Credit: Submitted
Former Solebury Township part-time police Officer Steve Markle has made a name internationally as one of the world’s best trick shot pool players.
For Markle, 32, who lives in the Levittown area, pool is one of his passions and a part-time job that has led to appearances on TV, across the internet, and in countless tournaments.
Markle balances his world-ranked pool player status with his full-time job as a Lower Makefield Township police officer.
Credit: Submitted
An athletic kid, Markle got into pool as a boy while playing at a friend’s house as they stayed cool in the air conditioning on hot days.
Eventually, Markle convinced his dad to purchase a pool table for the family’s basement.
“I had to convince my dad to alter our basement to fit a big bulky pool table down there,” Markle said with a laugh.
At a spot in Penndel Borough, a pool player named “Jay May” taught Markle a trick shot that captivated the teenager.
Markle started posting videos of his trick shots to YouTube as it was becoming a more popular platform, which led to exposure.
“A lot of other people from around the world would post their trick shots to YouTube. And of course me being young, I saw the trick shots and said ‘hey, that’s cool,'” he said.
Markle explained that his videos have garnered many views and his older clips still get views.
In high school, Markle went pro and began traveling to pool tournaments.
“I just started competing and went to pretty much every cool trick shot tournament that I was invited to. I started building up my world rank. And from there, I pretty much traveled the world. I’ve been all around the country for this. I’ve been to China for invitationals,” Markle said. “It’s definitely been a cool ride.”
Markle was picked by car brand Lincoln to star in a 2019 commercial featuring his style of pool to demonstrate the features of the Nautilus SUV.
The local resident found out he had been selected to be in the commercial while he was with his wife relaxing. He headed to Los Angeles that night for the shoot.
In a separate Lincoln spot where actor Matthew McConaughey is playing pool, Markle taught the actor the moves and stood in as his pool-playing double.
“They put me up in a fancy hotel and treated me like a celebrity,” Markle said of the experience.
Amid his pool career, Markle began the police academy, which left him little time for pool. However, he picked back up once the academy was finished.
Markle worked as a part-time patrol officer in Bristol Borough and Solebury Township before being hired by the Lower Makefield Township Police Department full-time.
Credit: Submitted
While pool is one of Markle’s passions, he said he doesn’t plan to take it on as a full-time career.
“I’ll never leave my profession as a police officer to play what ultimately is a bar game,” he said.
The department and Chief Ken Coluzzi have been supportive of his pool playing, Markle said, noting officers have even watched his tournaments on TV.
Markle won the 2023 US National Artistic Pool Championship in September and is currently ranked ninth in the world. He is a former member of ESPN’s Team USA.
This week, Markle will head to the World Championship in Michigan to compete against players from around the globe.
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