Students participate in WOO91’s annual cornhole tournament. Photo by Julia Garrison ’25.

Jensen Kugler

Contributing Writer

WOO91’s annual cornhole tournament took place this past Sunday, April 14 outside Kauke Hall. Ten years ago, the competition originated as the “Grant Cornwell Grand Cornhole Tournament,” after the then-president of the College, who threw the first bag. Today, the cornhole event is still one of the student radio station’s staple community-building events.

The popular lawn game makes for an accessible, low-stakes yet competitive way to socialize and build camaraderie amongst all players. In the past, professors and staff have played and even won the contest, so it has the capacity to broaden social horizons even outside the student body.

“It’s very nice to be able to have this where everyone comes together. Every year that we do it, it gets better,” said WOO91 Co-General Manager Emma Place ’24.

In addition to bringing students together, the cornhole tournament has a community service element. To enter the tournament, students were encouraged to bring a canned good or non-perishable donation. The cans were then delivered by WOO91’s executive board to People to People Ministries in downtown Wooster.

“We kind of use [the donating] as another incentive for people to be here and enjoy [their] time and also make an impact on the community,” said Program Director Zach Perrier ’25.

The tournament was designed to help participants embrace silliness and fun. For instance, each pair in the contest was given the opportunity to name their team, which helped competitors get into the spirit of the game. One example of team spirit was seen in “the Pinballers,” who wore matching pinball-themed hats during the event. 

The four brackets of the tournament also had fun, corn-themed names, including the “Corn on the Cob,” “Popcorn,” “Creamed Corn” and “Street Corn” brackets. The prize for the winning team also reflected the not-so-serious atmosphere of the event. The winners were provided with a mystery prize box filled with an assortment of trinkets such as figurines and toys.

Though competition was a big part of the event, the tournament had an overwhelmingly friendly energy to it. Many competitors stuck around after their elimination to cheer on friends, watch the games and listen to music. A sizable crowd stood around to watch the final rounds of cornhole while “The Final Countdown” played from the speakers.

The winning team was not expecting victory, so much so that their team name reflected it. Newly crowned “Cornhole Gods” Emma Anderson ’26, and Atlas Dwyer ’24, were not confident about their cornhole abilities going in. Both assessed their skills as “mid,” but hoped to perform a bit better than average, which led to their team name, “Slightly Above Mid.”

As winners of the tournament, Anderson and Dwyer proved themselves confidently above mid. Though surprised, the pair was excited about their victory and hoped to only get better at the game.

“I think we need to start practicing. What’s living in the Midwest, if not for learning how to become obnoxiously good at cornhole?” said Anderson.

At next year’s cornhole tournament, look out for a team called “Slightly Above Slightly Above Mid” because Anderson and Dwyer plan to continue their domination.

“I feel proud and special. I feel like I can go and do my homework today and slay the day. I can succeed at anything I try. I feel proud to be friends with Emma Anderson” said Dwyer. “For the average ‘My Little Pony’ enjoyer, this is how you can understand what went on today: friendship is magic. And we’re special.”