Billiards in the blood

In the Valley, sports often reign supreme.

In the fall, middle school and high school students either run long distances in cross country, attack the net in volleyball or reach for the touchdown in football. When winter arrives, basketball is practically the sole sport as the squeaks of shoes and the roar of fans fill the gyms.

As the snow flies and the temperatures drop, one Saratoga Middle High School student is still playing on a green surface, one that is more associated with players older than herself.

It's probably safe to say, however, that Bailey Glode has billiards in her blood.

At 13 years old, Bailey secured her spot as one of the top players in her category during the Wyoming State Pool Tournament. The tournament, held from March 24 to March 28 this year, brings many of the best pool players in Wyoming to the Ford Wyoming Center. While only in 8th grade, Bailey took 1st place in the Under 13 Division while in Casper two weeks ago.

To those who know her, it likely comes as little shock. Joke around with Bailey that she's been playing pool since in the womb, she'll laugh and reply "yeah". It's just barely a joke, though. Bailey's parents are Ed Glode and Heather Satterfield, themselves accomplished pool players. Ed is the original organizer of the Wyoming Open Pool Tournament, which just completed it's 13th year this weekend after being permanently postponed in 2020 due to the coronavirus.

Ask Bailey when she first picked up a pool cue and she'll tell you that she's held one for as long as she can remember. She's also competed in the Wyoming Open for as long as she can remember, too, considering the event has run longer than she's been alive.

The 13 year old billiards player stands out in her own right. Often wearing denim jeans, a t-shirt and a ball cap, watching her carry her pool cues through the Platte Valley Community Center on April 2 she looked right at home.

Despite her gene pool, the 8th grader said that taking 1st place in the Wyoming State Pool Tournament this year didn't come easy. While she had little doubts and plenty of confidence in herself, all of that came following plenty of hard work.

While most students her age are spending their time after school doing other things, Bailey practices constantly on her father's pool table. The young billiards player estimates that she spends between 20 and 25 hours a week practicing on the felt. Hard work that has obviously paid off. According to Bailey, both her parents are proud of her state win this year.

"They feel like I could do it and they didn't have a doubt that I could," said Bailey. "It helped that I had their support."

This, however, was the final year that Bailey could play in 13 and Under Division. Next year, she'll be playing in the 14 to 17 division. While it doesn't have her rattled, she is aware it won't be a walk in the park.

"There are more good players, so it's going to be a little harder, but I think if I have more practice then I'll be able to pull it off," Bailey said.

As for advice for pool players who may be younger, or older, than Bailey, she says that pool is one of those games that requires more of you mentally than physically.

"Keep your mental state in a good place because pool is more mental than it is physical. So I'd just say have a positive mindset and you can do anything in pool."