by

Missy Capestrain

A butcher, a baker a candlestick maker. No, no scratch that. With all due respect to childhood rhymes, it’s the wrong era, wrong book, wrong sex, wrong everything! It’s more like a teacher, a barber, a computer programmer. Who would have thought that three of Columbus’ winningest women from Sportsmen’s Billiard Club would have such varied and colorful occupations? After having seen these women at various tournaments such as Dan and Cecil Kromer’s National Team Open events, VNEA State Tournaments in Canton, OH and Las Vegas International events, one can’t help but feel the closeness, the camaraderie and strength of this team. Winning and/or placing in the top spots seems to be as easy as pie, however, as anyone knows who plays competitively, this is far from reality. Not surprisingly, a whole other, very interesting life outside of pool was discovered for each. Here is to some of the best!

Shelly is a middle school teacher who lives and breathes her job. However, the accomplishment of which she is most proud is her son who, she added with warmth and affection, is a good kid. When she is not playing pool or spending quality time with him, she enjoys golf, reading, and sports spectating.

Shelly’s true heroes have always been her parents. They have always pushed her academically and athletically to be her best. In her own words, she said, "I find myself ,more and more, emulating them." She went on to say that her dad has had a great influence on her as a pool player and as a person. He has modeled kindheartedness, athleticism, self-control and respect toward others. In fact, he was her Scotch Doubles partner at Sportsmen’s Billiard Club (also her sponsor) at the time of this interview. Her family is very supportive of her endeavors.

Growing up as a competitive gymnast for eight years, Shelly’s heroes were Nadia Comenechi, and Cathy Rigby. Now she enjoys watching the pool playing athleticism of Alison Fisher and Oliver Ortmann and most admires their mental control and consistency. In fact, as this article is being written, Shelly is competing in the amateur event at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania/Billiard Expo(March 17-19) and probably has a chance to watch Alison play as the professional event takes place. On the local amateur level Shelly enjoys the play of Sonny Hines who is dynamic, sweet and friendly. If ever she could play a match with any player, it would be either Alison or Jean Balukus.

As an individual, Shelly feels that she is able to help her team stay focused and motivated. She never gives up. The team ticks because they are "friends first and then teammates." In addition, a team should respect each other, have the "drive, heart and will to win and practice, practice, practice."

Tammy Stump Turpening...Barber at Large!

Small business owner Tammy Stump Turpening has owned and operated her own barbershop for fifteen years. Her scissors have cut the hairs of professional pool players Allen Hopkins and Efren Reyes! Seriously, in the backroom of Chalkies Poolroom in Columbus! Another profession, about which many people do not know and will probably be surprised to know, is that Tammy once tried to be a lead singer in a band. That job was short-lived though, lasting only about ten months.

High praises can be sung about her pool life however, which has spanned a time length of twenty-four years. She remembers playing pool on her father’s pool table when she was a young girl only to get her arm stuck in the pocket while trying to free a ball. Tammy actually credits one of her customers with getting her more involved in the sport some fourteen years ago when they played during their lunch hour after having his hair cut. Her learning process involved lessons from Jordan Fleetwood AKA "George Dog." Tammy’s favorite player to watch is Sonny Hines. If she could play with anyone in the world, it would be Willie Mosconi "because he is probably the best to play the game."

More recently though is the influence her husband Rich has had on her play. Tammy met him during one of the team events in Sandusky. She said that after having" sparked [her] desire to improve [her] pool playing, [she] really started learning from him." In fact he obviously really sparked her desire to spend more time with him when he proposed marriage to her. Tammy answered "yes" to his proposal "while he was racking the balls for his first game of the tournament in Sandusky," a most memorable moment!

Tammy’s family of origin has been "very supportive." On occasion they watch the tournaments in which Tammy plays and her mom and sister even "came out to Las Vegas to watch" them play. In addition to her mom being a supporter of her game, she is also Tammy’s hero. She raised Tammy, along with her five siblings, as a single parent with minimal child support. The accomplishments about which she is most proud include her business, her having purchased her first house at the age of twenty-two, and becoming the person that she is today. When all is said and done Tammy would most like to be remembered for "being a person with a lot of heart and as a person that has good sportsmanship, win or lose."

Shannon was first turned onto pool shortly after her divorce when a friend asked her to watch. Her significant other Mike Dunn loves the sport of pool as much as Shannon and has had a great influence on her person. Loving the game as much as each of them does is fortunate in that neither feels like a pool widow/er whenever the other is out playing! While her family is "always very positive" they would " do anything to help" her out. Her father also has had a great influence on her and was her hero when she was growing up. Shannon is a Computer Programmer as is her father. She "always liked everything he did and still" does.

Shannon tries to "hit balls everyday and practice with the team at least twice a week." In addition, she believes in practicing with someone better than herself. She too has taken pool lessons and Danny Tator and Larry Wilson were the teachers of these. Shannon’s favorite games are 8-Ball and 9-Ball, her favorite cue is a Nova and her favorite table is a Diamond. Sonny Hines is her favorite amateur player because "he is an all around great guy" while her favorite pro to watch is Dee Adkins because "he has more heart than anyone" she knows.

A sense of optimism and always having a good attitude are Shannon’s contributions to the team. The team ticks because the women are the "best of friends outside of pool." In fact when the team experiences differences of opinions, they "try to get together outside of the pool atmosphere and discuss differences; everyone has a say." Shannon is team-oriented in that she has indeed pulled herself out of matches "many times, and will again" if ever she feels that she is "not helping the team."