I know pool is a young man's game, but sheesh!
http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/ESPNSports/story?id=1366327
9-year-old qualifies for national pool tournament
Nine-year old Jontel Barita qualified for the U.S. Pool Players Association national tournament in Reno, Nev., which started Thursday.
Associated Press
Dec. 2 MEDFORD, Ore. — Nine-year old Jontel Barita qualified for the U.S. Pool Players Association national tournament in Reno, Nev., which started Thursday.
"He doesn't miss very often," said Wayne Whiting, director of the Southern Oregon chapter of U.S. Pool Players Association. "He has to stretch a lot because he's so short."
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Jontel, a third-grader who stands 4-foot-1, learned how to play pool at age 6 from his grandparents.
"My grandpa bought me a little pool table, and then I started shooting on my grandma's big table," he said.
Jontel is the second-youngest competitor in the amateur pool league's history. The youngest was 7-year-old Austin Murphy of Folsom, Calif., now 11, who won this year's championship for boys ages 14 and younger at the Billiard Congress of America Junior Nationals.
Players qualify by competing at least 14 times in a six-month period. Jontel joined the chapter about seven months ago and has won seven out of 14 tournaments. He beat out 10 of his adult counterparts for a spot at Reno.
"He is the epitome of good sportsmanship," Whiting says. "He shakes hands and always says, 'good shot,' whereas some of the adults throw down their cues and run out huffing and puffing."
There are a couple other news articles on the youngster out today.
http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/ESPNSports/story?id=1366327
9-year-old qualifies for national pool tournament
Nine-year old Jontel Barita qualified for the U.S. Pool Players Association national tournament in Reno, Nev., which started Thursday.
Associated Press
Dec. 2 MEDFORD, Ore. — Nine-year old Jontel Barita qualified for the U.S. Pool Players Association national tournament in Reno, Nev., which started Thursday.
"He doesn't miss very often," said Wayne Whiting, director of the Southern Oregon chapter of U.S. Pool Players Association. "He has to stretch a lot because he's so short."
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Jontel, a third-grader who stands 4-foot-1, learned how to play pool at age 6 from his grandparents.
"My grandpa bought me a little pool table, and then I started shooting on my grandma's big table," he said.
Jontel is the second-youngest competitor in the amateur pool league's history. The youngest was 7-year-old Austin Murphy of Folsom, Calif., now 11, who won this year's championship for boys ages 14 and younger at the Billiard Congress of America Junior Nationals.
Players qualify by competing at least 14 times in a six-month period. Jontel joined the chapter about seven months ago and has won seven out of 14 tournaments. He beat out 10 of his adult counterparts for a spot at Reno.
"He is the epitome of good sportsmanship," Whiting says. "He shakes hands and always says, 'good shot,' whereas some of the adults throw down their cues and run out huffing and puffing."
There are a couple other news articles on the youngster out today.