Atlantic Conference

Ken Smith Jr

I am ACL Pro Ken Smith Jr from the Atlantic Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the ACL.

I started playing cornhole when COVID started. I was at my apartment and I saw someone throwing and I asked to join him. After that he told me about these blind draws at a bar in Chesapeake, Virginia on Thursday’s. After that someone told me about The ACL and I went to my first regional in Franklin Virginia. And now here I am, an ACL Pro!

Allan Rockwell

I am ACL Pro Allan Rockwell from the Atlantic Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the ACL. Started 11 years ago at an outside venue called " The Knot Hole Station". Ken Parsons, Owner, got the group started. This is the same place Pros players James Baldwin, Harlee Culpepper, Ronnie Culpepper and Allison Heine played on a weekly basis as there was no other place around playing. After playing for months, the 1st time me and another player threw a double 4 bagger everyone clapped and roared out loud as that was unheard of. Played there for almost a year before I got in a National group. When $1000 cornhole tourney would come out on Facebook that was 4 hours away, we would go and before long we were traveling to all of them.

We are sorry to report that on September 29, 2021, the Cornhole world lost one of its “OGs”, Allan “Rocky” Rockwell, after a fight with prostate cancer.
You can read his obituary here

Andy Noyes

I am ACL Pro Andy Noyes from the Atlantic Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the American Cornhole League. I started after being an avid bowler. Started about 10 years ago playing backyard games. Then throwing in some charity tournaments. About 4 years ago I started getting into the competitive nature of the game and have loved it since.

Kamryn Belvin

I am ACL Pro Kamryn Belvin from the Atlantic Conference and this is my story of how I became an professional cornhole player for the American Cornhole League. When I met my boyfriend he played all the time and I got tired of watching so I ended up starting to play as well

Curtis Kearns II

I am ACL Pro Curtis Kearns II from the Atlantic Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the American Cornhole League. I started playing back when I was 15 just like most people at backyard BBQ's. From there I ventured into my first blind draw at a local Buffalo Wild Wings at the age of 17 and I got lucky enough to draw a guy named EB Marsh, the best guy in there at the time, and we ended up finishing second. From then on I was in love with the game. I stayed with the local blind draws for the next 6-7 years and never really ventured off and traveled. I had stared to become one of the best in my area so last year I decided to take on the pro circuit and try to make a name for myself across the country. I ended up Finishing 56th overall In the 2018-2019 season. Time to improve on that in seasons to come!

Adrian Johnson

I am ACL Pro Adrian Johnson from the Atlantic Conference and this is my story of how and when I started playing cornhole and worked my way up to an ACL Pro. I’ve always been very competitive in sports so when I found out about Cornhole, I instantly fell in love with the game. I loved how competitive it is but once I started traveling, the real joy came from all the great people I met along the journey.

Justin Stranger

I am Justin Stranger ACL Pro from the Atlantic Conference and this is my story of how and when I started playing cornhole and worked my way up to an ACL Pro. I am a high school student and a professional cornhole player. I’ve been playing for approximately 3 years.

I partnered with Shawn Smith in the Pro Doubles Division for the 2019-2020 season. I am partnering with Tony Smith in 2020-2021 season.
I got my start like most people did, playing in my backyard with my dad on bouncy boards with corn bags and sometimes at breweries my dad liked to visit until someone from his work invited us to play some blind draws. In August 2017, my dad and I started plays $5 blind draws with handicaps on Monday and Thursday with Carroll County Cornhole run by Brian “Fitz” Fitzsimmons. That is where I met my cornhole mentor, Bob Mallonee, who is also going pro this year. Once I started mastering some of the basics, my dad and I started playing in tournaments, mostly in social divisions, if they had them. Around 6 months in, I started to get pretty good and people were asking my dad if I could partner with them. I started having some successes, which included placing in and winning events. I then heard about COBS and really wanted to go. My dad kept saying “let’s see.” In June of 2018, there was a local tournament called “Jack Taylor” that had juniors. My goal was to win that and prove to my dad, I should go to COBS. I came in second. However, I played in the competitive division with a another non-pro and we finished 4th in a group that included Timmy Pitcher, Leston Allen, Frank Modlin, John Kitchin, Jordan Camba, Jay Corley and other high level players. After the event, my dad said we were going to COBS because even though I was not happy with my junior’s performance and seemed down, my dad was proud of me for fighting back, never quitting and playing hard in a stacked division. I went to COBS, went 3-2 in Junior’s singles. My dad and I met a lot of good people, got a lot of advice and I fell in love with cornhole.

