Frank Vargas, Stetson White and Christopher Whitten stepped into the SVI Radio studio to talk about the local billiards league in Star Valley and around the state of Wyoming.

(0:00) Duking Dow with you in studio this morning (0:02) and talking billiards with our local pool team this morning. (0:07) And in studio today is Frank Vargas, (0:09) Detson White, and Christopher Witten. (0:11) Guys, appreciate you all stepping in studio.

(0:14) Frank, we’ll start with you because, well, (0:16) you’re the one that set this whole thing up with us, (0:17) so appreciate you doing that. (0:19) I think myself included, me and Dowell were thinking, (0:23) oh, we didn’t know we had like an official league (0:26) of billiards and pool, and talking to you guys, (0:28) it’s kind of a big deal, so maybe just tell us (0:32) what this is and the league and how it all works, (0:35) who’s all involved? (0:36) Well, so pool has always been a big thing around here, (0:40) but getting people to come out to play (0:42) was the biggest thing. (0:44) We have a pretty good amount of players right now, (0:46) I don’t know, right around 30 or 37 or something like that, (0:49) and they’re all registered.

(0:51) We are all nationally registered players (0:53) through the Billiard Congress of America. (0:55) They, for short, they call it the BCA League. (0:59) And we hold it here at Colters Lodge right now.

(1:02) They’re a three-man team, so we have a smaller group. (1:06) The teams are usually typically about four men. (1:10) Kimmerer has a pretty good size league there.

(1:15) They’ve got multiple teams. (1:17) We have eight or nine teams here, (1:22) and everybody gets rated, everybody gets ranked, (1:25) they go into according groups. (1:27) If they decide to go play, some of them get invited to play.

(1:33) Pool has always been a big thing around here, (1:35) but getting the people who love to play pool (1:37) is probably, was probably the challenge. (1:40) It’s interesting, you just said it’s always been a big deal, (1:43) and I’m thinking to myself, I’m out of the loop, apparently. (1:47) So kind of give me an idea of how you guys got into this (1:51) and how it’s grown and maybe your experience (1:55) with it from maybe early picking it up (1:58) to where you are now.

(2:00) Well, so I started playing pool myself when I was nine. (2:03) My mom and dad were pool players. (2:04) My dad was in the military for 30 years, (2:06) so naturally, those guys, the only things they did (2:09) were drink and play pool.

(2:11) And so I started playing pool at a young age. (2:15) It was a really good way for me to focus on something. (2:21) So when I moved here, I didn’t realize (2:23) that there was an in-house tournament that happened.

(2:28) And then I got invited to play it one day, (2:31) and I played for a couple of years. (2:33) Then I ended up being the one who took over (2:36) helping to host and organize it. (2:39) And then Stetson White here, the last few years, (2:42) has helped me do that for our in-house eight balls.

(2:46) And then we created the in-house nine ball tournament. (2:49) And so we just, anybody who wants to come play, (2:52) essentially, is what I’m the one who posts for it (2:54) on Misty’s List, the sell sites, anything like that. (2:58) So I do the advertising for it.

(3:01) Well, Stetson, let’s loop you into this. (3:03) Sounds like you’ve been part of the organization. (3:06) So just locally, when you guys have a tournament, (3:09) how does all that work? (3:11) And I mean, how many people do you usually have (3:13) participate in something like that? (3:14) Yeah, so it’s typically, sorry.

(3:22) Around 1, 1.30, we’ll invite anyone who wants to play. (3:26) Anyone at any level can come in, (3:28) and they pay us a $10 fee. (3:31) And then we build a bracket, double elimination.

(3:33) They can come in. (3:35) And then we pay out the top three placings. (3:39) First, second, and third wall win a cash prize.

(3:42) Throughout the year, we collect points for places. (3:45) And then it comes down to, at the very end of the year, (3:48) we have pool cues that we give out (3:50) to first, second, and third prize winners (3:52) who have, over the whole season, (3:55) collected the most amount of points. (3:58) And then we also have the cash prize (4:00) at the end of the season.

