Wisconsin

Cornhole is moving from casual backyard game to high-stakes leagues, and the perfect Wisconsin brand is helping it go prime time

Published

2 years ago

September 7, 2022

Jason Schmelzer sees the tongue-in-cheek nature of one thing just like the “SuperHole III” cornhole pro-am, that includes a number of the world’s greatest gamers on the in style garden sport, in addition to some celebrities.

He is additionally cognizant of the intense aspect, too — that’s, the growing visibility of cornhole as a nationwide and worldwide idea.

Schmelzer, director of strategic development at Johnsonville sausage firm, has performed an enormous function pairing cased meats — one other yard staple — with the sport that almost all everybody can play at a Labor Day barbecue, however solely few at an elite degree.

Johnsonville, headquartered close to Sheboygan, has partnered with the American Cornhole League since 2017, and the corporate’s logos had been entrance and middle for the SuperHole occasion held in South Carolina in early August.

“The analogy I at all times draw is poker,” Schmelzer stated. “Poker had its second the place all people was watching it on tv. It appears like finally that form of jumped the shark and went away. So long as that is fascinating tv, we’re tremendous fascinated with staying part of it.”

Taking middle stage for 2 hours of programming throughout ESPN’s “Ocho” day (a reference that dates again to the 2004 sports activities comedy “Dodgeball”), the ACL’s outstanding occasion landed on ESPN2 throughout a day’s price of obscure sports activities programming from corgi races to air hockey.

Area of interest sports activities is not a part of Johnsonville’s technique, however cornhole “made sense” for the corporate, stated Schmelzer, who’s now additionally heard from representatives of disc golf, spikeball, horseshoes and darts.

Cornhole is performed “the place folks get pleasure from our merchandise,” he stated — in backyards throughout barbecues and tailgate events.

“Plus, you actually can not broadcast this sport with out exhibiting our brand, when our brand is on our board. It is more durable to get your model right into a disc golf broadcast, for instance.”

Johnsonville labored with Milwaukee-based company Maintain Quick to craft a Johnsonville advert spoofing the well-known Budweiser frogs, including a markedly Wisconsin twist, and coordinated a watch celebration that includes former NFL receiver Chad Ochocinco and softball star Jennie Finch.

Former NFL quarterbacks Doug Flutie and Jay Cutler and basketball legend Daybreak Staley had been amongst these competing within the pro-am.

Professional cornhole participant Matt Man gained the title, paired with Flutie, and Johnsonville organized for Man to go to the corporate’s campus as an prolonged celebration of the title.

The go to included a small parade, a spin across the monitor at Highway America and a Brewers sport, the place Man threw out the primary pitch towards the Dodgers in August.

“The league has been so grassroots that their gamers perceive what’s taking place, too,” Schmelzer stated. “They’re enthusiastic and prepared to do and take a look at stuff; gamers are invested within the development of the league.”

The partnership between the ACL and Johnsonville took place in a rush in 2017. Schmelzer stated he received a message on LinkedIn from the ACL commissioner, Stacey Moore.

“It stated, ‘Hey, I simply discovered ESPN is placing us on TV in 10 days and I haven’t got any sponsors,’” Schmelzer recalled.

Simply how huge is cornhole in Wisconsin?

On the one hand, you see the sport getting performed at each sporting-event tailgate and social operate. At a extra elite degree, Rob Matthews of Brat Metropolis Baggers in Sheboygan stated there are six to eight leagues like theirs across the state. His has already gathered in plenty of sponsors in lower than a yr of formal existence.

“We journey far, we journey broad,” Matthews stated. “We promote the game big-time all through the state. The cornhole neighborhood is simply superb. I can drive three hours to a event and stroll in and know all people.”

In November, maybe the largest Wisconsin event but arrives. The Badgerland Bag Brawl on the Ho-Chunk On line casino in Madison expects to herald 500 gamers — together with a number of professionals.

Wisconsin has 5 gamers who’ve certified to play within the ACL subsequent yr: Trevor Kuhfuss (Mad Metropolis), Jared Kuhfuss (Mad Metropolis), Blake Karnick (Northern Wisconsin), Steve Schroeder (Shopdogs in Marinette County) and Dan Walker Jr. (Southern U.P. in Higher Peninsula).

Golf equipment like these settle for gamers of all talent ranges, with the plain draw that many rookie gamers consider they’ve the talent degree to compete with the professionals. They usually don’t.

“Lots of people stroll in considering they’ll destroy all people as a result of they’re nice of their yard and discover out they’re only a social or intermediate participant (degree) and never superior,” Matthews stated.

Distinctive gamers do sometimes present up off the road, although, Matthews stated.

