NEIA’s 7th grader Stephen Bao (’31) has captured first place in the 18U division at the Connecticut State Junior Billiards Championships, the fourth stop on the New England Junior American Championship Series (JACS).
Competing against players several years his senior, Stephen delivered a standout performance throughout the tournament, which culminated in a tense “hill-hill” final, the sport’s equivalent of a winner-take-all deciding game. There, he showcased remarkable composure to defeat 16-year-old Logan Tedford of Westbrook, CT.
The victory earns Stephen a free entry into the 2026 Junior National Championships, set for this July in Dubuque, Iowa. We look forward to cheering him on as he takes his talent to the national stage.
Stephen’s passion for the game extends beyond competition. This spring, he founded NEIA’s new billiards club, working with our team to secure a professional-grade table, a dedicated space, and the funding to get it off the ground.