Seven UNC Charlotte students will travel to the combined Association of College Unions International (ACUI) Collegiate 9-Ball and Table Tennis Championships at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz.
University Pool Club (UPC) members David Anderson, Abdulaziz Alkhan, Stefan Le, Kristie Nguyen, Lilly Pham, Cody Terry and Rebecca Weber will represent UNC Charlotte at the June 27-30 tournament, which takes place in the Arizona State University Memorial Union. Student representatives from 54 colleges, universities and two-year institutions from 26 states will compete in the championships.
Forty-two men and 24 women from across the country are registered to compete for scholarships ranging from $250 to $1,000 in the Collegiate 9-Ball Championship. UNC Charlotte’s student representatives have spent the last few weeks preparing for the competition, which is the highest level for ACUI members.
UPC founder Stefan Le highlighted the significance of the Collegiate 9-Ball Championship for UNC Charlotte as an ACUI member school and for UPC among university sport clubs.
“(UPC) is now among the top clubs in recreational services,” Le stated. “The club has made considerable progress since I founded it in spring 2012.”
Le, who placed fourth in the regional tournament in Knoxville, Tenn., added that he “wouldn’t trade anything in the world” for the chance to compete nationally.
Nguyen, who steps into the role of UPC president this fall, placed second in the regional tournament.
“As a fairly new club, it is quite an achievement for UPC to send seven students to nationals,” Nguyen added. “We definitely made a name for ourselves with surrounding schools.”
James Contratto, assistant director of student activities for weekend programs, noted,“These tournaments help connect students attending institutions all over the country to share their passion for the sport, enhance their experience as students, and compete on a national level. By bringing these enthusiasts together, ACUI helps build community while helping students make global connections that will last a lifetime.”