LAS VEGAS -- Huly's Hooligans, an area pool team from Vanduser and Cape Girardeau, finished first in the 2001 Camel 8-Ball National Team Championships -- Open Division, conducted by the American Poolplayers Association on Aug. 20-25 at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Huly's Hooligans are members of the local APA Pool League and became eligible to compete in the National Team Championships by participating in weekly league play and placing at the top of their division during the summer, fall, or spring session. At the conclusion of the spring session, Huly's Hooligans advanced to the National Team Championships by qualifying at their local team championship. Only 530 North American teams comprised the Camel 8-Ball National Team Championship Open Division field.
Huly's Hooligans team members include team captain Harold Graviett, Ronald Bowers, Linda Hodges, L.B. Perry , Donna Graviett, Timothy Graviett, Gerald Pobst and Michael Landeros.
The APA, based in Lake Saint Louis, sanctions the world's largest amateur pool league, known as the APA Pool League (8-Ball) and Molson 9-Ball League throughout the United States, and as the Canadian Pool League in Canada.
More than 185,000 APA members compete in weekly 8-Ball and 9-Ball league play.
Camel, the official tobacco product of the APA, sponsors the APA's 8-Ball National Team Championships. Molson, the official beer of the APA, title sponsors the Molson 9-Ball League and the Molson 9-Ball National Team Championship.
The APA is generally recognized at the governing body of amateur pool, having established the official rules, championships, formats and handicap systems for the sport of amateur billiards. One of the keys to the success of the APA League, administered by local league operators, is the Equalizer, the APA's handicap and scoring system that makes it possible for men and women of different playing abilities to compete on an equal basis.
At the national level, the APA guarantees more than $1 million in national tournament prize money.