorthern Illinois UniversityThe University of Arizona [9]
2007Eleanor CalladoSan Francisco State UniversityMinnesota State University, Mankato [10]
2006Eleanor CalladoSan Francisco State UniversityThe University of Arizona [11]
2005Eleanor CalladoSan Francisco State UniversityUniversity of Michigan [12]
2004Maria JuanaUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of Colorado Boulder [13]
2003Eleanor CalladoSan Francisco State University
2002Laura LoUniversity of Colorado–Colorado Springs
2001Laura LoUniversity of Colorado–Colorado Springs
2000Angela MearsUniversity of Michigan–Ann Arbor
1999Ellen HaleFlorida State University
1998Elania WongUniversity of Illinois–Chicago
1997Heather PerrigoueUniversity of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
1996Erica TestaUniversity of New Hampshire  
1995Heather PerrigoueUniversity of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
1994Rachel RossUniversity of Washington
1993Carla SwailsCollege of Southern Idaho
1992Laura BendikasUniversity of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign
1991Leanne OkadaUniversity of California–Berkeley
1990Susan TillotsonFlorida State University
1989Cathy PetrowskiNorth Texas State University
1988Janet DordellPenn State University
1987Penny BeileUniversity of Kentucky
1986Kathy TrabueOhio State University
1985No tournamanet held
1984Shirley WeathersTriton College
1983Helen YamasakiCalifornia State University–Los Angeles
1982Jane BartramUniversity of Colorado
1981No tournamanet held
1980Shari VerrillUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
1979Julie Bentz FitzpatrickUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
1978Mari Dana HeydonOregon State University
1977Julie BentzUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
1976Melissa RiceUniversity of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
1975Debra WeinerNorthern Illinois University
1974Janice OgawaBoise State University
1973Marcia GirolamoState University of New York–Oswego
1972Krista HartmannSanta Fe Junior College (Gainesville, Fla.)
1971Marcia GirolamoState University of New York–Oswego
1970Catherine StephensWestern Washington State
1969Donna RiesUniversity of Missouri–Kansas City
1968Gail AllumsUniversity of Iowa
1967Shirley GlicenUniversity of Miami
1966Linda RandolphIowa State University
1965Susan SloanUniversity of Texas
1964Barbara WatkinsBowling Green State University
1963Barbara WatkinsBowling Green State University
1962San MerrickBowling Green State University
1961Ann SidlauskasIndiana University
1960Darlene McCabeUniversity of Oregon
1959Jan DeeterPurdue University  
1958Nancy ClarkUniversity of Iowa
1957Judy FerlesUniversity of Arizona
1956Judy FerlesUniversity of Arizona
1955Lee McGaryUniversity of Oregon
1954Joanne SkonningPurdue University
1953Jackie SlusherOregon State College
1952Sondra BilskyPurdue University
1951Ramona FielderSouth Dakota State College
1950No tournament held
1949Cora LibbeyUniversity of Wisconsin
1948Jeanne LynchRhode Island State
1947No tournament held
1946No tournament held
1945No tournament held
1944Barbara JacksonColorado State College of Education
1943Mary Jean NoonanSouth Dakota State College
1942Emily Ann JulianSouth Dakota State College
1941No tournament held
1940No tournament held
1939Margaret AndersonUniversity 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]

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References

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