Great Lakes Conference

Joe Kniesteadt

I am ACL Pro Joe Kniesteadt from the Great Lakes Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the ACL

Started with my grandpa when I was 6. Always played at family events but never knew anything about the ACL until 2018. My competitive cornhole career got started at Ts Roadhouse where I started my first league. From there I fell in love with the game and started to go to more and more events. In 2021 I made into the pro division for the first time.

Nico Mireles

I am ACL Pro Nico Mireles from the Great Lakes Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the ACL.
If it wasn’t for COVID, I wouldn’t be playing Cornhole. I was hardcore into shooting pool and traveled to many tournaments to do so. Obviously, Coronavirus happened and the bars closed down so pool was put on hold. So me being me I had to find something else to play. I used to play Cornhole 10 years ago but I got a girlfriend (now wife) and stepped away from the game. Fast forward 8 years and I saw cornhole on ESPN. I thought to myself I can do that and googled how to get into playing competitively. Turns out there was a conference that next weekend so I decided to go. David Morse was taking signups and asked my skill level. I asked him what’s the highest level I can play in. Then the first person I saw playing was Jay Rubin and I knew I was in trouble that day. I went through a lot of whoopings to get where I’m at now. Now, David Morse is a good buddy of mine and Jay Rubin took me under his wing.

ACL Open #5 2022 in Virginia Beach, Tier 2 CHAMPION with Greyson Waller

Tom Gorski

I am ACL Pro Tom Gorski from the Great Lakes Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the ACL.

After winning a backyard tournament, I searched Facebook and discovered a group called Midwest Baggers that listed competitive tournaments and decided to test the waters

Maya Cupp

I am ACL Pro Maya Cupp from the Great Lakes Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the ACL. Summer 2016 when my husband and pro partner, Donald Cupp, built our cornhole boards, we start playing in our backyards with corn filled bags just for fun. In 2017, a friend invited us to a big cornhole tournament and we played in a social division. We did not win and everybody was good (we did not know cornhole been existing here 12 years ago and its a big thing here in Michigan). We then joined in a social cornhole league where we took 3rd. One time while playing cornhole I saw great players playing on ESPN. I was amazed how these player played. I told to my self "oh my God, I am going to play on TV one day". I keep playing as much as I can. I lost a lot but I just kept going and the rest history. To everybody reading this, keep playing be nice to new players encourage them and never give up on yourself. Thank you.

Steven Bernacet

I am ACL Pro Steven Bernacet from the Great Lakes Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the ACL. I started playing cornhole after going to a party and seeing that my skill level was slightly above the level that everyone else was playing at. After that night, I went home and searched YouTube to find out more about the sport. The first videos I watched were of Matt Guy. It was awesome seeing him throw bag after bag in the hole. After I watched more videos, I decided to start playing in some local tournaments to see if I could compete at that level. I quickly realized that I was becoming better and progressing much faster than I anticipated. As I was looking for more tournaments to play in, I found that there was a cornhole organization hosting a tournament that weekend. I signed up and drove about 3 hours away to my first regional. As soon as I was ready to play my first organized game ever, I saw Matt Guy standing at my board ready to go. Of course, with my nerves and with the initial shock of the G.O.A.T. standing so close to me, I ended up losing that game. After that tournament, being the passionate and determined person that I am, I worked harder and was officially addicted to cornhole.

Tom Walter

I am ACL Pro Tom Walter from the Great Lakes Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the American Cornhole League. I started out like most people, playing cornhole (or "bags as we called it) in my back yard or up at my cabin with corn filled bags against family members. I was always pretty good at it so I joined a local league and then entered my first ACL regional where I quickly discovered I really wasn't that good. Sure I was competitive, but it was very apparent that I was not in the same ball park as the local studs! However, I became hooked on the ACL and with the regional competition and I slowly but surely improved to where I began winning or placing high in most of the tournaments I entered. I then began going to the ACL nationals to compete and became even more hooked on the game. I have been fortunate to be able to retire from my job several years ago which has allowed me more time to practice - and that certainly has improved my game as well. I am truly a living example of the ACL's saying that "Anyone can play and anyone can win".

Dave Sutton

I am ACL Pro Dave Sutton from the Great Lakes Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the American Cornhole League.

Jeremy Schermerhorn

I am ACL Pro Jeremy Schermerhorn from the Great Lakes Conference and this is my story of how I became a professional cornhole player for the American Cornhole League. Went to a local F.O.E. club to play in a $5 round robin style format tournament. Met Chas Tower, owner of Blue Collar Cornhole, and he invited me to try the competitive/advanced world of the ACL. Four years later and I made Pro Status!

Derek Singleton

I am ACL Pro Derek Singleton from the Great Lakes Conference and this is my story of how and when I started playing cornhole and worked my way up to an ACL Pro.

Courtney Coy

I am ACL Pro Courtney Coy from the Great Lakes Conference and this is my story of how and when I started playing cornhole and worked my way up to an ACL Pro. I was 15 years old when I started playing in the backyard with my dad just messing around, then I started playing in blind draws around my area through Capital City Cornhole. As I got better, I started traveling to bigger tournaments and found out I could compete with the competition. The more I played the better I got.

Ryan Windsor

I am ACL Pro Ryan Windsor from the Great Lakes 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 playing cornhole at the age of 14. I’m currently 23 years old from Cuba, Illinois.

Jay Rubin

I am Jay Rubin aka Jaybirdie Bird ACL Pro from the Great Lakes 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 playing cornhole in backyards, alleys, and bars here in Chicago 10-11 years ago. For about 2 years I would play in a local country station tournament but usually got destroyed in the sweet 16. Took 6 years off due to not having a partner. I showed up at a local tournament in Villa park back in 2015, and beat a really solid team that was well known. That victory opened up all the avenues I needed when it came to finding a partner. My first 2 years I would go to 5-10 local type of tournaments a year to get a sense of what I was really up against. During that time frame, I realized I had a lot of work to do if I wanted to be considered one of the best. 2 years ago I figured out how to throw a flat bag, which immensely helped my slide game. After that I started working on pushing, step outs, covering/blocking, airmailing, and the strategic side of the game. Once I had a good feel for all the tools needed to be successful, I decided to give the ACL a shot. In my first season I finished 25th in singles, and 36th in the overall rankings. During the summer of 2018 I elevated my game even more by winning several $1000-$3000 tournaments, while taking down some of the best players in the game. Some of my biggest accomplishments so far this season is 13/13 in regional singles, won a conference doubles, and a National in advanced doubles on ESPN. I'm currently competing for the $10,000 devour player of the year title, and also for player of the year in the ACL season. Still have a lot of work to do in order to accomplish either. Looking forward to seeing what the next 10 years brings me in my career!