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Pool players bring home titles

HAMILTON – Competitors from partners Pool Leagues came home with championships from the 10th annual Ontario VNEA provincial championships held at the Hamilton Convention Centre.
HAMILTON – Competitors from partners Pool Leagues came home with championships from the 10th annual Ontario VNEA provincial championships held at the Hamilton Convention Centre.

In singles competition, Jeff Wabano captured top honours in the men’s A division, going through the double knock out tournament with one loss.

It was an all North Bay final as Partners Jean Ethier emerged from the winners side of the bracket to face Wabano for the championship.

Wabano’s road to the finals saw him defeat Chun Louie of Toronto, Eric Tremblay, Gino Labonte and Renald Labonte of Quebec before losing to North Bay’s Jean Ethier, sending him to the losers side of the bracket. He then went on to defeat Sheridan Sinapole of Sarnia in the semi finals 5-4.

Wabano defeated Ethier twice to capture first place.

Ethier went through the tournament without a loss until the final match. Along the way he defeated Mike Bedard of Sarnia, Bob Carter and Mark Beaton of Windsor, Todd O’Rourke of Ottawa, Sheridan Sinapole of Sarnia, and finally Wabano to advance into the finals bracket.

The men’s B Division saw Jason Warren capture third spot, while Johnathan Rose placed fourth.

Warren had wins against Joe Commanda of London, Mike Middleton of Sarnia, Chris Lemieux and Antoine Antone of Quebec, Mike Laliberty of Windsor, Jim Trudeau of Sudbury and Al Terletzke of London. He lost his next game to Jeff Anderson of Sarnia, sending him to the losers side of the bracket. In the semi final, he lost to eventual champion Terletzke.

Rose went through the tournament with wins over Darren Riley of London, John Passacquale of Toronto, Kevin Davidson and Hari Srinivanson of Sarnia, Donald Caron and Stephane Brisson of Quebec before losing to Jeff Anderson of Sarnia. He defeated John Curtis of Windsor to get to the semi final match where he lost to Al Terletzke.

In the women’s A division, Wendy Kelly finished in third spot with wins over Cassandra Cnockaert of Sarnia, Leslie Devos of London, Cindy Bristow of Ottawa, and Maureen Vadeven of London before losing to Sudbury’s Freida Nassas. In the semi final match she lost to eventual winner, Denise Belanger of Toronto.

In team competition, 4 Sharks and a Kid took top honours in the men’s B division, going through the tournament without a loss until the final match.

To get to the finals they had to defeat Then We Woke Up of London, 4Q2 and Donkey Punchers of Sarnia, Paradise Pirates of Toronto, and 5 Fathers of Windsor.

To earn a spot in the finals, they easily defeated Lock & Load of Toronto in their next match, sending them to the losers side of the bracket.

The championship final saw a rematch with Lock & Load. 4 Sharks and a Kid were handed their first loss of the tournament in game one, but they bounced back in game two with a win, capturing the B Division title. Team members included Cary Lafontaine, Yvan Perras, Marc Galipeau, Jamie Clark and Blayne Watson.

In the women’s A division, Buck Wild placed third. They had wins over Be-otches of Sarnia, Chatam Predators before losing to eventual winners ERO My God of Toronto. They bounced back to defeat Girls with Balls of Sarnia and The Girlz from Ottawa. In semifinal play, they lost to All Bust No Balls of Oshawa.

The women’s B Hard Luck Division was won by North Bay’s As Seen on TV. After defeating teams from Windsor and North Bay, they went on to capture the championship by beating Vixen Sticks of Sudbury in the final. Team members include Evelyn Turner, Wendy Perras, Karen Dias and Priscilla Nakochee.

Other top finishers in the tournament were the Chumps and Creative Impressions, finishing in third and fourth spot in the men’s A Sponsor Division and the Fireballz finished in third spot in the men’s B Hard Luck Division.

The inaugural junior provincial championships were also held and thirty-two teams of highly skilled junior players from across the province competed .

Partners Pool Leagues sent 11 teams and 35 players to represent North Bay. Four teams were entered in the Major Division and seven were entered in the Minor Division.

North Bay’s Predators captured second place honours in the Minor Division, going through the regular tournament with only one loss. In the Championship final, they were defeated by the ERO’s from London. Team members included Dylan Dugas, Kyle Gillies and Tyler Belanger.