The Clinton County Fair made history for cornhole players on Tuesday, July 8. Several local players from across the North Country and Vermont gathered at the fairgrounds for the first edition of the Clinton County Fair Cornhole Tournament. One of those local players was just minutes away from the fairgrounds. Morrisonville, N.Y., native Ethan Freeman was pleased to have a competition close to home after frequently traveling to different tournaments across the map. He’s competed in various states such as Texas and Virginia and even beyond borders in Canada, which helped him gain exposure to land an NCAA Division I offer at Adrian College. “I was talking to the coach on how I practiced every day, competed in clubs, promoted myself on Facebook and everything,” Freeman said. “Get my name out there, and boom, here I go to Adrian College. It’s pretty cool.” Another local standout from Coventry, V.T., was also there to compete. Bryce McCormick, like Freeman, has traveled across the map playing against high-level players and training with American Cornhole League (ACL) pros in Vermont. He says those experiences helped him land an NCAA Division I offer at Winthrop University but also credits the opportunities his home state had to offer to play cornhole locally. “I typically play in St. Johnsbury and Derby right now,” McCormick said. “A great group of people playing. They just want to lift everybody up and continue to grow the sport, which I believe is awesome.” One of McCormick’s biggest role models is Colin Hodet. The ACL professional from St. Albans, Vermont has traveled in major tournaments across the nation such as California, which featured around 1,300 teams and most recently in Richmond, Virginia when he finished third place in an ACL signature event. Hodet hopes his story will inspire other local cornhole players like McCormick and Freeman to one day join him in the professional ranks. “Just make sure you strive towards that no matter what people tell you,” Hodet said. “A lot of people told me that I couldn’t do what I’m doing right now. It’s just a backyard game. You can’t make a living out of it. Honestly, I’m doing that right now.” Hodet was the eventual winner of the tournament. He and his dad, Dave Hodet, placed first as “VTs Most Wanted.” “The Garage Guys,” featuring the pair of Dylan Baker and Luke Carpenter, placed in second, while the duo from “Keep it Simple,” of Avery Landry and Alex LaFountain, finished in third. The players from this year’s tournament hope the cornhole will return for multiple years at fairgrounds in the future.
The Clinton County Fair made history for cornhole players on Tuesday, July 8.
Several local players from across the North Country and Vermont gathered at the fairgrounds for the first edition of the Clinton County Fair Cornhole Tournament.
One of those local players was just minutes away from the fairgrounds. Morrisonville, N.Y., native Ethan Freeman was pleased to have a competition close to home after frequently traveling to different tournaments across the map. He’s competed in various states such as Texas and Virginia and even beyond borders in Canada, which helped him gain exposure to land an NCAA Division I offer at Adrian College.
“I was talking to the coach on how I practiced every day, competed in clubs, promoted myself on Facebook and everything,” Freeman said. “Get my name out there, and boom, here I go to Adrian College. It’s pretty cool.”
Another local standout from Coventry, V.T., was also there to compete. Bryce McCormick, like Freeman, has traveled across the map playing against high-level players and training with American Cornhole League (ACL) pros in Vermont. He says those experiences helped him land an NCAA Division I offer at Winthrop University but also credits the opportunities his home state had to offer to play cornhole locally.
“I typically play in St. Johnsbury and Derby right now,” McCormick said. “A great group of people playing. They just want to lift everybody up and continue to grow the sport, which I believe is awesome.”
One of McCormick’s biggest role models is Colin Hodet. The ACL professional from St. Albans, Vermont has traveled in major tournaments across the nation such as California, which featured around 1,300 teams and most recently in Richmond, Virginia when he finished third place in an ACL signature event.
Hodet hopes his story will inspire other local cornhole players like McCormick and Freeman to one day join him in the professional ranks.
“Just make sure you strive towards that no matter what people tell you,” Hodet said. “A lot of people told me that I couldn’t do what I’m doing right now. It’s just a backyard game. You can’t make a living out of it. Honestly, I’m doing that right now.”
Hodet was the eventual winner of the tournament. He and his dad, Dave Hodet, placed first as “VTs Most Wanted.” “The Garage Guys,” featuring the pair of Dylan Baker and Luke Carpenter, placed in second, while the duo from “Keep it Simple,” of Avery Landry and Alex LaFountain, finished in third.
The players from this year’s tournament hope the cornhole will return for multiple years at fairgrounds in the future.
