Sep 20, 20152 min
Seventeen year-old Xzaviar doesn’t come from a storied pool family, and only just took up the sport two years ago. He quickly caught the eye of local pool mentor Joe “The Angle” Hengel, and now is in training with Pro-level instructor Gene Albrecht of Minneapolis.
Aune said, “About 6 months ago, I really took the next step up in my play abilities — right after I started some training sessions with Gene at the Jacoby Open in January.” He placed 2nd in age 15-18 boys at the Nekoosa, WI based state championship and qualified for the BEF 9-Ball Nationals in Las Vegas- finishing 26th in his 1st national appearance.
“I will be back looking for both a state and national junior championship next year,” Xzaviar added, “with my long-term goal of turning Pro in the billiards world alongside my favorite player Shane Van Boening.”
Billiards sports in North America have often been co-dependent with alcohol-centric bars — making junior/teen access far more difficult. Consequently, Aune is not a big fan of gambling or alcohol, and hopes that the resurgence in pool that seems to be occurring in the USA is long-lived and prosperous but “based upon billiards, not gambling, fighting, and drinking,” he said.
Xzaviar is currently sponsored by the Wisconsin Artistic Pool Player Association (WAPPA). He exclusively uses Jacoby Custom Cues and dreams of someday being a player rep/Pro as part of their Nekoosa, WI, based stable of shooters.