Jackson County’s Billy Allman, left, and Dale Hickman received gold medals for winning their division at the Special Olympics Indiana cornhole state championship Sept. 29 in Westfield.
Submitted Photo | Robin Freeman
Jackson County’s Dylan Bridges throws a cornhole bag as teammate Autumn Kaplan, foreground right, watches during the Special Olympics Indiana cornhole state championship Sept. 29 in Westfield.
Zach Spicer | For The Tribune
Jackson County’s A.J. Engel, left, and Blake Oathout are all smiles after winning their division and receiving gold medals during the Special Olympics Indiana cornhole state championship Sept. 29 in Westfield.
Submitted Photo | Robin Freeman
Jackson County’s Billy Allman tosses a cornhole bag as teammate Dale Hickman, foreground left, watches during the Special Olympics Indiana cornhole state championship Sept. 29 in Westfield.
Submitted Photo | Robin Freeman
Jackson County’s Averie Brennan competes in the Special Olympics Indiana cornhole state championship Sept. 29 in Westfield.
Submitted Photo | Robin Freeman
Jackson County’s Rob Smith, left, competes in the Special Olympics Indiana cornhole state championship Sept. 29 in Westfield.
Submitted Photo | Robin Freeman
Jackson County’s Dakota Campbell, left, and Zack Campbell received silver medals for placing second in their division at the Special Olympics Indiana cornhole state championship Sept. 29 in Westfield.
Submitted Photo | Robin Freeman
Jackson County’s Madisyn Freeman, left, and Coltyn Freeman received bronze medals for placing third in their division at the Special Olympics Indiana cornhole state championship Sept. 29 in Westfield.
Submitted Photo | Robin Freeman
WESTFIELD — After the score chart flipped to 21-1, it was cause for celebration.
A.J. Engel, an athlete with Special Olympics Indiana Jackson County, jumped and exclaimed, “We’re state champions, baby!”
He then shook hands with the opponent and high fived his teammate, Blake Oathout.
They were among nine duos from Jackson County competing in the Special Olympics Indiana cornhole state championship Sept. 29 at Grand Park Events Center in Westfield.
All nine returned home with medals after placing in the top three in their division.
Engel and Oathout each received gold medals after winning their first match 21-11 and then dominating 21-1 in the championship.
“I’m really excited for winning today,” Oathout said afterwards. “I feel like if it wasn’t for A.J., I wouldn’t have won. Teamwork makes the dream work.”
Also placing first in their division and receiving gold medals were Averie Brennan and Amanda Hamm, who won 22-2 and 24-1; Dylan Bridges and Autumn Kaplan, who won 21-12 and 21-11; and Billy Allman and Dale Hickman, who won 21-10 and 21-0.
Admiring her gold medal at the end of the competition, Kaplan smiled and said, “I like it.”
“We did really good,” Bridges said.
The highlight of Allman and Hickman’s first match was going from trailing 11-5 to scoring 16 straight points for the win.
They carried that momentum into the championship match by not giving up any points.
Placing second in their division and receiving silver medals were brothers Zack Campbell and Dakota Campbell, who won 21-13 and lost 21-9.
Placing third in their division and receiving bronze medals were Alysha Sandlin and Rob Smith, who lost 21-11 and 21-13; Jamie Miller and Cassie Brock, who lost 21-2 and won 21-18; Coltyn Freeman and Madisyn Freeman, who lost 21-20 and won 21-16; and Elijah Noble and Derrick Martin, who lost 21-9 and won 22-2.
More than 2,000 athletes participated in the 2024 Fall Games, which included state tournaments for softball, golf, equestrian, flag football, distance run/walk, soccer and cornhole. Along with cornhole, Jackson County had six athletes compete in the softball skills state tournament.
Unified volleyball rounds out the Fall Games competition Oct. 19. Jackson County has two teams, made up of athletes and unified partners (Special Olympics volunteers), set to play in that event at Munciana Volleyball in Yorktown.