Nick “The Sniper” Fiore has had a fascination with pool since he was a toddler. He received his first custom Pechauer cue when he was three and still has it in his extensive Pechauer cue collection. Nick made his debut at the 2016 SBE when he beat pro player Emily Duddy in an exhibition match, he would later beat Hunter Lombardo in the same style match. That same year, he placed third in the SBE 12 and under nine ball tournament. Thanks to Pechauer cues for all the great equipment!
Hello! My name is Janet Atwell and I am a pro pool player from Virginia. I started playing pool after I graduated college. In 1999, I played my first female competition on the SEAL tour (Southeast Amateur Ladies Tour). I won multiple SEAL tour events and championships. I have also won multiple regional and state championships, including VA, NC, SC, OK, etc. In 1999, I won my first WPBA qualifier. I was welcomed to the scene with an ESPN interview and have been hooked on pool ever since. I turned pro in 2004 and have been playing WPBA full time. In 2006, I renovated an old 1929 Kress Building in downtown Bristol, TN, and opened Borderline Billiards. In 2013, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Just this year, I’ve reached my five-year milestone of being cancer free! After my fight with cancer, I went back to hospice dedicating my time to helping those who weren’t as blessed. So in addition to being a professional pool player, I am a pool room owner, a TAP league operator, and now a full-time RN/Administrator of Elite Hospice.
“Hi my name is Tanner McKinney. I am 13 years old and grew up always watching my father and brother shoot pool on the Valley pool table that was at our family’s restaurant Schultz’s Crab House in Essex Md. It was amazing to watch how they would move the cue ball around. Now we shoot on a pro cut 7′ Diamond pool table that replaced the Valley table. I have been shooting pool ever since I was big enough to reach the table standing on a milk crate. I used a jump cue to shoot with and had a side arm stroke. When I was 6 years old I started playing in a junior/adult league with my father and brother. In my first league play ever we won the trip to Iowa at Sharky’s Billiards to compete in the APA Junior Championships. It was a great experience. I come from a large family of pool players, all of whom have helped me on my way. Especially my father , who I have learned a lot from just by watching him shoot. He has been there with me and for me every step of the way. This is a very exciting time of my life. I want to thank Kory Wolford and family at the Wolf’s Den for introducing us to J Pechauer. I want to thank Joe and the whole Pechauer family for giving me this wonderful opportunity to represent J Pechauer.
Special thanks to my mom for keeping me and my dad ready at all times.”
I started competing in many tournaments at age 14 while playing in my local TAP league. I played in two Junior National Events finishing 4th and 2nd. With my second place finish I was asked to compete in Junior Worlds which was an unforgettable experience. I also attended the Amway Cup in Taipei Taiwan. This was by far one of the best tournaments I have ever played in. I’ve won the Junior State Championships in NY, MA and NJ.
Known as “The Ambassador of Pool”, Paul has been in the game since he was 6 years old. He has played in over 48 countries and is known for his outstanding trick shot performances—some notable performances being at the White House and for the King of Sweden. One of the seven original founders of the World Pool-Billiard Association, he also helped found the World Trick Shot Artist Association. To top it all off, he’s been awarded a lifetime membership in the Billiard Congress of America.
I started playing pool in 2014 when I discovered that there was a youth league only ten minutes from my home in Harvard, Massachusetts. There, I learned to play with the coaching of Roy Pastor, who taught me everything that I know about playing. Ever since then, it has become such an significant part of my life and has given me so many opportunities that I never would have had before. I got my first Pechauer cue in 2016 and I have continued to use them ever since. They’re a huge step up from the single cue that I started out with and have helped me improve my playing greatly. Other than playing pool, I enjoy rowing, playing the piano, and baking.
Anthony is an up and coming artistic pool player, trick shot artist, and content creator who started playing pool at the age of 8. He found a passion for artistic pool in 2020 during the pandemic and is also part of various pool leagues in Las Vegas. He is pursuing his certification as a PBIA/ACS recognized billiards instructor.
April Larson started playing pool seriously when she was about 9 years old. At just 10 while playing league, her director June Maiers recommended she compete in the BEF Junior National Championships. After she attended her first ever BEF National Championships; she placed 2nd. Unbeknownst to her, she would next go on to become the repeat Junior Champion for the next five years, attend the World Junior Championships twice and participate in the Super Billiards Expo in the Open Women’s Professional Division.
April’s family is a huge part of her life and declared, “without them, I would be nowhere”. She might not have picked up a pool cue if it weren’t for their encouragement. April started playing on her family’s pool team. April has 100% support from her family, who travel across the country with her. “I don’t know many other pool players who can say their entire extended family travels with them to pool tournaments. I wouldn’t change it for the world, and I thank them and love them to the moon and back”.
I started playing pool when I was 7 years old. I made a big “Wow” when I was able to make the cue ball draw back for the first time. That’s when I fell in love with the game!
I started shooting in the BCA league when I was 8. At age 10, I took first place at the 2018 BEF Junior National 9-ball Championships 11 & under division. That same year, I took 2nd place at the 2018 BCAPL World Junior 8-Ball Championships.
It’s a great honor to join the prestigious Pechauer Team.
In 2021, I got 2nd place in 14&under division and 5-6th in 16&under division of BEF national 9 ball championships which qualified me representing Team USA competing in the WPA world junior 9-ball championships at Austria. I finished with 9-12th in the world as one of the youngest kid in the tournament.
