Eric Ryder's Cornhole Biography

Samantha Finley

I am ACL Pro Samantha Finley from the Southeast Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the ACL. I started off playing in the backyard and local tournaments about 11-12 years ago. My mom went to work in Ohio where she met Christine Papcke and we really started getting into it. I have been playing competitively for about 8 years now.

Justin Doss

I am ACL Pro Justin Doss from the Mid-South Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the American Cornhole League. I started playing cornhole at my friends house when I was around 10 years old. We would play every now and then against each other, but I really began playing when I went to college. I went to the University of Louisville and I began to play at tailgates. My friends and I are extremely competitive and this is where the love of the game began. I always wanted to be the best and began practicing at home to get better. I saw an ESPN broadcast in the summer of 2018 and started going to local ACL events to try and compete. The inner drive to become the best keeps pushing me to improve my game each and everyday.

Haseeb Habiban

I am ACL Pro Haseeb Habiban from the Southeast Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the ACL. Started in the Finley’s yard, won the first time I played and we did it every weekend then we started to venture out and winning most of the time with my wife. It’s been about 10 years now and loving this game. Now this great sport is playing overseas and just amazing. The ACL is just awesome!

Frank Modlin

I am ACL Pro Frank Modlin from the Carolina Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the American Cornhole League. I started playing about 10 years ago. We were camping with the family down on the Outer Banks of N.C. I saw some guys playing a game I had not seen before. They asked me to join them. I was hooked immediately! My wife ordered me a set of boards for my birthday and I started practicing!
My buddy Steve McCombs and I would throw for hours on end. I heard there was going to be a tournament in a neighboring town close to us at a festival they were having. So, Steve and I decided to go! We were nervous to say the least. We both are super competitive and did not want to embarrass ourselves. It was a small tournament with some local players there, but you would have thought it was Worlds for us. Long story short, we won the tournament, and made some really good friends that I am still friends with today!
Oh yea, I met my buddy George Cowand from Midway NC at that tournament. We ended up becoming great friends and traveling and playing a lot of tournaments in the local area. We had quite a few wins together! Well, this only fueled my desire to get better and play bigger tournaments. So, I started searching for tournaments outside my area and traveling more. I found out there was “organized cornhole“ that had point systems and rankings. I knew right then that I wanted to play competitively and see where I stood against some of the higher-ranking players. I definitely took and still take my share of losses. But I have really enjoyed the successes I’ve had along the way. I have made so many friends in this sport! I enjoy the fact that I can basically travel anywhere in the US now and run into friends. That is so cool to me. And no matter where we travel, the people always make us feel welcomed! I now travel and play the pro circuit with the American Cornhole League ran by commissioner, the legend himself “Stacey Moore”! He along with awesome his staff members run tournaments throughout the US and are now stretching out beyond our borders! The National tournaments can now be seen on several major TV networks like ESPN, ABC Sports and NBC Sports. I recently was fortunate enough to make the first ever USA National Team!! How cool is that to be able to represent your country doing something you genuinely enjoy!! I have been truly fortunate throughout the years and have the support of my wife, my daughters and their now spouses and my extended family.
I’ve got some of the best sponsors anyone could have with representing great companies like AllCornhole, AAR, Dirty Bags Cornhole and The Jersey Guy! You guys are the best and I can’t thank you enough! I also am VERY fortunate to have the best fans ever!!! I am truly thankful for each and every one of you!!! One last thing because I know I went way to long with this, lol! I have been fortunate enough along with the help of Chad and Emily Littlewood with AllCornhole, bring to life a bag concept some of you may have heard of called “Gamechangers “!! This has been such a cool experience! To have something that you are a part of to be liked by so many of your peers is truly humbling. The family of supporters for Gamechangers are absolutely phenomenal!! I appreciate each and every one of you! It is such a honor to hear the compliments about Gamechangers! Thank you all!! It really means a lot to me!! Well ok, I think I am going to end it there. Hopefully, I didn’t ramble too much. I just get carried away when I start talking about everything that I love about this sport!! Best of luck to you all and I hope to see you soon!!

Megan Maupin

I am ACL Pro Megan Maupin from the Mid South Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the ACL.

I was 12 years old and my dad built a set of boards. I sucked when I first started but I kept practicing and kept getting better. I decided to try out an actual tournament where I met Troy Houser and he introduced me to the ACO. I played ACO for about 5 or 6 years. While playing the ACO, I started playing ACL as well. I realized how much the ACL has grown the game of cornhole and decided it was time to make the switch and I’m blessed to be able to call myself an ACL Pro.

Justin Riach

I am ACL Pro Justin Riach from the Northwest Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the ACL.

I got introduced to the game of cornhole at a friends house back in 2015. We just played for fun then played in a couple small local tourneys. That led to us creating a league here in my hometown of Klamath Falls Oregon. I fell in love with the game and competing and the rest is history.

AJ Sims

I am ACL Pro AJ Sims from the South-West Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the American Cornhole League.

Jamie Graham

I am Jamie Graham ACL Pro from the Carolina Conference and this is my story of how and when I started playing cornhole and worked my way up to an ACL Pro. I started throwing at age 16, at a family reunion - saw some boards, had no idea what they were and just started messing around. After that, my brother and I started playing at home, then practicing and competing locally. Next thing I know, it got real competitive. Won my first tournament in Foley, AL a year later and then on to the ACO and now at home in the ACL.