10/20/2026
🎱❤️ **WHAT A WEEK FOR HERNANDO COUNTY AT TAP NATIONALS!** ❤️🎱
Hey all, Leslee here. I had the pleasure of going to my first TAP Nationals. What a week is all I can say! I've always heard the stories about TAP Nationals being a nonstop week of pool, and now I can say firsthand that the stories were absolutely true!
Think about how long it can take to play your matches on a regular league night. Now imagine playing another full set of matches right after that! It's long, exhausting, and grueling. And yet, even after all those hours at the tables, players were still signing up for minis! That's a whole lot of love for the game!
But what stood out to me most wasn't just the competition. It was the **camaraderie, sportsmanship, and support** throughout the pool community.
One of the coolest things about the Dream Teams was seeing players who might normally compete against each other in league suddenly become teammates, working together toward one common goal. Watching everyone cheer each other on, celebrate each other's successes, and support one another was a reminder of what makes this game so special. We may compete against each other during league, but when it comes down to it, **the pool family truly is a family!** ❤️
And let's talk about our juniors! We had three of our young players competing on teams, and they absolutely made their presence known!
The first time one of them flipped the coin and put themselves up to play, I can only imagine the look on their opponent's face. 😂 PRICELESS!
Brayden took **2nd place in a mini**, competing against a Skill Level 3 and two Skill Level 4 players! Ainsley won a match during one of her team's sets, and you couldn't get Desmond off the practice table all week! These young players showed up, competed with heart, respected the game, and earned the respect of the people around them. They carried themselves with the same determination and passion as every other player there, and it was awesome to watch!
Our Hernando County teams battled hard throughout the tournament, with teams reaching the quarterfinals and one advancing all the way to the semifinals! Every team that made the trip put in the time, effort, and heart it takes to compete at this level, and **every team deserves to be proud of representing our county!** 👏
And, of course, we have two incredible accomplishments to celebrate!
🏆 **TJ — NATIONAL CHAMPION!**
Taking home the title in the **8-Ball Platinum division!**
🏆 **Mike Torres — NATIONAL CHAMPION!**
Taking home the title in the **9-Ball Platinum division!**
Congratulations to both of you on becoming National Champions! What an incredible accomplishment, and what a proud moment for our local pool community! 🏆🎉
But I also want to recognize **EVERY TEAM that represented Hernando County at TAP Nationals.** Whether you made a deep run in the tournament, battled through tough matches, supported your teammates, cheered on other local players, or simply gave it everything you had at the table, you were part of something special.
It was great watching so many of our local players compete, encourage one another, and represent our county. The wins and titles are amazing, but the friendships, sportsmanship, support, and memories made along the way are just as important.
To all the teams who represented Hernando County, **THANK YOU for showing up, competing hard, and representing our local pool community!** You all helped make this an unforgettable week, and it was a pleasure watching you compete.
Congratulations to everyone who played, and a special shout-out to our juniors and our two National Champions!
Here's to our pool family, our local players, and all the great things still ahead. Keep supporting each other, keep growing the game, and keep making Hernando County proud! 🎱❤️
**HERNANDO COUNTY WAS IN THE HOUSE!** 💪🎱🏆
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