Michelle Jiang is the 2017 and 2018 BEF Junior National Girl’s 18 and Under 9-ball champion and BCAPL Women’s Platinum Division 8-ball and 9-ball champion. Michelle has been using Pechauer cues since she started playing at age 12. She has represented the US in the Junior World Championships 5 years in a row. She is also a member of Team USA for the 2018 Atlantic Challenge Cup. Michelle is currently a freshman studying computer science at MIT.
Hi, my name is Kaden Hillman, I am from New London, WI. I started playing pool when I was 8 years old on a table that my dad bought my brother and I. After realizing how much I enjoyed shooting pool, we discovered The Mad Apple and joined their Junior League and have been participating ever since. I have competed in the Badger State Games, along with tournaments in Escanaba, MI and Peoria, IL taking first place in all 3 which qualified me for the 2019 BEF Junior Nationals in Las Vegas.
When I’m not playing pool, I like soccer, fishing, hunting and spending time with family and friends.
Tiana Jiang is the 2018 BEF Junior National Girl’s 14 and Under 9-ball champion. She represented the United States at the 2018 Junior World Championships in Moscow, Russia. Tiana has been using Pechauer cues since she started playing at age 10. Tiana is currently a high school freshman at the Bromfield school in Harvard, MA.
Kolbey Kendall (otherwise known as “The Dozer”) began playing pool at 10 years old. After attending various doubles tournaments with his father, he fell in love with the sport and has been hooked ever since. He’s looking forward to playing in the 2019 BEF Junior National Tournament.
Ezra Seymour lives in the Yosemite foothills of California and started playing pool in 2019 at age 8 as part of the PBIA Break and Run Junior Instructional Program and has been coached by PBIA Master Instructor Roy Pastor since the very beginning. In the past year, Ezra has finished 2nd in the BEF Junior National Online Qualifier 14U division, tied for first in the Scotch Doubles 9 ball tournament at the BEF Junior National Championships, and placed 1st in 9 ball at The Rack Billiards in Fresno, CA.
He is grateful and very proud to be a part of Team Pechauer, and hopes to continue improving and one day represent the USA at the Junior World 9 Ball Championships. Outside of billiards, he enjoys playing the guitar, juggling, and basketball.
Hayleigh was born in Bristol, VA. When Hayleigh was 8 years old, she had the opportunity to go with her father, Jamie Marion, to visit Borderline Billiards in Bristol, Tennessee. There, Hayleigh met WPBA Women’s Professional Janet Atwell. That night was the first time Hayleigh had ever picked up a pool cue. And she has not put it down since. After playing Janet, Hayleigh had been bitten by the “bug”. At the Philadelphia Expo in 2018, Hayleigh finished 8th and caught the attention of Pechauer Cues and was added to the Pechauer Team. Hayleigh reached the Number 2 spot in the Nation as an 11-under female in the BEF Junior Nationals in 2018. More recently, she won her first belt as the March 2019 Steakhorse Women’s Division winner in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Hayleigh is a member of the TAP league at Borderline Billiards and she is also able to maintain her grades and stays on the Honor roll at Virginia Middle School.
Marlin “Wildcard” Foster (12 years old) from Gates, NC, started playing pool at age 10. He joined Team Pechauer in 2023, and his other sponsors include Kamui and Viper Billiards. Marlin’s favorite game is 9 ball. He loves traveling and competing in as many tournaments as possible.
I am 8 years old. My grandfather bought me my first cue at the age of two. My first big tournament win was the 2018 New Mexico State BEF Junior National Qualifier at age 7. That same year I took 5th place in the 12 and under division at the BEF Junior Nationals in New Orleans. I also placed second in the scotch doubles event at the VNEA Jr. Nationals in Sioux City, Nebraska. Pool has allowed me to see new places and make new friends.
One of my proudest moments is when I beat Dave Pearson in a game of 9 ball. I am working on improving my game so that someday I can compete at the highest level.
In addition to pool I like football and wrestling. Someday I want to join the Airforce and become a police officer like my mother and stepfather
I am from Council Bluffs Iowa. I have been playing pool since I was five years old. I started by going to junior leagues with my dad and my brother. Ever since then I gained a love for pool and look forward to practicing every day.
I took 1st place at the Great Plains Shootout 4 times and 3rd place at the 2019 VNEA Junior National Singles. I also qualified for the Junior BEF Tournament in Las Vegas. Recently I played in the Iowa ISPA tournament. I placed in Men’s Open Singles, Men’s Open Teams with a team of other junior players and in Scotch Doubles with a family friend. I also won the under 14 Junior Event.
When I am not playing pool, I am playing select soccer for the Council Bluffs Soccer Club or hanging out with my friends and family. I keep good grades in school and am so happy to be a part of Team Pechauer.
I started playing pool at the age of 8 to try and beat my idol (my brother). I finally surpassed him at the age of 17. I got into the tournament scene at the age of 21. Without the aid of lessons, it took me a while to grow my game. Now at the age of 41, I’m a Wisconsin Master Player after winning the AA state title in 2019.
Pool began as a pastime she enjoyed with her dad and quickly evolved into a passion. In 2015 at 11 years old, Amanda won her first pool tournament. She would go on to claim the following titles:
2015-2018 Colorado State Junior Championships – four 1st places
2015-2018 Rocky Mountain VNEA Junior Championships five 1st places
2016- Wyoming Open Junior Intermediate Division 1st Place
2019- Wyoming Open Women’s Classic Division 2nd place
Her tenacity at the table earned her the nickname “The Ripper.” Amanda’s dedication to everything she gets involved with does not end with pool. She’s also achieved high accolades in gymnastics, music and cheer-leading, all while accelerating academically at school.
In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with family and friends, outdoor activities, traveling and is a huge fan of classic rock.