Orleans Career and Technical Education Building Trades teacher Matt Anastasi was busting with pride over the achievements of his student Jake Jackson. Jake is a senior in his program and over the last four years the Lyndonville Central School senior has rose through the ranks in the competitive world of billiards. “He is such a great student and really hard working. I am really proud of him.”
“I first got into it at this little bar and grill and I really enjoyed it,” Jake says. “A year later I started playing competitions and I just kept getting better and better. After three years of going to the nationals, I am going to the Worlds.”
Jake has been selected by the Billiard Congress of America to represent Team USA at the 2026 World Pool Association World Junior 10-Ball Championships in San Antonio, Texas. He and his parents, Roger and Terah Jackson, will be heading to San Antonio on November 25th to the 27th for the tournament. This past July, Jake received a wild card invitation from the Billiard Education Foundation and USA Cue Sports to fill an open spot for Team USA at the championships in San Antonio.
Jake started playing in the Nationals at age 14. He also has another big tournament coming up in December near Miami, called “The 64.” It is an invitation-only junior tournament for players 20 years old and under, with a grand prize of $10,000 for travel expenses for the season and other sponsor opportunities.
Jake says he plans on continuing to play even after he graduates. “It would be pretty hard to make a living at it, but some people do. I see it being more something I do on the side and having another career.” He says he is really enjoying his Building Trades class. “I love it. I think it is really cool. There is always something to do and it teaches you a lot of things. It can help you in your every day life even if you don’t make a career of it. But I think there is a possibility that I will do something with this as a career someday. I guess I will see.”