Two Orillia Cornhole Club members are at the top of the game, having scored first place at the recent National Cornhole Championships in Laval, Que.
Glen McNutt and Launa Smith finished atop the Cornhole Canada season standings in the men’s and women’s divisions, respectively.
“It says a lot for the club,” said Orillia Cornhole Club owner Nick Bornino. “We have a lot of strong players in our league.”
Orillia had nine athletes competing at the championships.
Bornino says the Orillia club, which began in June 2021, is growing and is producing more elite players each season.
“Anyone can play this game, which is what makes it awesome,” he said. “We play three nights a week, which allows players to keep honing in on their skills for the game.”
The Cornhole Canada season ended July 31. The new season starts in September, and athletes can earn Cornhole Canada points every Wednesday evening during Orillia Cornhole Club action at ODAS Park.
“It’s great to keep pushing the envelope,” Bornino said. “We have lots of people wanting to join our league so they can play against our top players because it will only make their game stronger.”
The Orillia club is looking for new members to start in its social division.
“No one comes into our league and goes right into competitive; you always start down in social,” Bornino explained. “Even if you play in your backyard, you will usually find out when you get here that you aren’t as good as you think you are, but you are still having a great time.”
He says a few players from last season’s social division have made the jump to competitive for the upcoming campaign.
“We are always looking for new people to come join and get started,” he said. “If they prove to be really good, they can make the jump up.”
The new Tuesday-night social league starts its season Sept. 12. The Thursday-night competitive league starts Sept. 14. Both seasons run for 10 weeks.
For those who want to give cornhole a try without any commitment, every Wednesday is drop-in night.
More information about the club, including how to register, can be found here.
Below is a list of Orillia club members and how they finished at the National Cornhole Championships:
Elite 16 men — top 16 men in Canada
First — Glen McNutt
Fourth — Dave Dunlop
Ninth — Nick Bornino
Elite 16 women — top 16 women in Canada
First — Launa Smith
Second — Dawn Cartwright
Fifth — Karen Lalonde
Ninth — Erin Wright
Tier 3 open singles
Second — Glen McNutt
Seventh — Dave Dunlop
Ninth — Launa Smith
Tier 4 open singles
Fifth — Mark Goode
Tier 3 open doubles
Ninth — Launa Smith and partner Sean
Ninth — Glen McNutt and Dave Dunlop
Ninth — Dawn Cartwright and partner Crystal
Tier 4 women’s singles
First — Launa Smith
Seventh — Dawn Cartwright
Tier 5 women’s singles
Fifth — Karen Lalonde
Women’s doubles
Seventh — Launa Smith and partner Jodi
Ninth — Karen Lalonde and Dawn Cartwright
Ninth — Erin Wright and partner Kathy
Tier 4 mixed doubles
First — Dawn Cartwright and partner Dean
Fifth — Launa Smith and partner Sean
Ninth — Nick Bornino and partner Jodi
Tier 5 mixed doubles
Fifth — Erin Wright and Rob Munroe
Ninth — Karen Lalonde and Dave Dunlop
