Winthrop Awards Two Cornhole Scholarships to Top Athletes
In a move blending collegiate scholarship with unconventional athletics, Winthrop University has recently awarded two cornhole scholarships to top athletes. The recipients, denver-area high school players Gavin Hamann and Jaxson Remmick, will bolster the emerging program, helping take the world of college-level cornhole gaming to new heights.
Bagging a Scholarship
Though sometimes still associated with tailgate parties or Greek mixer events, the game of cornhole has come a long way from its humble origins. There are now professional cornhole leagues with national broadcasts on major sports networks. As the sport continues to grow, Winthrop University is capitalizing on the trend, using recruitment to pick the best in the field.
The coach, Dusty Thompson, a former pro cornhole player, expressed his excitement in the signing of the two high school national champions to Winthrop’s new cornhole team, remarking, “This is history being made. These are the best of the best.”
Currently, the scholarships are partial, although the coach hinted that this could change as the popularity of cornhole continues to surge. While the specific amount covered by the scholarships was not disclosed, it will certainly offer a welcome financial relief for the two top-performing players.
Scoring Five-Star Recruits
Winthrop’s Coach likened Hamann and Remmick as “five-star recruits,” borrowing the rating system from other high-profile sports such as basketball. Both athletes can not only compete fiercely among the best high school ranks but break into the professional leagues as well. The new players also recently made their debut in one of the 16 professional teams, The Colorado Timber.
“There’s not many players in the country who can be as consistent as they are,” said Thompson.
Winthrop Aims to Grow Cornhole Team
Following the appointment of Thompson as the cornhole coach in August, scouting and recruiting activities for the university’s cornhole program began in earnest. The objective? To mimic the success of Winthrop’s Esports team, which expanded to over 90 players – almost half of which were on scholarships – in just 18 months since its launch.
Thompson is also confident in expanding the cornhole team to include a minimum of ten players beginning from the Fall season. He anticipates cornhole morphing into an eventual full scholarship sport as the game’s popularity continues to rise.
Cornhole’s Economic and Promotional Potentials
While cornhole scholarships may not yet cover the full tuition for Winthrop, the sport opens up other economic opportunities, most notably sponsorships and sales incentives. These are included among the name, image, and likeness benefits that come with cornhole scholarships. Such arrangements might prove a game-changer in preventing financial crises among students.
The allure of cornhole continues to grow. Many of its advocates aim to see the sport enter the Olympics someday. Indeed, with young and talented players like Hamann and Remmick, the cornhole program at Winthrop proves to be a foundational step towards realizing this dream.
