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HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. (KDVR) — So much for backyard BBQs and tailgate parties: Two Colorado students have turned their cornhole skills into college scholarships.
Earlier this month, Gavin Hamann and Jaxson Remmick — both students at Thunder Ridge High School in Highlands Ranch — signed their letters of intent to play the popular pub game for Winthrop University in South Carolina.
"Two and a half years ago, I just started going to a bar with my parents and playing normal league nights," Hamann said. "I started getting good, and now I’m the first-ever 5-star Division I recruit."
Hamann and Remmick, both 17, are teammates and two-time American Cornhole League High School National Champions. They're also currently considered five-star prospects when it comes to the game.
“I never thought this is where cornhole would take me,” Remmick said after signing his letter of intent alongside classmates signing scholarships for such sports as football, baseball and basketball. "I’ve come a long way, and this is awesome."
Winthrop head coach Dusty Thompson believes Hamann and Remmick are the first two foundational pieces for developing a powerhouse program at the university.
"They didn't just beat 10 pros," Thompson said of recruiting the duo to attend the South Carolina school, which is located near the American Cornhole League (ACL) headquarters. "They beat the world champion from last year and singles title winner."
The growth of cornhole is staggering. From tournaments at local bars to broadcast television, the sport continues to bag it in.
"This is a huge deal, not just for the ACL but also for Winthrop combined," Thompson said. "The world championships is held at the headquarters right across the hall. So this is just huge for everybody involved."
Because cornhole isn’t an NCAA-sanctioned sport, the scholarships will only cover part of their tuition. The duo will also be allowed to keep any prize money they win in ACL events.
“It’s great exposure for the college program,” Hamman said. "And the extra benefits that come along are awesome."