(4:01) It’s usually anywhere up to $700, (4:04) depending on how many players. (4:06) And we average probably about 20 players every Sunday. (4:09) Kind of walk us through an event.

(4:12) How long is an event? (4:16) How long is a match? (4:17) I’m totally kind of new at this. (4:21) Kind of give me an idea of how that works. (4:22) So it all depends on the player’s skill levels.

(4:26) For example, if you got me and Frank (4:27) playing with each other, (4:29) he’s taught me so much in the last couple years (4:31) that I’ve probably advanced a lot faster (4:34) than most people would think. (4:36) But I’m still not to his level. (4:37) The guy’s ranked pretty high.

(4:39) I’m still pretty low. (4:40) But I know what I’m doing because of Frank. (4:43) And so if we play, if it’s not a tricky game, (4:45) it’s a straightforward game, (4:46) we could be done in anywhere from two minutes.

(4:50) Two minutes? (4:51) Oh yeah, our games are… (4:53) And depending, as you stated, (4:54) depending on the level of the players. (4:56) I mean, really high level players (4:58) will typically play a lot of safeties on each other (5:00) till they can get a run out on the table. (5:02) And those games last a long time.

(5:05) I mean, a two, three minute game (5:07) can last anywhere 10, 20. (5:09) We’ve seen games last 30 or so minutes. (5:14) The national rating thing is pretty big.

(5:16) And that’s on Saturdays (5:19) where we just came back from our state tournament. (5:24) That’s where we get rated and everything like that. (5:26) And you’re open to be able (5:29) to go to those particular tournaments.

(5:32) Our in-house and our Saturday tournaments, (5:34) Sundays and Saturdays are different. (5:37) The Sundays are what we do for fun. (5:40) And then the Saturdays are what we do (5:43) to get people rated to be able (5:45) to play those bigger tournaments, (5:47) to win the bigger money, (5:48) to get invited to the invitationals (5:51) and stuff like that.

(5:53) Excellent. (5:53) So Christopher, let’s loop you in on this conversation. (5:56) You’re looking a little comfortable over there.

(5:58) I gotta get you speaking some stuff. (5:59) No, tell us about your involvement (6:02) and what you’ve enjoyed about being in this league (6:04) and why you do it. (6:05) I’ve been involved since the beginning (6:07) of the in-house tournament here at Colters.

(6:09) I’ve lived in town about 10 years now (6:11) and met Frank through the beginning of the tournaments. (6:13) And then you have me, Frank, Stetson. (6:17) We’ve progressed over the few years (6:19) to finally got everybody to be registered (6:21) and sanctioned to play.

(6:23) And like Frank’s saying, (6:23) the bigger tournaments out of town (6:25) and different states and different levels. (6:28) My game since starting has improved quite a bit. (6:32) It’s a fun thing, an activity to keep everybody (6:35) out of trouble and the best they can.

(6:38) Where would you guys like to see things go? (6:43) From where it is now, one year from now, (6:46) two years from now, five years from now, (6:48) where would you like to see this go (6:49) in the region, in the area? (6:51) We want to have it in Vegas. (6:54) That’s our goal. (6:54) We want to go to Vegas to play the big national tournaments.

(6:59) That’s our goals. (7:00) Okay, and how do you get there? (7:02) What has to take place for that to happen? (7:03) A lot more games, a lot more rankings, (7:06) a lot more tournaments. (7:07) We need bigger groups.

(7:09) We need more people to come out and play. (7:11) So, Frank, you guys just had a big, (7:13) it was a state event, right? (7:16) Correct, it was the Jenkins Gaming (7:17) end of the year state event. (7:20) And how’d you guys do? (7:21) How’d you perform? (7:22) Well, so, not so well in the singles.

