Star Staff Reports
The game of cornhole continues to become more than a tailgating tradition or a favorite pastime at one’s family reunion.
It is now a sport in which high school and college students are participating in at the highest levels of competition.
At Brighton High School, a new club, the BHS Cornhole Club, is now in its second year of operation, and eight club members just returned from participating in the American Cornhole League’s National High School Championships in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina December 29-31, 2022.
Zac Blaylock, Christian Cousar, Katlyn Hamm, Landon Marrs, Maddie McBride, Dylan McCulley, Matthew Parker, and Drew Wilson represented Tipton County Schools as they competed with nearly 100 other high school players from all over the United States.
In singles, doubles,and team events, the students placed in the top half of competitors in all divisions while learning more about the game and preparing for next year’s event too.
As a result of the players’ hard work and success, they will earn money from American Cornhole League in the form of a donation to the school club. This money will be used to purchase any needed equipment, to provide transportation to events, to pay entry fees, and quite possibly, to help fund next year’s National Championship trip as well as to help students attend more tournaments across the country as their game progresses this year.
Local businesses and organizations like Nafieh’s Cash Saver, Charms, Brighton Nutrition Source, and Woodmen Life helped the students raise money for the trip through donations or products. Bigger businesses like BG Cornhole, AirWolf Athletics, Big Daddy Cornhole, and AAR Cornhole also helped to ensure that the students had all lodging and entry fees paid for the event as well as some meals provided.
Several local players also assisted in helping the students by playing in a fundraiser cornhole tournament in December.
“Playing competitive Cornhole continues to grow in popularity from the east coast to the west coast and beyond,” McBride said. “It may not be a TSSAA sport yet, but there is definitely a future in the game.”