“Loads of gamers began as bowlers or horseshoe gamers, and one of many bowlers stated lately the distinction between (these video games) and cornhole is that there is protection in cornhole. You’ll be able to throw blockers up. If a man goes gap for gap with you, you block him to make him earn it.”

Matthews believes the ACL and the sport at giant has barely scratched the floor of recognition.

“Being in a bar league and turning professional might be a far shorter leap than some other sport,” Schmelzer added. “We ran tournaments right here out of every of our sausage-making amenities and certified a champion and the Johnsonville winner received to play in an ACL occasion and received fully throttled, however had a good time.”

JR Radcliffe might be reached at (262) 361-9141 or jradcliffe@gannett.com. Comply with him on Twitter at @JRRadcliffe.

Our subscribers make this reporting attainable. Please contemplate supporting native journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

Source link

Wisconsin

Gas prices drop lower during busy holiday travel season in Wisconsin

Published

7 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Press Room

Gas prices drop lower during busy holiday travel season in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Gas prices are the cheapest they’ve been since the pandemic, just as people prepare to travel for the holidays.

According to AAA Wisconsin, the average gas prices is $2.86 per gallon in the state, a new low since 2020.

”We’ve had so many disruptions in the last four to five years between Covid and then the Ukraine conflict that has sent prices either far down or bringing them to historic highs,” AAA Director of Public Affairs Nick Jarmusz said. “We kind of forget what normal is.”

He said the low cost at the pump is a result of peak summer travel season ending, an even supply and demand for fuel and fewer global crises.

”Right now we’re in a pretty favorable balance between lower demand and pretty plentiful supply and no real disruptions to speak of,” he said.

Gas prices drop lower during busy holiday travel season(Marcus Aarsvold)

People can save more money at the pump if they drive the speed limit.

”By sticking closer to the speed limit, avoiding aggressive driving in situations, you can actually increase your fuel efficiency by about 40% or up to 40%,” Jarmusz said. “Which can add up to pretty significant savings.”

If trends continue, he also said prices might drop even more. ”Really, I would not be surprised to see these prices continue to go down,” Jarmusz said. “I don’t think we’ve seen the lowest prices we’ll see this year yet.”

According to AAA the best times to travel before Thanksgiving on Thursday is in the morning hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. Roads will be busiest in the afternoons.

Click here to download the WMTV15 News app or our WMTV15 First Alert weather app.

Source link

Wisconsin

Game 12 Wisconsin football two-deep for Minnesota Gophers game Nov. 29 at Camp Randall Stadium

Published

15 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Game 12 Wisconsin football two-deep for Minnesota Gophers game Nov. 29 at Camp Randall Stadium

MADISON – A look at the unofficial two-deep for the Wisconsin football team heading into its game against Minnesota at 11 a.m. Friday at Camp Randall Stadium.

OFFENSE

Quarterback

1 – Braedyn Locke, 6-1, 205, redshirt-soph.

2 – Mabrey Mettauer, 6-4, 230, fr.

Running back

1 – Tawee Walker, 5-9, 218, sr.

2 – Darrion Dupree, 5-10, 205, fr.

Receiver

1 – Bryson Green, 6-3, 213, sr.

2 – C.J. Williams, 6-2, 196, jr.

Receiver

1 – Vinny Anthony II, 6-0, 188, jr.

2 – Quincy Burroughs, 6-2, 212, r-soph.

Slot recever

1 – Will Pauling, 5-10, 187, r-jr.

2 – Trech Kekahuna, 5-10, 187, r-fr.

Tight end

1 – Riley Nowakowski, 6-1, 243, r-sr.

2 – Tucker Ashcraft, 6-5, 255, soph.

Left tackle

1 – Jack Nelson, 6-7, 316, sr.

2 – Barrett Nelson, 6-6, 302, r-soph.

Left guard

1 – Joe Brunner, 6-5, 313- r-soph.

2. – James Durand, 6-5, 305, r-fr.

Center

1 – Jake Renfro, 6-3, 302, r-sr.

2. – Kerry Kodanko, 6-2, 308, r-sr.

Right guard

1 – Joe Huber, 6-5, 310, r-sr.

2 – JP Benzschawel, 6-6, 312, r-jr.

Right tackle

1 – Riley Mahlman, 6-8, 308, r-jr.

2 – Kevin Heywood, 6-8, 325, fr.

DEFENSE

Line

1 – Ben Barten, 6-5, 308, r-sr.

2 – Elijah Hills, 6-3, 282, sr.

Line

1 – Curt Neal, 6-0, 290, r-soph.

2 – Cade McDonald, 6-6, 285, r-sr.

