Matthew Grenz of Gretna, La., is a member of the United States Marine Corps. He was originally stationed in Camp Pendleton, Calif., from 1995-1998. Grenz spent 1998-2001 in Okinawa, Japan, 2002-2004 in Twenty Nine Palms, Calif., 2004-2008 in Camp Lejeune, N.C., and he’s been in New Orleans, La., since 2008. Grenz has been an APA member since March of 2003. He got involved with the APA in Twenty Nine Palms while looking for something to do after breaking the thumb on his bowling hand.

“I was shooting pool with a few friends when this older gentlemen asked me if I shot on a team.  I told him I didn’t—so he invited me to come on the following Wednesday to meet his 9-Ball Team Captain,” Grenz said. “I shot with them before the match and was added to the roster that night.  I played my first match that night and have been hooked on the APA since!”

While Grenz didn’t have much opportunity to shoot pool during his first deployment, he was able to purchase his first cue while there. It was at home waiting upon his return. The second deployment allowed a few more opportunities for Grenz to shoot, but he also purchased instructional pool DVDs that he played in the sleeping quarters anytime he was in his room. Grenz shot in a few pool tournaments on base at Camp Pendleton, Okinawa, Twenty Nine Palms and Camp Lejeune.

“When I moved to New Orleans, the APA League Operator was the first person in the city that I met,” Grenz said. “He provided me with names of bars and teams that shot APA in the area that I was going to be living.  Since then I have become the Team Captain of one team and the Co-Captain of the other two teams I shoot on.  I’m also on my second session as Division Representative for one of the divisions.”

The greatest thing that’s happened to Grenz because of the APA is that he met his fiancé, Michele Deacon. She’s an APA member and they’re on two teams together—both teams won the division last session!