Group to compete at national championships in August

No hustlers here.

Just a talented group of pool players from The Pub House in Liberty that recently won The Northland APA City Championship in eight-ball and with the title earned a chance to compete in APA National Team Championships this August in Las Vegas.

What’s even more impressive is the group did it without a player being ranked at the top two skill levels, according to team member William Norris.

Team captain Clay Callahan said the team faced stiff competition at the tournament, which was held at the Northland’s Side Pockets.

That’s nothing new, though.

“We’ve been battling for first in league all year long,” he said.

The team has been together for close to a year, competing on a weekly basis when a league is in session. There are spring, summer and fall sessions each year.

League play consists of five matches a night. Scoring is based on the number of games players win based on their skill level.

“We usually play each team twice each session,” Callahan said.

Callahan said the squad would use the league play this summer to prepare for the national tournament.

Norris cited the need to be prepared, noting how the national tournament draws not only the best players from across the country but from around the world.

“There should be more than a thousand teams there, at least,” he said.

For Callahan, the journey to Las Vegas began in a neighbor’s

basement, where he learned to play on a small bumper pool table.

“That’s how I started,” he said.

The roofing and home improvement contractor has been playing ever since, starting in league competition back in 2001 and with a team of his own in 2003.

Callahan said he enjoys the competition, fellowship and camaraderie.

Norris, a William Jewell College graduate, also enjoys the camaraderie and competition.

“I’ve been involved in sports all my life,” he said.

Besides Norris and Callahan, other team members include Todd Ward, Caleb Macdonald, Bryan Patterson, Andrew Siegal and Cole Callahan.

Senior writer Mark Johnson can be reached at 781-4941 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .