RAPID CITY - Shane Van Boening took professional pool by storm in 2007.

Van Boening began his career as an 18-month old, perched in a captain's chair watching people play pool in his grandfather's pool hall. That early start, coupled with years of hard work, paid off for Van Boening in 2007 when he was named Inside Pool's 2007 professional Player of the Year.

That is not the only honor for Van Boening. He will be honored Monday as Rapid City's professional athlete of the year.

Before 2007 not many people in the world of professional pool or in South Dakota knew much about Van Boening, who is 97 percent deaf and uses a heading aid. Van Boening, 24, won four tournaments during 2007 and won more than $106,000 compared to just $16,187 in earnings the previous year.

In the six majors Van Boening played in, he finished in the finals in four of them, including a win in the U.S. Open-Ball Championship and the Reno Open.

Van Boening's success, though, does not surprise is family or those who know the Van Boenings.

Van Boening began playing the sport at the age of 2 on a 2-by-4 foot pool table his grandfather purchased for him. By the age of 7, Van Boening was playing pool tournaments and by 12 he had played his way to the finals of the South Dakota State Tournament. Van Boening's mother, Timi, his

aunt, Gari Jo Bloomberg, and his grandmother were all state champions.

Van Boening's grandfather, Gary, was a trick-shot artist and owned the pool hall where Van Boening started watching the game when he was 18 months old.

The Rapid City native is admired in the pool world for his style of play. Van Boening is not arrogant or mouth and he doesn't yell and scream when a roll does not go his way. He is also a role model away from the sport, staying away from alcohol and tobacco and staying active with daily runs.

"You have to be an athlete to win," Van Boening was quoted in Pool and Billard.

Van Boening will be honored at the Rapid City Sports Recognition Banquet at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Tickets may be purchased at the door for $18.