Outside linebacker

1 – Darryl Peterson, 6-1, 248, r-jr.

2 – Aaron Witt, 6-6, 247, r-jr.

Inside linebacker

1 – Jake Chaney, 5-11, 233, sr.

2 – Tackett Curtis, 6-2, 228, soph.

Inside linebacker

1 – Christian Alliegro, 6-4, 240, soph.

2 – Jaheim Thomas, 6-4, 245, r-sr.

Outside linebacker

1 – Leon Lowery, 6-3, 252, r-sr.

2 – Sebastian Cheeks, 6-3, 230, r-soph., or John Pius, 6-4, 250, r-sr.

Cornerback

1 – Ricardo Hallman, 5-10, 185, r-jr.

2 – R.J. Delancy III, 5-11, 193, r-sr., or Jonas Duclona, 5-10, 190, soph.

Strong safety

1 – Hunter Wohler, 6-2, 218, sr.

2 – Owen Arnett, 5-11, 210, r-jr.

Free safety

1 – Preston Zachman, 6-1, 212, r-sr.

2 – Austin Brown, 6-1, 210, jr.

Cornerback

1 – Nyzier Fourqurean, 6-1, 190, r-sr.

2 – R.J. Delancy, 5-11, 193, r-sr., or Xavier Lucas, 6-2, 198, fr.

Nickel back

1 – Austin Brown, 6-1, 210, jr.

2 – Max Lofy, 5-10, 188, r-sr.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punter

1 – Atticus Bertrams, 6-3, 225, soph.

2 – Gavin Meyers, 6-1, 198, r-sr.

Field goal kicker

1 – Nathanial Vakos, 6-1, 205, jr.

2 – Gavin Lahm, 6-0, 213, jr.

Kickoffs

1 – Gavin Lahm, 6-10, 213, jr.

2 – Nathanial Vakos, 6-1, 205, jr.

Long snapper

1 – Cayson Pfeiffer, 6-0, 205, sr.

2 – Duncan McKinley, 6-2, 222, r-sr.

Holder

1 – Gavin Meyers, 6-1, 198, r-sr.

2 – Atticus Bertrams, 6-2, 225, soph.

Punt returner

1 – Vinny Anthony II, 6-0, 188, jr.

2 – Hunter Wohler, 6-2, 218, sr.

Kickoff returner

1 – Vinny Anthony II, 6-0, 188, jr.

2 – Trech Kekahuna, 5-10, 197, r-fr.

Source link

Wisconsin

Where Wisconsin's class of 2025 ranks nationally after big-time addition of QB Carter Smith

Published

23 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Where Wisconsin's class of 2025 ranks nationally after big-time addition of QB Carter Smith

Wisconsin football’s recruiting performance is far better than the current on-field product, to say the least.

Luke Fickell’s team has now lost four straight games after Saturday’s 44-25 defeat at Nebraska. It is just 5-6 on the season and 3-5 in Big Ten play, desperately needing a season-closing victory over Minnesota to clinch bowl eligibility.

There is more context behind that on-field performance, including the recent firing of offensive coordinator Phil Longo and historic blowout losses to rivals Iowa and Nebraska sandwiching hard-fought losses to top-ranked teams. That context doesn’t help the general trend of poor play.

But for those still optimistic about the Badgers’ future under Luke Fickell, the biggest calling card is his recruiting performance.

Wisconsin made headlines on Sunday when it landed a commitment from four-star class of 2025 quarterback Carter Smith. Smith is ranked as 247Sports’ No. 15 quarterback in the class and No. 164 overall player. Beating Florida State for his commitment was a statement for Fickell and his staff — even doing so after firing Longo just seven days earlier.

The addition of Smith brings Wisconsin’s class of 2025 to 25 total commitments — eight of which coming from blue-chip players. Notably, it rose the group four spots up to No. 21 in 247Sports’ national rankings.

The Badgers now boast the eighth-highest-rated class in the Big Ten, trailing just Ohio State (No. 2 overall), Oregon (No. 8), Michigan (No. 9), USC (No. 11), Penn State (No. 15), Washington (No. 18) and Nebraska (No. 20). The No. 21 ranking is an impressive follow-up after Luke Fickell finished the 2024 class with 247Sports’ No. 25 overall class and a Blue-Chip Ratio of 50%.

Smith’s addition continues a growing debate about how to weigh Wisconsin’s on-field struggles with its recruiting success. In reality, the 2025 football season will be somewhat defined by the performance of the 2024 recruiting class and another crop of transfers. If that strong recruiting doesn’t lead to improved on-field play, the clock may start ticking on his tenure.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Source link