Michael Lucas Jr's Cornhole Biography

Eric Ryder

I am ACL Pro Eric Ryder 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. Back in 2009 I was invited to a friends house for a cookout. He had some cornhole boards made and pulled them out and explained the game to me. I had never heard of cornhole prior to that day. We played all afternoon and I was hooked. I bought my first set of 2x4/plywood Red Sox boards with corn bags and started playing in the neighborhood with neighbors. Soon heard about a tournament that Trey and I would play in and get our butts handed to us. We met some good players and learned about throwing a flat bag and resin bags and how there were tournaments every week in the area. It was at that point I knew this was a game I would be playing for a very long time.

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.

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! :)

Reuben Snyder

I am ACL Pro Reuben Snyder from the Mid-East Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the ACL. Like many back yard parties to pre game tail gating.

Allison Peters

I am ACL Pro Allison Peters 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 cornhole at my apartment complex when I first moved in. It was basically... you pick a partner and you stay on the boards as long as you were winning. One day, someone came to the pool and said there were tournaments here and if we are good enough that we should check them out. I went to the first couple and watched but quickly became enthralled with the game. December 2018 was my first real tournament. The rest is history. I was hooked and playing as much as I could play daily and weekly.

Paul Hardie

I am ACL Pro Paul Hardie from the Southeast Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the ACL. Like everyone, I started playing in the backyard and BBQ’s. I always have been athletic and played all sports, then a good friend of mine Kevin McCord got a set of boards and challenged me to this new game and just kept beating my Butt. So he made me a set of Michigan CH boards and beating me didn’t come that easy anymore. I knew nothing about tournament CH and about 3 yrs ago, 2017, I saw a blind draw at a local bar called Mugs and Jugs (the home of CornHole Life/CornHole USA) and did pretty good in it. I also met some great people like Kevin Smith Jr and Tex Christman, who told me about the ACL and how they traveled all over playing and said I should come check it out. So I did and played in all Regional's, Conference’s and Nationals. But I did not play 1 competitive level game ever. I always played everything in the advanced level from the start and like with Kevin McCord, I got my butt whooped by them but managed to put together some great tourneys with some awesome finish’s

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.

Eric Tscherne

I am ACL Pro Eric Tscherne from the West Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the ACL.
From Encinitas, CA, Eric Tscherne is a 1st year ACL Pro. Originally from Twinsburg, Ohio, Tscherne graduated from the University of Cincinnati and moved to Southern California in 1999. He is a member of the Diecast Hall of Fame and Toy Hall of Fame for his work as a Hot Wheels Designer from 1999-2004. He is also well known for his work on the hit TV show PAW Patrol where he was part of the creative team behind the show and the toys.

Eric was introduced to the game of cornhole 7 years ago while camping with his father and son YMCA Adventure Guides tribe The Mighty Wappo of the Redhawk Nation. His passion and love for the game grew from here as he went on to host several charity events and tournaments while camping with this group. This lead to hosting events for friends and neighbors locally in North County San Diego via his 4 In Cornhole club.

In 2017 he started playing more regionally with Dirty Bags. From here his game grew considerably. Tscherne's game really took form in the 2019-2020 season. He was committed to playing top level cornhole and traveling. Covid 19 did not stop Eric. He spent the initial months playing many virtual tournaments and performing very well. As restrictions lifted, Tscherne came out hot and won his first San Diego Advanced Regional in June 2020, besting a field of 4 current ACL Pros and 3 more who would become pros for the 2020-21 season. Tscherne carried that momentum into the ACL World Championships in Rock Hill, SC.. He qualified on Sunday via the 1st ACL Pro Qualifier.
Tscherne is a member of Team Ultra having thrown Ultra Bags for most of his career. His favorite bag is the Viper. For the 2020-21 ACL Pro season, Tscherne is teaming with Andrew Robinson. Robinson and Tscherne have partnered in the past as both players were coming up. Tscherne has claimed a singles Regional victory in the 2020-21 Season and is looking for more.

Tscherne is married to a supportive wife Geri. They have 2 kids Madelyn and Roxton.