Nick Varner Signature Case sponsors on the 2008-2009 Pechauer All American Tour returns for its 4th Year

The American CueSports Alliance (ACS) is pleased to announce the fourth annual installment of the All American Tour. ACS will again be teaming up with sponsors Pechauer Custom Cues, Championship Billiard Fabric and Nick Varner Signature Cases (in addition to new partner oZone Billiards!) to produce the Tour. With fifty (50) stops nationwide to be conducted between October, 2008 and June, 2009, the Pechauer All American Tour is one of the largest in the nation.

All events are open to any amateur player (all paying the same entry fee) vying for $500-$1,500 added prize fund events, with the highest-placing ACS member receiving an extra perk of claiming a free singles entry to the ACS Nationals in Las Vegas, May 31 - June 6, 2009.

The ACS is the national, member-governed assocation which offers opportunity programs for sanctioning independent pool leagues, referee and coach certification, junior championships and thirteen affiliated state associations. Further information on ACS and the Tour, entry details and schedules for the 2008/2009 Pechauer All American Tour are available at www.americancuesports.org.

Cross country: Ironwood Ridge girls look strong

Ironwood Ridge hopes to dominate the girls high school cross country scene once again.

Sophomore Sarah Miville, who won the Class 5A Division II individual state championship as a freshman in 2007, was tops at the 5A Southern-II Region meet and helped the Nighthawks win the team state title.

"I'm hoping to continue with my success," Miville said. "I'm also hoping we can get another state championship."

The Nighthawks also bring back junior Allison Crawford and sophomore Lauren Cooper. Katherine Howard moves up from the junior varsity.

"A lot of the girls have improved from last year and it will be exciting to see what happens," Miville said. "Kat Howard has improved the most. She was bummed that she wasn't on the state team."

Gary Forrest, the boys cross country coach who worked with most of the girls team during the spring track season, thinks the Nighthawks have as talented a team as any.

"They're strong and one of the best teams in the state," Forrest said. "It's a good sign of things to come. "

Boys cross country

The 2008 season appears to be promising for the boys cross country team at Catalina.

Coach Nick Varner has high hopes for the team, saying the Trojans have the potential to contend for a 4A Gila Region and 4A Division II state championship.

"This is one of the best boys team I have coached in a while," Varner said.

Catalina's top runners are seniors Wais Khaurabdesh, Stephen Pierson and Mario Portillo. Sophomore Alejandro Montano adds depth to the talented Trojan squad.

U.S. Open Opens Field to more players

Due to rumors of the World 9-ball championships possibly being cancelled, The U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships has opened the field to give all the great players from America and all over the world the opportunity to play in this year’s U.S. Open. 

Players, you must have your $600.00 entry fee paid by October 12th, 2008 to avoid the $50.00 late fee.  So please be sure to get it in on time.

In the event of the field exceeding 256 players, matches will still be held at the normal times of 11, 1, 3 & 7, 9, 11. Pre-designated loser bracket matches will be played at Q-master Billiards in order to stay on “cue” with all scheduled matches on Tuesday, Wednesday and possibly Thursday at 11, 1 and 3.  Matches will be determined by the flow chart prior to the draw.  The final day will begin at 1 p.m. and conclude with the finals beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Of course, more players means more money added to the purse!  All additional entries will be added to the total prize fund amount.

Example 1: 300 Players adds $26,400.00 to the purse and will pay up to 128 players.
Example 2: 400 Players adds $86,400.00 to the purse!

We are looking forward to the 33rd Annual U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships! Thank you for your continued dedication and support throughout the years. We are excited to see if Shane Van Boening can repeat as Champion.  Nick Varner is the only U.S. Open Champion in history to have achieved two consecutive championships in 1989-1990.