Titans no longer have to wait to play corn hole at tailgates and special events. This year, students who enjoy the game can join the new Corn Hole Club and play and compete alongside other members. West is the only school in the district to currently have a Corn Hole Club, and so far they have had great success.
The idea came about a month ago when building base sub, Ted Fichialos, was looking to get more involved with student activities.
“Mr. Small told me it was okay with him and that I should get a hold of Coach Hooker because he liked corn hole. Well, the entire thing has snowballed into something much bigger than just me,” Fichialos said.
After getting in contact with Jason Hooker, Fichialos was put in touch with Brad Kurth of AAR Cornhole who decided to donate 12 sets of custom ACHL (American Corn Hole League) approved corn hole bags to the club.
After getting a sponsor for the bags, Fichialos was determined to find sponsors for the corn hole boards and mats.
“Once I got the green light from Mr. Small, I immediately started thinking of people I might know in the area who would donate $300 for a set of custom West Forsyth ACL-approved corn hole boards. I was able to find six donors to pay for six sets of boards, including State Farm Insurance, Beco Electric, Cook Insurance LLC, Triad Gutters and Restoration, The Macko Company and the Family of Christina Demigos Class of 2003 donated in her memory,” Fichialos said.
With the club getting over 60 signups at the club fair, Hooker and Fichialos wanted to make the club look as professional as possible. They wanted to go big or go home for the sponsor of the mats.
“I tried Lowe’s Home Improvements, I tried Bojangles and finally I tried Pepsi. After several days of talking to different people at Pepsi, I was finally connected with Mr. Ronnie Shupe the person in charge of community development for Pepsi. I am very proud to announce that Pepsi has partnered with our West Forsyth Corn Hole Club and will be donating six sets of corn hole mats with the Pepsi logo on them,” Fichialos said.
Members were ecstatic to find out that a company as big as Pepsi wanted to sponsor the club.
“I was actually shocked. I am honestly just really thankful that they were down to sponsor us because corn hole materials aren’t cheap and this just means a lot to us,” club president, junior Carter Walsh said.
With this being the first Corn Hole Club in the district, the club hopes that other schools will follow their lead as the word gets out.
“It has been a huge blessing in having him [Fichialos] be a part of the club. He is really trying to spearhead getting corn hole in all the district schools,” Hooker said.
The club will be hosting the very first corn hole tournament on Nov. 18 on campus. By joining the club, students are able to join the ACHL and become a member of a huge corn hole community. The club meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the cafeteria lobby, so stop by and have some fun.
