Wanda-Schubert-article

Wanda Schubert

League Player for Life

California State Pool League has been in operation five decades and has seen many changes over the years. Each season we welcome new people and say good-bye to others. Some members dedicate years to the league while others participate occasionally, taking breaks in between. Wanda Schubert is one of the dedicated players, a California State Pool League member who joined in 1977, having missed but a few seasons.

Born Wanda Wright in Sacramento, Wanda’s interest in pool began when she first started pocketing balls at the Goose Club in West Sacramento. She knew right away this would be a lifelong activity for her, and looked forward to many years and much enjoyment shooting pool. It was around that time Wanda met Gloria McHone, who invited Wanda to join her team. These two ladies became fast friends and have remained teammates throughout the years.

At the 1978 trophy party, Wanda was enjoying her team’s overall championship glory when she met Charley Schubert, whose men’s team was also collecting first-place trophies. As pool players with an immediate connection to each other, Wanda and Charley were married just three weeks later and have celebrated many happy anniversaries together. Pool definitely earns credit for this everlasting union.

Wanda decided she wanted a custom-made cue stick. She looked through the phone book and found a number for Terry Stonier at Jointed Cue Billiards. She met Terry at his pool hall and ordered her very own Stonier cue. Wanda has been playing with that same cue an astonishing 40 years. Her cue stick is a treasure among custom-cue enthusiasts. With her Stonier cue in hand, Wanda became friends with local champion Mike Boyd. She asked Mike for lessons and began to utilize his valuable advice on how to ‘throw’ a ball, as pool is a game full of tricks.

Wanda loves trick shots. A special memory is when she met world champion trick-shot artist, Mike Massey, who has visited Sacramento several times over the years to perform his pool magic for capacity crowds. During one such performance, Wanda introduced herself to her pool idol and proudly displays his autograph on her cue case.

Wanda enjoys getting together with her women’s team for a night of pool and socializing. Her team has played for many different establishments over the years in various bars and pool halls located in Sacramento, West Sacramento (Wanda’s home since 1984), and Rancho Cordova. They have experience on an array of table sizes, including 4.5’ by 9’ regulation tables. Their current home of Diamond Billiards has such equipment and Wanda prefers this table size. Other members of the team are Captain, Gloria McHone, Cindy McHone, Shanon McHone, Laura Doig, and Melissa White.

Wanda loves 8-Ball and would claim this as her favorite game. She appreciates the patterns and studies them closely, walking calmly around the table, focusing her attention on the task at hand… to pocket the ball, while planning where best to position the cue ball for her next shot. Her ability has been rewarded as most valuable player many times over the years. She won the overall MVP in 1999 and earned other opportunities to compete for that trophy but has graciously passed the glory to her teammates. A true sports person, indeed.

The Billiard Congress of America holds one of the largest tournaments in pool history. The BCA hosted the tournament in a different city each year, but eventually realized the popularity of Las Vegas casinos so they moved the national championship event to the city of lights 25 years ago. Wanda participated in two BCA events in Las Vegas and enjoyed winning matches with her team during a fun-filled week of competition.

When asked to describe her favorite pool memory, Wanda told of the time her team played for the Brick Shot House in West Sacramento. This bar sponsored the team when they won four consecutive overall championships in the late 1990s. The big floating trophy was retired at that time, with Wanda’s team listed on 10 of the overall championship plaques. Being a member of a team that has won so many league championships is a memory Wanda will cherish forever.

Wanda’s interest in team play with California State Pool League is everlasting. She thoroughly enjoys the tournament atmosphere of overall championship playoffs at Jointed Cue Billiards the end of each season and has been there many times. Wanda’s team recently finished an impressive 2^nd place overall for the fall 2015 season.

Anyone who has played in our league knows Wanda Schubert. She is a delightful person with a passion for Monday night pool, and will always be thought of as a loyal and committed member of California State Pool League. After forty years of dedication to our league, this statement most certainly rings true.