From left, Jackson County’s Coltyn Freeman, Billy Allman, Madisyn Freeman and Dale Hickman battle it out in the championship match of their division during the Special Olympics Indiana cornhole Sectional 2 on Sept. 15 in Hope.
Zach Spicer | For The Tribune
Jackson County’s Derrick Martin prepares to toss a cornhole bag during the Special Olympics Indiana cornhole Sectional 2 on Sept. 15 in Hope.
Zach Spicer | For The Tribune
Jackson County’s Autumn Kaplan tosses a cornhole bag as her partner, Dylan Bridges, far left, looks on during the Special Olympics Indiana cornhole Sectional 2 on Sept. 15 in Hope.
Zach Spicer | For The Tribune
Jackson County’s Madisyn Freeman and Coltyn Freeman watch the action during the Special Olympics Indiana cornhole Sectional 2 on Sept. 15 in Hope.
Robin Freeman | For The Tribune
Jackson County’s Dylan Bridges and Autumn Kaplan react to placing first in their division during the Special Olympics Indiana cornhole Sectional 2 on Sept. 15 in Hope.
Robin Freeman | For The Tribune
Jackson County’s Rob Smith and Alysha Sandlin placed second in their division during the Special Olympics Indiana cornhole Sectional 2 on Sept. 15 in Hope.
Robin Freeman | For The Tribune
Jackson County’s Cassie Brock competes during the Special Olympics Indiana cornhole Sectional 2 on Sept. 15 in Hope. In foreground at left is her partner, Jamie Miller.
Zach Spicer | For The Tribune
Jackson County’s Amanda Hamm and Averie Brennan placed first in their division during the Special Olympics Indiana cornhole Sectional 2 on Sept. 15 in Hope.
Robin Freeman | For The Tribune
Jackson County’s Elijah Noble and Derrick Martin won their division during the Special Olympics Indiana cornhole Sectional 2 on Sept. 15 in Hope.
Robin Freeman | For The Tribune
HOPE — Nine of Special Olympics Indiana Jackson County’s 10 cornhole duos are headed to the state tournament.
For the first time, Special Olympics Indiana had cornhole sectionals this year due to the growth in the sport. Indiana has become the state with the largest number of Special Olympics cornhole players.
Nearly 60 athletes competed in Sectional 2 on Sept. 15 at the Hauser Fieldhouse at Hauser High School in Hope.
Participating programs were Bartholomew Brown Jennings Counties, Clark-Floyd Counties, Jackson County, Lawrence County and Monroe County.
Placing first for Jackson County were Averie Brennan and Amanda Hamm, who won 21-2 and 21-7; Billy Allman and Dale Hickman, who won 21-5 and 21-3; Elijah Noble and Derrick Martin, who won 21-12 and 21-8; and Dylan Bridges and Autumn Kaplan, who won 21-9 and 21-5.
They all advance to the state tournament Sept. 29 at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield.
Placing second were Madisyn Freeman and Coltyn Freeman, who won 21-11 and lost 21-3, and Alysha Sandlin and Rob Smith, who won 21-11 and lost 21-13.
Both of those duos also qualified for state.
Placing third were Cassie Brock and Jamie Miller, who lost 21-13 and won 21-15; Becky Klosterman and Jenny Freeman, who lost 21-9 and 21-5; and A.J. Engel and Blake Oathout, who lost 21-20 and won 21-7.
Brock and Miller and Engel and Oathout both advance to state, but Klosterman and Freeman don’t due to them being in a three-team bracket at the sectional. In that bracket, only the top two advance. In four-team brackets, the top three move on.
Placing fourth at sectional for Jackson County were Zack Campbell and Dakota Campbell, who lost 21-15 and 21-18. The brothers, however, are going to state due to another team in their division not being able to go to the competition.
The cornhole state tournament will be part of Special Olympics Indiana’s EKS Weekend, named in honor of Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver. The other state championship events that weekend will be distance run and walk, flag football and soccer.
In addition, head-to-head unified volleyball will be taking place at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School.
All EKS Weekend events are free and open to the public.