ETBU Billiards Player Wins Regional Again

MARSHALL, Texas (3/05/13) - East Texas Baptist University student William Hill has once again won the Association of College Unions International (ACUI) 9 Ball Region 12 Billiards Tournament held February 22-23. This is the third year in a row that Hill, a senior psychology major from Tyler, has won the regional tournament. He now will advance to play in the national tournament in which he finished 10th last year.

"I did not have as much trouble this year as I did last year,” said Hill, who had to work his way through the loser’s bracket last year to win the crown. "I believe it was my experience and confidence in how to win that helped me. Many of the players dealt with nerves but since I have done this all before the pressure didn’t seem as great.”

Finishing second behind Hill was Garret Tricky of the University of Texas-Tyler. Third place went to University of Texas-Dallas student Nghi Ton.

The game of 9 ball is played with a cue ball and nine object balls numbered one through nine. The game is a "rotation” game, meaning that the balls are shot in numerical order. The game is won when the nine ball is pocketed. A player can also win by sinking the nine ball off a combo shot, but the first ball to be hit must be the lowest numbered ball in play.

"Hill performed brilliantly and we look forward to him representing Region 12 in the National Tournament this summer,” said Rueben Pena, ACUI Region 12 Recreation Program Team Leader. Regional champions in Xbox Madden 12 Football and table tennis were also crowned during the two-day regional tournament held at Sam Houston State University.

"The plans for nationals are to improve my game by playing and working on my stroke. I have a new stick this year and I am extremely confident in it,” said Hill as he waits to play in the national tournament this summer. The site of the national tournament has yet to be determined.

ACUI is a nonprofit education organization that brings together college union and student activities professionals from around the world whose mission is to build campus community. Region 12 serves those in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mexico, and Texas.

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