Vonderau, Ernst, Easton and Helfery Dominate at 2025 BEF Junior National Championships

Sofia Mast and Jordan Helfery

The 37th Annual Junior National Championships, hosted by the Billiard Education Foundation (BEF), concluded on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at the Oakley Lindsay Civic Center in Quincy, Illinois. This marked the third consecutive year the charming river town played host to the prestigious youth billiards event.

Upon entering the venue, attendees were greeted by a wave of patriotic pride—American flags elegantly displayed above each table, accompanied by Digital Pool monitors and illuminated by tournament table lighting. The event welcomed nearly 100 talented billiard student-athletes from over 26 states, showcasing the growing reach and community of junior cue sports.

For the first time in its history, the BEF Junior Nationals were part of the inaugural USA National Pool Championships, which included the $20,000-added Masters USA Pool Championships and as well as the annual Wheelchair National Pool Championships—bringing together multiple levels of the sport under one roof.

Junior National 8-Ball Championships (Sponsored by Lucasi)

The first discipline to conclude during championship week was 8-Ball. In response to pandemic-era disruptions, the BEF introduced a 22 & Under division post-lockdown, giving players who aged out of the traditional 18 & Under category a renewed chance to compete. This year, several divisions were consolidated to streamline the event and enhance the competitive field.

Eddie Vonderau

After losing his first match, 17-year-old “Fast Eddie” Vonderau of Rapid City, South Dakota stormed through the 18 & Under Boys bracket, clinching the title in a nail-biting hill-hill final against “Jersey Devil” Jose Vicente.

In the Girls 18 & Under division, 17-year-old “The Pink Dagger” Sofia Mast of Wesley Chapel, Florida showcased dominance and precision, defeating 15-year-old “Road Runner” Savannah Easton of Las Vegas, Nevada in a spirited championship showdown.

Meanwhile, in the Boys 14 & Under category, “Maverick” Hayden Ernst claimed the first of his multiple gold medals for the week, emerging victorious in a gripping back-and-forth final against Houston’s rising up-and-comer, Gavin Mathew.

18 & Under Boys

18 & Under Girls

14 & Under Coed

10 & Under Coed

Savannah Easton

Junior National 9-Ball Championships (Sponsored by Diamond)

The 18 & Under Girls 9-Ball finals delivered another exciting Easton vs. Mast showdown, highlighting the growing rivalry between two of junior billiards’ brightest stars. On the boys’ side, “V” stood for Vicente—and for Victory—as he clinched his first gold medal with a commanding 8–2 win over Colton Peach.

Meanwhile, 13-year-old Jordan Helfery of St. Joseph, Missouri made her mark on the national stage by earning her first gold medal. She triumphed over Florida’s 11-year-old Tiffany Tang, who celebrated a strong silver medal finish in just her second appearance at Junior Nationals.

18 & Under Girls

16 & Under Boys

14 & Under Girls

12 & Under Boys

Jose Vicente

Junior National 14.1 Straight Pool Championships (Sponsored by Bull Carbon)

This year’s 14.1 Challenge introduced a subtle yet impactful format update: two dedicated tables were set aside for the event, giving players seven attempts each to execute an open break and continue with a break ball. The top three cumulative high runs from those seven attempts determined the four leading finishers in each of the three age divisions, who then advanced to the semifinal and final brackets.

In an electrifying final, Vicente unleashed two remarkable runs of 28 and 29 balls to defeat “Wolverine” Kaden Herrbach and clinch the gold medal in the 14.1 discipline. At the end of their match Vicente went on to complete an astonishing 68 ball run! On the girls’ side, Mast started strong with a sharp 21-ball run, seizing an early lead. But it was 13-year-old Helfery who stole the spotlight once again, surging past Mast to secure her second gold medal of the championships with precision and poise.

18 & Under Boys

18 & Under Girls

14 & Under Boys

High Runs

Hayden Ernst

Junior National 10-Ball Championships (Sponsored by Iwan Simonis)

The high-stakes 10-Ball events served as qualifiers for the upcoming World Junior 10-Ball Championships—and the pressure was palpable. With tournament favorites meeting head-to-head in the opening round of the final-8 single-elimination brackets, the intensity reached dramatic levels.

In the 18 & Under Boys division, Vonderau went undefeated through a stacked bracket, securing the gold medal with an 8–5 win over Landon Memberg in the finals. Bronze medalists Kaden Herrbach and Logan Hisel may soon find themselves competing on the world stage in Gandía, Spain.

The 18 & Under Girls division saw  Easton dominate the field yet again. After ousting the reigning champion earlier in the finals bracket, she triumphed over Iowa state champ Leigha Belieu with a decisive 8–3 victory in the finals. Avah Weems and  Helfery each earned bronze medals after strong performances.

In the 16 & Under Boys bracket, it was Ernst once again proving his grit. The defending national champion jumped to an early 4–1 lead in the final match against Austin Axe, only to fall behind 6–4. After a brief reset, Ernst stormed back with a four-game run to secure the title 8–6. Axe may now be prepping his passport for a debut on the international stage.

On a less fortunate note, fan favorites  Mast, Vicente, and Mathew saw early exits in the opening round of their respective finals brackets, underscoring just how unpredictable and competitive this year’s event truly was.

18 & Under Boys

18 & Under Girls

16 & Under Boys

Girls’ Divisions Gold Medalists Honored with Michael Repici Memorial Scholarships

Gold medalists in the girls’ divisions will receive the prestigious *Michael Repici Memorial Scholarship for Girls*, which includes a $500 scholarship for each division champion. These performance-based scholarships are intended to support rising student-athletes in the sport of billiards by helping offset competition-related expenses. The awards also serve as a tribute to Michael Repici’s enduring legacy—honoring his passion for the game and his relentless efforts to nurture and promote its growth among youth. The scholarship not only recognizes excellence but also encourages recipients to continue striving for distinction in a sport that Michael deeply loved.

BEF Jayden Liu Memorial Scholarship

New this year is the BEF Jayden Liu Memorial Scholarship, awarded to a high school junior, or senior, that shows academic excellence, sportsmanship, and community involvement. The selection committee had many superior applicants and had a hard time deciding on the first recipients of this special scholarship. In the end, Jamison Gall from Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Darragh O’Connor from Harvard, Massachusetts, were chosen as the inaugural recipients, each receiving $1,000 towards their college tuition and fees.

BEF Brendan Crockett Character Award

In honor of Brendan Crockett, we have continued to present this prestigious award to one 18UB and one 18UG junior player that displays the utmost sportsmanship while competing during the BEF Junior National Championships. This year’s recipients are Shane Petrick from Bellarie, Texas and Jorday Helfery from St. Joseph, Missouri.

Academic All American Awards

The BEF Academic All American Awards banquet took place on Monday, July 7 at the Quincy Boat Club.  44 junior athletes were recognized for their academic success in achieving a 3.5 or higher GPA. The keynote speaker, Mr. Florian “Venom” Kohler, gave a riveting speech about his own educational experience and the value of completing your educational goals.

Go to discussion...