Pool Champion Shoots for National Title

THIS ATHLETE DOES NOT COMPETE ON THE TRACK OR IN THE GYM. INSTEAD, SHE'S THROWING DOWN IN THE POOL HALL WGCU REPORTER ELIZABETH ANDARGE. IT'S A BILLIARDS PLAYER WHO WAS BREAKING INTO WHAT IS TYPICALLY A MALE DOMINATED SPORT. WASH YOUR HANDS. STUDY EVERY SHOT. IT'S THE REST OF HER BODY FIGHTING TO KEEP UP. >> ON A DAILY HAVING CROHN'S DISEASE. THERE'S A LOT OF WITH CROHN'S. YOU KIND OF HAVE TO WATCH WHAT YOU EAT BECAUSE THAT CAN UPSET YOUR BODY AS WELL. AND A LOT OF MUSCLE PAINS. SO SOMETIMES WHEN I'M SHOOTING FOR JUST SPENDING OVER, YOU KNOW, TO GET DOWN ON MY SHOT, IT WILL, YOU KNOW, HURT MY BODY. I HAVE TO WRESTLE LITTLE BIT MORE. MAKES THE EXTRA TIRED. AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY SEE. >> AGAIN IN THE HEART IS 32. SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CROHN'S DISEASE. THE CONDITION THAT INFLAMES THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM IN HER EARLY 20'S. SHE ALSO HAS OCCASIONAL SEIZURES. DOCTORS STILL HAVEN'T FOUND THE CAUSE. AS A POOL PLAYER. SHE COMPETES ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY. SHE PICKED UP THE NICKNAME. >> IN IT I GOT AS A CHILD, IT WAS A CHILDHOOD NICKNAME. AND ONCE I GOT A LITTLE BIT OLDER, THE A GUY THAT REALLY HELPED ELEVATE MY GAME AND INTRODUCE ME INTO THE LEAKED. HE STARTED CALLING ME PINA AS WELL. EVEN THOUGH BILLIARDS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR WELL OVER A CENTURY ENGEL, HER SAYS THE SPORT STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO. >> BEING A FEMALE, THERE HAS BEEN ON AND OFF OF THE TABLE. A LITTLE BIT OF HARASSMENT UNDERESTIMATED AND THIS POOR HASN'T BEEN EXTREMELY WELCOMING TOWARDS FEMALES. AND I'M HERE TO CHANGE THAT. >> A BIG UNDERTAKING PUT IN THE HARD LIKES A CHALLENGE OUTSIDE OF PRACTICING FOR NATIONALS. SHE SELLS POOL PEANUT MERCHANDISE ON THE SIDE AND WORKS FULL-TIME. BUT HER PASSION. AS FOR THE GAME OF POOL. >> I HAVE A DRIVE AND ME. >> I DON'T QUIT. YOU KNOW, I PUT THE CROHN'S AND THE SEIZURES ASIDE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M SO INCREDIBLY PASSIONATE ABOUT. I IT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT BECAUSE I'M THINKING ABOUT HOW CAN ELEVATE MY GAME, HOW TO MAKE AN IMPACT. HOW CAN I MAKE THIS SPORT BETTER? IT'S THE FIRST AND LAST THING I THINK ABOUT WHEN I WAKE UP AND GO TO SLEEP. >> WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR MIND WHEN YOU'RE STANDING OVER THE POOL TABLE WITH EVERYTHING ON THE LINE. >> AND REALLY JUST CLEARS YOUR MIND. IT MAKES A QUIET. IT'S A PEACEFUL THING. SO IT'S A VERY, VERY THERAPEUTIC OUTLET TO GET INTO. >> ENGLEHARDT HEADS TO LAS VEGAS IN FEBRUARY FOR THE USA POOL LEAK NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. AND WITH MORE THAN 13,000 PLAYERS COMPETING, HE'S TRAINING DAILY TO EARN HER SPOT ON THE BIG STAGE. FOR WGCU NEWS. I'M LISBETH AND RG. >> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.