So we decided that in 2018, I should focus on the ACL and the Junior’s division. In my first month of the season, I was fortunate enough to be able to play a Regional with ACL Pro John Kitchin (still one of my favorite players), who I thank for taking a chance by playing with an unknown 14 year old. Early in the season, I had quite a bit of success in singles and doubles early in the season with Zach Owings, which helped each of us start to show our skills. I wanted to root him on at the ACL National College Championships that December, so my dad went on a search for someone to play with me, since Zach could not. He was able to get Seto Soto to play with me. We did pretty well and it enabled me to play against some top level players that I had been admiring.

During the rest of my first ACL season, I generally partnered with very good advanced players and ACL Pros, which included Ryan Smith, Dylan Wood, Matthew Morton, Leston Allen, Eli Stevens and my now Pro partner Shawn Smith. I capped my year off by winning the Junior’s Championship and on the way home, my parents and I talked and decided it was time to let me go Pro. So, here I am, an ACL Pro. I am looking forward to playing a sport I love, being an ambassador for the sport and teaching other to play the game, like the players in my cornhole club I just started at school.

Oh and just so you know, I still play some tournaments with my dad and I still play with Carroll County Cornhole, but we’ve gotten rid of handicaps because there is no need. There are great players there that challenge and push me. If you’re ever in my area, I recommend coming out to play with us on Tuesday nights! (Once COVID restrictions are over)

Michael Dinges

I am Michael Dinges ACL Pro from the Atlantic Conference and this is my story of how and when I started playing cornhole and worked my way up to an ACL Pro. Started playing cornhole in the backyard and my competitive nature took over

Ryan Smith

I am ACL Pro Ryan Smith from the Atlantic Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the ACL.

My brother Shawn Smith got me involved playing competitively and things basically took off from there. I wanted to be able to compete and beat the top guys in my area so I purchased a set of boards & bags to practice. About 4 years later, here I am, recognized as one of the top players in the country and striving for more.

Michael Lucas Jr

I am ACL Pro Michael Lucas Jr from the Atlantic Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the American Cornhole League. I started playing cornhole just like many in the backyard atmosphere and got pretty decent, so I took it up a level. Kept getting better and better so I wanted to compete with the best to see where I stand. And today, I am an ACL Pro.

Jay Corley

I am Jay Corley ACL Pro from the Atlantic Conference and this is my story of how and when I started playing cornhole and worked my way up to an ACL Pro. My younger brother Matthew introduced me to cornhole, and we began playing in the backyard for fun until I started losing. Things got competitive, which led to the search for local tournaments. I attended a tournament with my uncle and quickly realized that I needed to practice, practice, practice! Fast forward a year later, and I was traveling and playing seemingly every weekend with Matthew. We played a season together on the circuit finishing in the top 20 before he attended college to play baseball. The following season I partnered up with Tyler Poythress and we had instant success, winning two nationwide events and placing in several large cash tournaments. Tyler and I are currently still partners and having success in the ACL. Tyler and I won the Advanced Doubles division in St. Louis MO, won our Advanced Doubles bracket in Ft. Lauderdale FL, and finished 2nd in our bracket to Jimmy McGuffin and Josh Lunsford in Pro Doubles in Maricopa, AZ. Jenkins Real Estate Group, Allison Davis at George Mason Mortgage LLC, Southeast Clean Air Solutions, & Tailgate Nation - THANK YOU for your continued support!

Matthew Morton

I'm 17 years old and started playing cornhole in Driver, VA with my dad when I was 11. We played $2 blind draws for fun with all the money going to charity. I loved playing and it gave me and my dad a chance to spend a lot of time together so we started going to different places for blind draws. After I started doing well, we started playing in the organized leagues and traveling for some bigger tournaments. I eventually decided to become an ACL Pro last season so I could play regularly against the best competition in the world.

I had a great year in my first season as an ACL Pro, with some really great finishes and getting to appear on ESPNs first ever live broadcast of an ESPN event in the Pro Doubles World Championships. I’m looking forward to another great season in 2020!