The 38th Annual Iwan Simonis Junior National Championships, hosted by the Billiard Education Foundation (BEF), concluded on Saturday, July 11, 2026. The long‑running event found a new home at the Grand River Center in Dubuque, Iowa, after three successful years in Quincy, Illinois.
This year’s Junior Nationals was once again part of the American National Pool Championships, which included the USA CueSports Pool Championships and the annual Wheelchair National Pool Championships. Bringing all three events together under one roof created an inspiring week of competition, community, and connection for everyone involved.
Louisville, Kentucky’s Hayden Ernst dominated every event he entered. The fearless 15‑year‑old showed no mercy for his opponents’ age or experience, proving himself a true force as he swept gold in every division he entered, earning his 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th junior national titles along with his place on the National Junior Team USA.
On the girls’ side, Las Vegas, Nevada’s Savannah Easton matched that achievement, securing her 11th national title after besting longtime rival Tampa, Florida’s Sofia Mast in both the 8‑Ball and 10‑Ball divisions. Easton was also honored at the awards banquet for her perfect 4.0 GPA. She will join Ernst on Team USA this November at the World Junior 9‑Ball and 10‑Ball Championships on home turf in San Antonio, Texas.
In another standout story, Iowa native Brendan Greene finally shed the “always a bridesmaid” narrative, reaching the podium four times throughout the week and claiming his first national title in the 9‑Ball event. He will proudly make his Team USA debut alongside Gavin Ray Mathew of Frisco, Texas, the youngest team member at just 12, who came up just shy last year and returned to earn four medals this week.
Also, in their final year at Nationals, both Mast and Blacksburg, Virginia’s Eddie Vonderau went out with a bang, successfully defending their previous titles: Mast in 8‑Ball and 9‑Ball, and Vonderau in 10‑Ball. Both student‑athletes were additionally recognized for maintaining perfect 4.0 GPAs.
“I could not be more proud of all our student‑athletes, and I’m so excited for this year’s team,” said Junior Team USA Coach Samm Diep‑Vidal. “Their commitment to excellence inspires everyone around them. Let’s rally as a nation to lift them up and support their journey and all their hard work!” BEF Program Director Myrriah Pierson also added, “The joy and pride shown by our BEF families is hard to put into words. I would like to say thank you to the families for their dedication and support of not only their junior athlete, but all junior athletes that compete with us.”
Junior National 8-Ball Championships
18 & Under Boys
| Hayden Ernst, age 15 | Louisville, KY | Gold Medal, $500 BEF Scholarship |
| Brendan Greene, age 17 | Bondurant, IA | Silver Medal, $250 BEF Scholarship |
| Jordan Witkin, age 18 | Algonquin, IL | Bronze Medal |
| Colston Harrelson, age 16 | Alto, GA | Bronze Medal |
18 & Under Girls
| Savannah Easton, age 16 | Las Vegas, NV | Gold Medal, $500 BEF Scholarship + $500 Michael Repici Scholarship |
| Jordan Helfery, age 15 | St. Joseph, MO | Silver Medal, $250 BEF Scholarship |
| Sofia Mast, age 18 | Wesley Chapel, FL | Bronze Medal |
| Taylor Perkins, age 18 | Frankfort | Bronze Medal |
14 & Under Coed
| Gavin Mathew, age 12 | Frisco, TX | Gold Medal, $50 PoolDawg.com gift certificate |
| Peyton Lynch, age 14 | Linn, MO | Silver Medal, $50 PoolDawg.com gift certificate |
