BullShooter Magazine August 2019 Number 8 Volume 36 | Page 14

When this darter first took an interest in the game he began setting goals
for what he wanted to achieve as a player. In three short years he has
repeatedly met and increased his expectations. Let’s talk darts with Connor
Martin.
Connor lives in Stanhope, NJ, located in the Northern part of the state.
He splits his time between spending time with his lovely girlfriend, Megan
Jannuzzi, being employed as a Project Superintendant for DeVito Roofing
Company, and playing in his numerous hobbies. You’ll be surprised to learn
how he honed his darting skills.
Connor Martin
Pacer: Connor, tell us about
your other pastime and explain
why you think it goes hand-in-
hand with your dart successes.
Connor: Actually, I was a profes-
sional Beer Pong player. Just as
they have major dart tournaments,
they have Beer Pong (a bar sport in
which the challenge is to toss ping
pong balls into beer cups located
at the far end of the table) tourna-
ments and I actually won a couple
$10,000 tournaments and played in
The World Series of Beer Pong in
Las Vegas, NV.
Pacer: I had no idea such a
thing existed. You really feel like
playing Beer Pong helped you as
a dart player?
Connor: They go hand-in-hand
as far as the hand-eye coordination
and athleticism and when I got into
Connor teamed up with Paula Murphy and
won 1st place in Mixed Cricket Doubles at the
BullShooter 34 Finals in May.
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BULLSHOOTER
serious dart play I could use those
experiences to develop the mental
part of the game. It helped me to
perform in big moments when you
have to be able to put aside the pres-
sure and throw your best shots.
Pacer: Connor, I would say that
ability is what separates the
men from the boys in the world
of sports. You have taken that
ability and in three short years
climbed quite a ways up the dart
ladder.
Connor: I was working at The
Corner Pub and a couple guys
came in with their own dart cases
and I was intrigued. I asked them
if I could play with them and they
thought I showed promise for a new
player. They were in the process of
forming a team and they asked me
to join up and I was really excited
about it.
Tom, I think what has led to my
success in the game is my drive.
From that very first night I knew I
would do whatever I had to do to be
a good player. I set goals for myself
and worked hard to achieve them.
Pacer: I’ve never met a great
player who hasn’t paid his dues.
I don’t care how much natural
ability a player has, he won’t
reach his full potential if he
doesn’t put in the time and effort
You’ve got to pay your dues.
Connor: I couldn’t agree more. I
set goals to challenge myself. I can
remember when I wanted to be a
good consistent team player. Then I
wanted to be the best player on my
team. Then I wanted to be the best
At the BullShooter 34 Finals in Chicago,
Connor, Heidi Schraeder & Marc Marchesani
captured 1st in Top Gun Mixed Triples.
player in my league. I set bigger and
bigger goals and I’m still setting
them.
Pacer: (Laughing) I don’t think
I would be sticking my neck out
if I said you reached a few goals
at the Pennsylvania Regional
and The BullShooter Challenge
of Champions this year.
Connor: When Michael Burns and
I went to the Regional, we said our
goal was to win every event that we
played. We played very well there in
Pittsburgh, and we did win both of
the Men’s Doubles, but the amazing
thing was what happened Friday
night. We got there and signed up for
the Luck of the Draw. I think there
were 256 entries and we look up on
the chart and there we are paired
together, we couldn’t believe it.
Pacer: Wow, talk about beating
the odds, I guess it was meant to
be.
Connor: Here I am, playing in
my second electronic tournament
ever and we won the Blind Draw,
and then both of the Men’s Doubles.