Kissimmee billiards team “Boats and Holes,” clinched victory in an American Poolplayers Association yearlong event, and with the win have earned a trip to Hawaii.
Comprised of a group of long-time friends, the team’s win marks a significant achievement in their journey within the competitive billiards scene.
The team is made up of Javier Vazquez, Orlando Diaz, Crystal Vazquez, Daniel Alverez, Carlos Mendez, Jason Niesman, Mario Rivera, Robert Izquierdo and Cameron Fisher, all friends who came together over a shared passion for drag racing.
“We’ve all been friends for a while before all this stuff because I own a race shop and we all have racing cars, pretty much,” Diaz said. “When we used to go out, we used to go play pool for fun. Every time we would go out, it would be pool.”
The team stumbled into competitive pool playing accidentally, when Diaz happened upon a local league night and asked some questions about what was going on. He was immediately hooked.
“I joined a team and I started playing with them and I loved it,” he said. “So, I told my friends, and it took me about six months to convince them to come with me. They finally came and we created a team.”
The team’s name, “Boats and Holes,” draws inspiration from the movie “Stepbrothers,” reflecting the light-hearted camaraderie shared among its members. Originating from Kissimmee, the team faced opponents from Osceola and Lake counties during the tournament, made up of a year’s worth of monthly matches. “Boats and Holes” headed into the tournament’s final weekend in first place in the league.
Frequenting the Mad Hippo bar, where they regularly practice and strategize for upcoming events, “Boats and Holes” demonstrated their skill and teamwork on the tournament stage. Despite facing tough competition, their collective gameplay and years of friendship propelled them to victory, securing the sought-after prize of a Hawaiian getaway.
“The team, to me, is just absolutely amazing,” said Kym Spurgin, who coordinates the APA tournaments in Osceola and Lake counties. “Instead of getting mad when they lose, they really build each other up. We have 200 teams, and this is the only team that actually does that with each other. Because of all of the positivity, it really shows in the way they end up playing.”
This success is familiar territory for “Boats and Holes.” The team has previously ventured beyond their local scene, participating in tournaments in Montreal and Jacksonville, broadening their experiences and testing their abilities against a diverse range of opponents.
Looking forward, “Boats and Holes” is preparing for their next challenge. Later this month, they will compete for another opportunity, aiming for a trip to Las Vegas. Should they win, they will face off against 700 other teams from across the country.
For “Boats and Holes,” their journey from the Mad Hippo to the international billiards stage underscores the importance of friendship, dedication, and a shared passion for the game.
“It is really honestly because this team is so close-knit and so full of positivity, it just shows when they play,” Spurgin said. “They’re not the best pool shots in the world, but when they come together, they end up winning.”
