Three events, one open to everyone
BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County High School added cornhole to its list of sports clubs this school year and will host its first tournament Saturday for students and the public to compete and a “Bags Against Bullies” tournament May 20.
The first tournament will be in the Martin County High School gym. Registration starts at 9 a.m., practice will go until 10 a.m., and bags fly shortly after 10 a.m. for the first game.
The tournament will feature three events: two for junior high and high school students, free to enter, and the third open to anyone, $10 per player to enter.
Event 1 – blind draw double elimination, free to all junior high and high school students.
Event 2 – bring-your-own-partner double elimination, free to all junior high and high school students.
Event 3 – blind draw double elimination, $10 per person and open to the public.
Prizes will go to the top three finishers in each event.
Admission for spectators is $3.
Shawn Miller, cornhole enthusiast and electricity teacher at the Martin County Area Technology Center, is heading up the Cardinals Cornhole Club as the coach. He has the help of fellow cornhole enthusiasts John and Christie Mills and others.
Cornhole seems simple enough. Players toss square bags filled with 16 ounces of resin beads (they do not actually contain beans or corn) 27 feet at a slanted 2-by-4 board with a 6-inch round hole near the top. Players can score one point by landing the bag on the board or three points if the bag lands in the hole. The game can be played one against another or in two teams of two.
Anyone who can toss a 1-pound bag can play cornhole.
“You don’t have to be physically fit to play,” Christie Mills said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re short or tall. Anybody can play it.”
According to Mills, other states have high school cornhole leagues, and Martin County High School is Kentucky’s first.
“Johnson County and Floyd County schools will be doing the new sport next year,” said Mills.
Coach Miller announced a practice session after school Wednesday in his electricity classroom for anyone wanting to play in the tournament Saturday.
Bags Against Bullies tournament May 20
The team will hold a Bags Against Bullies fundraiser tournament Saturday, May 20 at the MCHS gym.
The tournament will feature four categories.
Two events – blind draw double elimination and bring-your-own-partner double elimination are free to all junior high and high school students. Events 3 and 4 are open to everyone, $10 per person to enter, blind draw double elimination and bring-your-own-partner double elimination.
Registration starts at 9 a.m. and bags fly around 10 a.m.
Bags Against Bullies is a national campaign sponsored by Built with Love and 724 Bagger Company committed to supporting schools in creating a safe space for their students from bullying. It funds educational materials geared toward students’ social and emotional needs, teaching kids how to stand up for themselves and others and increasing their self-esteem.
For more information, message Cardinals Cornhole on Facebook or email shawn.miller@martin.kyschools.us.