| Damon Kahler, age 14 | Appleton, WI | Bronze Medal |
| Eric “Chip” Allyn, age 12 | Elk River, MN | Bronze Medal |
Junior National 14.1 Straight Pool Championships
18 & Under Boys
| Hayden Ernst, age 15 | Louisville, KY | Gold Medal, $500 BEF Scholarship |
| Eddie Vonderau, age 18 | Blacksburg, VA | Silver Medal, $250 BEF Scholarship |
| Anthony Atkinson, age 16 | Spotsylvania, VA | Bronze Medal |
| Brendan Greene, age 17 | Bondurant, IA | Bronze Medal |
18 & Under Girls
| Sofia Mast, age 18 | Wesley Chapel, FL | Gold Medal, $500 BEF Scholarship + $500 Michael Repici Scholarship |
| Jordan Helfery, age 15 | St. Joseph, MO | Silver Medal, $250 BEF Scholarship |
| Savannah Easton, age 16 | Las Vegas, NV | Bronze Medal |
| Alyssa Albert, age 16 | Coal Township, PA | Bronze Medal |
14 & Under Coed
| Gavin Ray Mathew, age 12 | Frisco, TX | Gold Medal, $50 PoolDawg.com gift certificate |
| Dalton Nelson, age 10 | New Lisbon, WI | Silver Medal, $50 PoolDawg.com gift certificate |
| Eric “Chip” Allyn, age 12 | Elk River, MN | Bronze Medal |
| Donovan Seymour, age 12 | Raymond, CA | Bronze Medal |
Highest Overall Run
| Eddie Vonderau, age 18 | 43 balls | $500 BEF Scholarship |
Junior National 9-Ball Championships
** 18 & Under Boys
| Brendan Greene, age 17 | Bondurant, IA | World Junior Qualifier, Gold Medal, $500 BEF Scholarship |
| Robert Orta, age 18 | Odessa, TX | World Junior Qualifier, Silver Medal, $250 BEF Scholarship |
| Harrison Leinen, age 18 | Waconia, MN | World Junior Qualifier, Bronze Medal |
| Jordan Witkin, age 18 | Algonquin, IL | 4th Place Alternate |
** 18 & Under Girls
| Sofia Mast, age 18 | Wesley Chapel, FL | World Junior Qualifier, Gold Medal, $500 BEF Scholarship + $500 Michael Repici Scholarship |
| Savannah Easton, age 16 | Las Vegas, NV | World Junior Qualifier, Silver Medal, $250 BEF Scholarship |
| Skylar Hess, age 17 | Queenstown, MD | World Junior Qualifier, Bronze Medal |
| Jordan Helfery, age 15 | St. Joseph, MO | 4th Place Alternate |
** 16 & Under Boys
| Hayden Ernst, age 15 | Louisville, KY | World Junior Qualifier, Gold Medal, $500 BEF Scholarship + $500 Michael Repici Scholarship |
| Colston Harrelson, age 16 | Alto, GA | World Junior Qualifier, Silver Medal, $250 BEF Scholarship |
| Gavin Ray Mathew, age 12 | Frisco, TX | World Junior Qualifier, Bronze Medal |
| Noel Montano, age 15 | Colorado Springs, CO | 4th Place Alternate |
14 & Under Girls
| Tiffany Tang, age 13 | Tallahassee, FL | Gold Medal, $50 PoolDawg.com gift certificate |
| Jordyn Randell, age 13 | Sun City, AZ | Silver Medal, $50 PoolDawg.com gift certificate |
| Avery Castel-Brandt, age 11 | East Moline, IL | Bronze Medal |
| Mary Jane Zuber, age 12 | Albuquerque, NM | Bronze Medal |
12 & Under Boys
| Donovan Seymour, age 12 | Raymond, CA | Gold Medal, $50 PoolDawg.com gift certificate |
| Austin Dubs, age 12 | Surprise, AZ | Silver Medal, $50 PoolDawg.com gift certificate |
| Dalton Nelson, age 10 | New Lisbon, WI | Bronze Medal |
| Eric “Chip” Allyn, age 12 | Elk River, MN | Bronze Medal |
Junior National 10-Ball Championships
** 18 & Under Boys
| Eddie Vonderau, age 18 | Blacksburg, VA | World Junior Qualifier, Gold Medal, $500 BEF Scholarship |
| Brendan Greene, age 17 | Bondurant, IA | World Junior Qualifier, Silver Medal, $250 BEF Scholarship |
| Jordan Witkin, age 18 | Algonquin, IL | World Junior Qualifier, Bronze Medal |
| Robert Orta, age 18 | Odessa, TX | 4th Place Alternate |
** 18 & Under Girls
| Savannah Easton, age 16 | Las Vegas, NV | World Junior Qualifier, Gold Medal, $500 BEF Scholarship + $500 Michael Repici Scholarship |
