Diné pool player reaches benchmark on national level

FRUITLAND, N.M.

Meet LaBernaline “Bernie” Store, the Navajo Nation’s very own pool shark.

Bernie as she prefers to be called, is one of the most approachable people you’ll ever meet, but when it comes to the game of pool, the term competitive becomes an understatement.

“I love the competition,” Store confessed. “I love the game. I’ve always enjoyed it. I can’t get away from it.”

Store, 40, is the only known Diné to compete at the national level in the game of billiards.
Originally from Luepp, Ariz., her parents moved the entire family to the Phoenix-area when she was about 10 years old.

When she was about 20 years old, she started to dabble in the game.

“I didn’t really know what I was doing,” she said. “I enjoyed it and I had a lot of fun. It just kind of came about as a hobby.”

What was once a harmless hobby she picked up 20 years ago has blossomed into a competitive sport for Store, who not only loves the sport but is also very good at it.

She has since competed in national-invitation-only tournaments across the country and has pursed more winnings than she can remember.

She played in her first tournament about six months after she was introduced to the game.

After her debut she didn’t do too well, but her loss served as a motivation that has come to no end.

“I didn’t like losing. I’m very competitive…I told myself, ‘I’m going to get this game down, I have to get better,’” she said. “I wanted to beat everybody that I played, I just wanted to win the game so bad.”

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