The Cornhole Chronicles 2013

"The Wave" in the VIP section.

There isn't a way to cover this event that will do it justice. The Second Annual Cornhole for Cash Tournament at Blechschmidt Meadowlands was a massive event that attracted sixteen teams from around the Pacific Northwest that included all age groups and skill levels. One player from as far away as Idaho regretted not being able to make the trip saying he would spend the day “thinking about our cornholes.” We weren't entirely clear what he meant by this statement.

Paparazzi

VIP seating and practice courts were added to the Meadowlands to meet the demands of the sold-out event. The press was everywhere.

Warmups began early in the day on the Ford and CWU courts. Trainers met athletes in locker rooms to discuss strategies and prepare for battle. Several athletes were playing with injuries this year, electing to push through or anesthetize the pain, while others were forced to sit on the sidelines.

CPA

ASA

Among the players this year were members of the Cornhole Players Association and the American Cornhole Association. Also present were the members of last year’s championship team, Team Cornholio.

Coveted trophy.

Playing on the Jack Daniels and Maker’s Mark courts, the teams vying for the coveted 2013 Cornhole For Cash trophies in the Round One match-up were:

The Courne Supremacy vs. Children of the Corn

Favorites vs. Elite

Snapping Turtles vs. Wolfpack

Pretenders vs. Corno for Pirates

Corn Stars vs. Corn Balls

Good Gals vs. Cliffhangers

Blue Bags vs. Rabbit’s Foot

Avengers vs. WB

An athlete bribing the Commissioner as Round One match-ups were assigned.
This player was later brought up on charges of using performance enhancing drugs.

The study of cornhole is really a study of style, each athlete having his or her own personally honed technique.

Overhand:

Bowling "lean":

"Joe Cool":

Tongue action:

Follow through:

Perfect form:

The brackets were updated between rounds as revelers ate and enjoyed themselves in the Beer Garden.

Beer Garden

As the night wore on, pumped-up attitudes began to wane. Corn Stars took a losing attitude when one was overheard saying, “We’re just here to have fun. We’re all winners here.”

One of Wolfpack's team members, fresh off the practice court, said “We probably won’t win anyway.”

Martin on Courtney, "She carried me. I drank another beer and didn't throw it in the hole. There’s a lot of good cornholes out there.”

Others were bolstered by the increasing intensity of competition as teams were eliminated and all that remained was the cream of the cornhole crop.

Cornhole bookies saw an increase in action when husbands competed against wives and moms competed against sons. Other rivalries found L1 pitted against L2 - even for which was which "L" - and Josh competing against Mark - widely known as a grudge match. "Mark has to win or he’ll cry," said a close source.

By 6 pm, shade began falling on the courts although players on the Jack court still had to contend with the sun in their eyes. The hum of the outdoor lights signaled the oncoming nightfall.

Elite vs. The Courne Supremacy in the finals!

This was sports drama at its finest, ladies and gentlemen - mom versus son. Judges were called in to rule whether mom and son could play on the same end of the court or if they had to play opposite. Finding no prohibition in the rules against it, judges allowed that mother and son were able to play on the same side of the court.

Field deterioration.

The crowd was enthralled into silence or the spectators could have been asleep as the final match ensued. There was a slight delay as there was an issue relating to board alignment which had been a persistent problem during the tournament due to the slope of Blechschmidt Meadowlands. (Possibly due to a mis-stake, according to one source.)

The Band.

Even as the tournament wound down the band, which would play long after the tournament was over, warmed up.

Controversy over starting field position in the Final.

The story of the final match is a story of resilience and redemption. Ethan, of Elite, played his rookie year in last year's event and took it hard when he was knocked out in early rounds.

Ready to win.

Taking a loss again in Round One this year, Ethan felt certain he would be repeating history. This year, however, would be different. Literally a lucky draw, Ethan was paired with Mark, a seasoned pro in the sport of cornhole, and a rumored nominee for the Illinois Cornhole Hall of Fame. Mark sat the the rookie down for a pep talk that not only bolstered Ethan, but brought a tear to the eye of everyone in the house as he told of how he had fought the odds and all manner of oppression to become the fabled champ that he was. 

Ethan, Mark was sure, would do the same. All he had to do was get his head in the game. And he would have to. Ethan would be facing his mother, Corrie, in the final showdown. 

Corrie, of The Courne Supremacy, is a fierce competitor who narrowly missed taking the championship last year. She was looking to take it all this year when she was paired with Gunner, another of the professional players who graced the tournament. The Courne Supremacy had no problems sailing through the Winners Bracket to the finals.

But The Courne Supremacy met their match in Elite who fought their way through the Losers Bracket to the final showdown. In the the best three out of five match-up, Elite came out on top.

Mark and Ethan of Elite.

Ethan with Gunner and Corrie of The Courne Supremacy.

As the final match wound down, the band played on into the night and long into the wee morning hours. Players and fans filed out of Blechschmidt Meadowlands or found their beds wherever there was space. Though exhausted, the organizers of the event, B&B Productions, were already moving on to their next event, the NFL Fantasy Draft Party, which was to take place a few short hours later.

Thanks to B&B Productions, the Commissioner, other senior officials, the players, and the fans for making the event the true classic that it is.

Until next year....