By Evan Walsh
Contributing Writer
HUDSON – The “clicking” and “clacking” in the Hudson Senior Center’s billiards room can be heard throughout the building. Often, curious visitors peek inside the door to catch a glimpse of the action.
They’re almost always met by Will Kirkpatrick, who asks one question.
“Hey, are you a pool player?”
With enough people replying “yes” over the years, “Team Hudson” was formed. This year, the team became 2026 Central Massachusetts Champion, a milestone for the Hudson community.
“People come in and look in the doorway. Nobody ever comes to the doorway without me asking that question,” Kirkpatrick joked. “A conversation starts, and that’s how almost everyone joins.”
About 15 years ago, Hudson purchased pool tables and created the billiards room. The tables saw a lot of play, but the Senior Center team was “loosely held together,” said Kirkpatrick.
After Kirkpatrick and Co. pooled together some money with the help of Avidia Bank, the tables were resurfaced and new balls were added. The room became more popular than ever, and residents who used to travel to Northborough, Marlborough, and beyond picked up cues for Hudson.
“Now it’s very active. We’re all good friends,” said Kirkpatrick.
Today, players enjoy coaching one another and talking about the game. The “younger guys” are in their seventies, and members of the group are in their nineties.
The team was never bad, but it “never won anything.” Three years ago, it started to tie with Marlborough – then it “always fell apart in the playoffs.” This time, the team – composed of Jamie Metcalfe, Lester Connors, Will Kirkpatrick, Sylvain Desnoyers, and Mike Sarbacker – got the job done.
“It was really big. We finally beat Marlborough and Framingham – the two tough teams. It was really nice. It was nice for people of this age to do something. It pumps you up,” said Kirkpatrick.
“I think something like this, it’s really a great thing for elderly people – elderly guys especially.”
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