Eddie Grinderslev's Cornhole Biography

Connie Altice

I am Connie Altice, ACL Pro from the Mideast Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player in the American Cornhole League.

Ashley Brown

I am TeamAddicts Brand Ambassador Ashley Brown from the Mid-South Conference and this is my story of how I started playing cornhole. I got started playing cornhole in a social league with friends and quickly caught the bug. I bought some bags and a set of boards and started hauling them around with me to my other league sports - kickball and softball at the time. My friends and teammates were always practicing in between games and I just loved playing - I needed more cornhole in my life! I wandered into an ACL Regional back in October 2021, not realizing how quickly I'd be put to shame... And I was. To this day, my cornhole friends and I still joke about how awful I was at that Regional ("It was real bad..."), but it just made me work harder, practice longer and want it more! Playing this game has been difficult, but rewarding, and I love it. I guess you can say I'm a #CornholeAddict

Tyler Bockholdt

I am ACL Pro Tyler Bockholdt from the Great Lakes Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the American Cornhole League. When I was 18 years old I met Vince Pacione through friends of friends in high school. I overheard someone talking about playing bags over the weekend and stopped and asked where because I love to play in my backyard. Alspa told me about a weekly blind draw (totally foreign to me at the time) that happened every Monday night just 20 minutes from my house. This was not an ACL event, rather one sided bags and bouncy boards but it was all I knew! Later when I saw all the talent at this bar, I found out that a lot of these players played nationally and at other establishments almost every day of the week!
This is when I met Vince Pacione at the bar called Katie O’Connor’s (presently called Backroads). Winter came and I didn’t play for a couple months but got a text message from Vince that there is an indoor event that he’s starting and he wanted to see me there! I went for the first time on _______ and it wasn’t until then out about double sided bags and what the ACL was. I bought a set of bags from Rob Bev, he sold me Reynolds Pro Edge Speeds for $20 as a gift for being an aspiring newbie in the game.
Finally found myself playing weekly and then traveling a little more to other blind draws over the week. When I got my own set of boards I wouldn’t stop practicing until the street lights came on and I was ready for my first regional.
Since then it’s been about a year, moved from competitive (for only 2 regionals) to advanced ever since, playing against some of the best in the Chicagoland area.

Jackie Sayasone

I am ACL Pro Jackie Sayasone from the Midwest Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the American Cornhole League. I was playing at a local bar league, when I met some players that told me about a blind draw event. I thought I was good at cornhole because I was the one who always won at backyard parties or tailgates. So I showed up to my first ACL event and kind of laughed at everyone that had their own bags.
Well, I got my butt whooped and was annoyed. I didn't want to see the disappointment when a player drew me, lol -so as competitive as I am, I decided to buy my own set of bags and practice on my own time. It took me a week to get it all down. Since then I just kept growing as a player. I went out to compete at the World Championships last season, there was a really strong, and special cornhole culture there, and I knew I wanted to be a part of that vibe. Eight months later, here I am! :)

Yetty Irwan

I am ACL Pro Yetty Irwan from the Mountain South Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the American Cornhole League. My now-husband, Harry Stoltzfus, moved to Colorado with me in 2017 and set up a cornhole court in the basement. Eventually I joined him during his practice session and started throwing bags with him at the local league and tournaments. When he qualified to be an ACL Pro for 2019-2020 season, he convinced me to be his pro doubles partner.

Wilbur McDonald

I am TeamAddicts Brand Ambassador Wilbur McDonald and this is my story of how I started playing cornhole. I started playing cornhole with one of the best people I ever met in my life who unfortunately passed away in 2017. His name was Travis Story. I moved to Virginia in search of a better life and I was fortunate to meet Travis and his family! He was playing this game with bean bags one day and I had no clue what he was doing! He invited me over and taught me the game! I fell in love with it! After he passed away, I decided that one day was going to look on google and see if there was any place that played. I found a tournament in VA Beach and decided to try it out! When I arrived I had no clue how competitive this game really was! I met Jordan Camba and Frank Modlin that day! Jordan told me of other places in the area to play and from there I was able to meet Allan Rockwell, who became a very good friend of mine as well, and I started playing competitively! Rocky was running blind draws out of Eagles Nest in Chesapeake, VA at that time! We became good friends and he would invite me on trips to ACL events he was going to so I could play too! I fell in love even more with this game and I’ve been addicted ever since!!

Matthew Sorrells

I am Matthew Sorrells aka Short Shorts ACL Pro from the Southeast Conference and this is my story of how and when I started playing cornhole and worked my way up to an ACL Pro. When I was fourteen years old I picked up a cornhole bag for the first time. I was at Redneck Riviera. A place where people drive boats to hangout and play cornhole. To nobody’s surprise I was beaten badly by Nick Ramsey and Chuck Martin, two local legends. I became motivated to improve my game and purchased my first set of cornhole boards. This led to practice, practice, and you guessed it more practice. Here I am four years later an ACL pro and serious competitor in every tournament I attend. I could not be more thankful for this opportunity.

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.