| Jordan Helfery, age 15 | St. Joseph, MO | World Junior Qualifier, Silver Medal, $250 BEF Scholarship |
| Sofia Mast, age 18 | Wesley Chapel, FL | World Junior Qualifier, Bronze Medal |
| Tiffany Tang, age 13 | Tallahassee, FL | 4th Place Alternate |
** 16 & Under Boys
| Hayden Ernst, age 15 | Louisville, KY | World Junior Qualifier, Gold Medal, $500 BEF Scholarship + $500 Michael Repici Scholarship |
| Gavin Ray Mathew, age 12 | Frisco, TX | World Junior Qualifier, Silver Medal, $250 BEF Scholarship |
| Colston Harrelson, age 16 | Alto, GA | World Junior Qualifier, Bronze Medal |
| Shane Petrick, age 16 | Bellaire, TX | 4th Place Alternate |
** Indicates World Junior Championships Qualifier division.
Academic All American Awards
This year’s Academic All‑American Awards Banquet was proudly sponsored by Olhausen Billiards, helping the BEF raise $1,440 through $20 attendee donations. Hosted at Backpocket Pin & Pixel, our student‑athletes enjoyed appetizers, complimentary bowling, and of course, more pool.
We recognized 45 student‑athletes for earning a 3.5 GPA or higher, with more than half achieving a perfect 4.0. Our keynote speaker, Mosconi Cup coach Johan Ruijsink, drew one of the largest crowds in the banquet’s history.
Girls’ Divisions Gold Medalists Honored with Michael Repici Memorial Scholarships
Gold medalists in the 18U girls’ divisions received the prestigious Michael Repici Memorial Scholarship for Girls, which awards $500 to each champion. These performance‑based scholarships help rising student‑athletes offset competition expenses while honoring Michael Repici’s enduring legacy and his passion for growing youth billiards. The scholarship recognizes excellence and encourages recipients to keep striving in a sport Michael deeply loved.
BEF Jayden Liu Memorial Scholarship
The Liu family established a memorial fund through the BEF to award a $1,000 scholarship to a senior high school boy and girl each year. Many outstanding junior athletes applied, and two exceptional students were ultimately selected: Stephen “Siyu” Chen and Sofia Mast. “I’ve had the honor of coaching both of these remarkable student‑athletes, and they truly embody excellence,” added BEF Board Member & PBIA Instructor, Roy Pastor.
BEF Brendan Crockett Character Award
The prestigious Brendan Crockett Character Award is presented to one 18UB and one 18UG junior player who displays exceptional sportsmanship during the BEF Junior National Championships. This year’s recipients were Jessica Gonzalez and Johnny Hammontree. On behalf of the Crockett family: Above all, Brendan prided himself on the integrity of his game. We are delighted that these awards go to players who best exemplify that same sportsmanship and fair play. Congratulations!
Event Fundraisers
Each year, Pechauer Custom Cues donates two cues valued at nearly $5,000 to help student-athletes raise funds for their trip to Nationals. Players nationwide sell $10 tickets for the two cue drawings, with $9 going directly toward their travel and $1 supporting the BEF. This year, nearly 2,300 tickets were sold, generating $22,920 for our young athletes and $2,292 for the BEF.
The two coveted cues were drawn by our Brendan Crockett Character Award recipients, with this year’s winners being Tony & Melissa Malejko (Youngstown, AZ) and Ernie Castillo (Centennial, CO).
In addition, certified instructors attending the International Certified Instructors Summit (held alongside the National Championships) raised another $1,265 for the BEF.
