Embedded Files
League Operator - Gary Frerking
League Operator - Gary Frerking
Meet Gary Frerking, the calm, cool and collected force powering Sacramento APA, your local franchise of the American Poolplayers Association. Born in the California Bay Area and raised in the wilds of Plumas County, Northern California, Gary's life has been a thrilling adventure of competition and camaraderie. A high school athlete star tasting the sweet rush of victory and the grit of defeat on football fields, basketball courts, track lanes, tennis courts and snowy alpine slopes from an early age. Those experiences ignited a passion for games that unite people, and boy, did pool deliver!
As a proud U.S. Navy veteran and former nuclear reactor operator, Gary mastered precision under pressure, skills he later channeled into a 20-year career in casino software engineering. He innovated systems that kept the excitement rolling. But his true calling emerged when a coworker roped him into an APA team nearly two decades ago. Hooked instantly, he captained squads, forged unbreakable bonds, and stayed friends with his original teammates to this day. "Why keep this magic to myself?" he thought. In 2012, he became a League Operator to share the social magic with others - committed to crafting leagues that buzz with energy, challenge, and inclusivity for all skill levels.
Imagine sinking that perfect bank shot amid cheers from new friends, sharpening your game while building a community that feels like family. That's the Sacramento APA vibe Gary is shooting for. Ready to join the fun? Grab your cue, dive into our leagues, and let's create memories one rack at a time. Your next great shot awaits - whether it's a break shot, bank shot, tequila or Jameson!
History of the American Poolplayers Association (APA)
History of the American Poolplayers Association (APA)
The American Poolplayers Association (APA) was founded by professional poolplayers and Billiard Hall of Famers Terry Bell and Larry Hubbart in 1979 as the National Pool League, which became the American Poolplayers Association in 1981. The two realized the popularity of the sport, but knew, that different from other sports, there was no existing recreational league system.
Today, the APA, also known as the Canadian Poolplayers Association in Canada, the Japanese Poolplayers Association in Japan, and APA of Singapore in Singapore, and has grown to more than 275,000 members and boasts more members than all other “national” leagues combined. The League is administered locally by a network of Franchise Operators, called League Operators, and is conducted weekly in a variety of both 8-Ball and 9-Ball team formats. There are nearly 300 APA Leagues throughout the U.S., Canada and Japan.
APA League teams have the opportunity to advance to the APA World Pool Championships each summer in Las Vegas. In 2010, Guinness World Records recognized this event as the World’s Largest Pool tournament. In addition, the APA also hosts a second tournament, the APA Poolplayer Championships, in Las Vegas each spring. APA pays out a combined $2 Million annually at these tournaments.
The APA also conducts the U.S. Amateur Championship, the pool world’s most prestigious amateur tournament, which is the only competition open to APA members and nonmembers alike. The tournament began in 1994 and has grown significantly over the years, as players across North America battle for a spot in this coveted event.
The APA is has also been recognized as one of the top small business and home-based franchise opportunities in the world. In 2010, Forbes magazine ranked the APA as the #2 “Top 20 Franchises to Start.” APA is ranked a “Hall of Fame” franchise with the Franchise Business Review for having been named a Top 200 franchise for 10+ years. Click here to view more APA franchise honors.
One of the keys to the success of the American Poolplayers Association is The Equalizer®, the unique handicapping and scoring system that makes it possible for players of different playing abilities — especially novices and beginners — to compete on an equal basis, much like they do in golf and bowling. The Equalizer® uses a formula that measures a player’s ability. The result is a handicap of how many games a player must win to capture a match in 8-Ball or the number of points a player must earn to win a match in the 9-Ball format.
Everyone Can Play – Anyone Can Win!®
Everyone Can Play – Anyone Can Win!®
Connect With Us
Connect With Us
Page updated
Report abuse