In part two of our four-part series with BCA Hall of Famer LoreeJon Ogonowski-Brown, we journey back to the early 1980s, when a 15-year-old prodigy from New Jersey stunned the billiards world by capturing the World Straight Pool Championship. That historic win not only earned her a Guinness World Record as the youngest world champion in the sport’s history but also set the stage for an extraordinary career that continues to inspire players today.

LoreeJon reflects on the whirlwind of attention that followed—television appearances on shows like That’s Incredible and Big Blue Marble, magazine features, and a flood of opportunities that transformed her from a local phenom into a household name in the world of cue sports. She also shares the deep bond she had with her father, whose guidance and belief fueled her early success, and how his encouragement helped shape her competitive mindset.

The conversation moves from her teenage triumphs to the challenges of sustaining greatness, including her rivalry with legendary Jean Balukas and her unforgettable nine-ball world championship victory at just 19. Along the way, LoreeJon offers candid insight into the mental side of the game—how focus, nerves, and even her self-described “squirrel moments” have influenced her journey on and off the table.

Listeners will also hear touching stories of resilience and inspiration, including how her husband Terry helped her rediscover joy in competition, and how her presence at tournaments continues to impact fans in powerful, unexpected ways.

From the discipline of straight pool to the evolving equipment and style of today’s game, LoreeJon offers a rare perspective on how eras of play compare—and what the future holds for the sport’s rising stars.

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Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

In this debut episode of our four-part conversation with pool legend LoreeJon Ogonowski-Brown, we go back to the very beginning of a remarkable journey in billiards. A World Pool-Billiard Association Hall of Fame inductee and one of the most decorated players in women’s pool, LoreeJon opens up about her early life, her family’s influence, and how a cue stick in her tiny hands set her on the path to greatness.

From her childhood home in Garwood, New Jersey—where a full-sized Gandy table dominated the basement—to her father’s mentorship and clever ingenuity (building wooden boxes so his young daughter could reach the table), LoreeJon shares how she developed flawless mechanics at an age when most kids were still playing with toys. By seven, she was performing trick shot exhibitions in front of Minnesota Fats, and at eleven, she captured her first major title, foreshadowing the extraordinary career to come.

Listeners will hear the stories behind her “Queen of the Hill” nickname and how resilience became her trademark. LoreeJon recalls the sting of early dismissals—like being told to “go back to Barbies” by a world champion—and how those words fueled her determination to prove doubters wrong. Alongside anecdotes of growing up around legends like Allen Hopkins, Steve Mizerak, and Ray Martin, LoreeJon reflects on her parents’ sacrifices, her mother’s quiet strength, and the unique challenges of being a young girl in a male-dominated game.

This episode paints a vivid portrait of LoreeJon’s formative years—equal parts grit, humor, and heart—and sets the stage for the rest of her inspiring story.

Join us as we step into the world of one of pool’s true pioneers, whose love of the game and indomitable spirit made her a champion long before the trophies ever came.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

Support the show

Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:

Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1

Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

In this fourth and final installment of our exclusive Legends of the Cue series with Hall of Fame icon Nick Varner, we bring his extraordinary journey full circle. From the heights of world titles to the challenges of sustaining a career in a sport often overshadowed, Nick’s story is equal parts grit, passion, and perseverance.

Nick revisits his late-career triumphs, including capturing his second WPA World Nine Ball Championship at the age of 51 and going undefeated to claim the 2000 World One Pocket Championship. Alongside host Mike Gonzalez and co-host Mark Wilson, he reflects on how pool’s professional landscape changed when Camel withdrew its sponsorship, leaving players scrambling for new ways to make a living. For Nick, the answer was entrepreneurship—launching his own line of cues that became a successful business built the old-fashioned way: with handshakes, relationships, and relentless hustle.

The conversation also turns deeply personal as Nick shares how his wife, Tony, was by his side for nearly every match of his professional career, serving as both supporter and coach. He opens up about the shots he wishes he could have back, including a heartbreaking loss to Earl Strickland, and how he’d approach the game differently if starting over today.

Closing with reflections on legacy, Nick emphasizes resilience, composure, and the joy of giving back to the sport that defined his life. Mark and Mike underscore what makes Varner unique: a tireless worker, a consummate sportsman, and a man who never quit on himself—or the game.

This episode not only caps a four-part deep dive into one of pool’s greatest champions, it preserves the voice of a legend whose story continues to inspire players and fans alike.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

Support the show

Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:

Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1

Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”