(7:25) I mean, us as a group, we typically go (7:28) for the team events, but we play the singles. (7:31) And we didn’t do very well in the singles. (7:33) There’s so many more people in the singles.

(7:35) But the team event, we took top six teams in the state. (7:41) We had the best scoring average of any team there. (7:45) And there were a huge amount of teams in this division.

(7:51) We, and we did, I mean, we did so well (7:54) that there were teams, teams are gonna remember (7:58) who we are, for sure. (7:59) That’s how well we did, so. (8:02) So, you talk about wanting to grow it (8:04) and you need more players, you need more of this.

(8:06) Let’s say someone’s listening to this (8:07) and they’re like, I kinda wanna get involved. (8:10) Maybe they’re a little intimidated (8:11) to take that first step. (8:14) How do you recommend they go about getting involved (8:17) and maybe being part of this? (8:18) Well, so, our billiard Congress of America, (8:22) our BCA season is over right now.

(8:25) And it starts back up in about October, November. (8:28) Our in-house nine ball is still going. (8:30) We have about three or four more weeks.

(8:32) And that starts at about one o’clock on Sundays. (8:36) And if anybody at any skill level, (8:38) it’s an open tournament for anybody. (8:41) If anybody wants to come out and get the feel (8:43) and see how we go through the motions (8:45) and see the type of players that we have, (8:48) anybody is welcome to come.

(8:51) And on any given day, anybody can win anything. (8:55) I mean, we have, as Stetson stated, (8:58) we have a first, second, third place cash payout. (9:00) We do an end of the year prize pot.

(9:03) And we give a first, second, and third place pull cue out (9:06) to the first, second, and third place winners. (9:09) Well, just speaking with Chris and Stetson as well, (9:14) sounds like, I mean, skill level is not an issue. (9:17) I mean, whether you’re highly experienced (9:19) or this is your first time ever, (9:20) you guys are willing to work with them, right? (9:23) Yeah, we have some pretty good players.

(9:27) Even our lower level players, (9:30) I’ve seen them take home the prize money (9:34) at the end of the day on Sundays, you know? (9:36) So, honestly, pull is one of those games (9:39) where it’s like a fight. (9:41) Whoever came to play that day is gonna take it home. (9:46) There’s leagues also.

(9:47) I mean, we’re talking specifically at Colters, (9:49) where you guys are at, but what if someone, (9:51) maybe you mentioned in Southern Lincoln County, (9:53) listening to this in Kemmerer, (9:54) how does someone get involved? (9:56) Is there a, does the statewide organization (9:58) have a website or a social presence? (10:01) Yes, they do. (10:02) So, JenkinsGaming.net, JenkinsMusic.net (10:06) is the website that you would go to, (10:09) and you can sign up for your BCA Pool League (10:11) anywhere near you. (10:13) Perfect.

(10:13) In studio this morning, (10:14) talking about the Billiards League, (10:16) that’s Frank Vargas, Stetson White, Christopher Witten. (10:19) Guys, appreciate your time and for informing us (10:22) on all this that’s happening. (10:23) So, anything we missed that you think (10:25) is worth mentioning today? (10:26) Well, we just wanna thank all of our sponsors today.

(10:30) They helped us get to where we needed to go. (10:33) I mean, you have people like Ponderosa One, (10:34) George Montelongo, Battlesons, Dad’s Steakhouse, Terry. (10:41) I mean, we have so many different sponsors.

(10:44) We had 12 this year. (10:45) Crystal Fredrickson was one of our sponsors. (10:47) So, we appreciate every single one of you, (10:49) and without you guys, we couldn’t have made that happen.

(10:51) So, thank you. (10:52) Love it. (10:53) So, again, to get involved, JenkinsMusic.net (10:55) is the website, JenkinsMusic.net. (10:58) In studio, Frank Vargas, Stetson White, (11:00) and Christopher Witten.

(11:01) It’s all part of First Bank of Wyoming Sports Friday.