Cincinnati, OH – Jack Stagge knew he would have to take down Matt Guy. Every player expects Matt Guy in the final match. But defeat Guy and Steve Vanderver, ranked #1 and #2 respectively in the World Rankings? Not gonna happen on a normal day. But this wasn’t your normal day.
Although no one could see his trademark wife beater t-shirt underneath his ACO Pro shirt, the Stagge spirit was on full display at the ACO Monster Tailgate Bash Cornhole Championships. This was not the same player who, despite the leg cast, had a disappointing performance at last season’s King of Cornhole. This was a player on a seven month mission to make a statement to the cornhole world.
Everyone has their own reason for a tournament victory. Money. Ego. Pride. For Randy Atha, it is the validation of being considered the best. For Steve Vanderver, it is another chance to step outside the shadow of always being number two. For Matt Guy, it is his statement to show everyone why he is King of Cornhole, the best player in the world. But for Jack Stagge, it was about more.
With his mother in a wheelchair at courtside, Jack Swagge dedicated his performance in honor of the passing of his sister eight years ago.
“This is for my sister,” Stagge said. “She died eight years ago of a rare disease. Today’s her birthday and I wanted this more for her than anything.”
After the final bag landed in the semifinals, Matt Guy congratulated Stagge and graciously walked through the crowd of Stagge supporters celebrating the rare victory over the reigning king. Tears were shed. Hugs were given. Stagge kissed his mother and hugged his wife.
“I’m on top of the world,” Stagge said in a post match interview. “How do you upset the number one player in the world? The only way to do it is to practice your ass off.”
[youtube gY-2025pOyY]And practice he did. Stagge practiced for weeks, playing five to six hours a day preparing for what would become the most emotional victory in ACO history against CornyForty #2 ranked Steve Vanderver.
Vanderver, the ACO’s version of Phil Mickelson, was runner-up to Matt Guy at last year’s Tailgate Bash Cornhole Championships. He finished second to Matt Guy at last season’s King of Cornhole.
“Matt and I are good friends,” Vanderver said before the event. “He is an individual that drives me.”
What better way to prepare for Matt Guy than by playing him for the last few weeks before the Tailgate Bash Cornhole Championships.
“Matt and I practice quite a bit.”
Vanderver had an opportunity no player has had since 2006. It was a Matt Guy-less final. One can only wonder the thoughts in the heads of #3 ranked Randy Atha and #4 ranked Eric Hinerman. Both men were ousted in earlier rounds. And now a Stagge victory over Guy opened the path for Vanderver to claim the Tailgate Bash Cornhole Championship title.
“Steve Vanderver is awesome,” Stagge said humbly before his championship match. “With the wind conditions today, maybe I got a chance.”
Up 18-12 in game three of three, Stagge had one in the hole and three on the board. Vandever had three bags on, one desperately hanging on top of the hole. Vanderver threw a bag stick side down. It landed on the top of the American Cornhole star logo. The impact dislodged the hanging bag for a much needed cornhole to keep the match alive.
In the final frame, Stagge pitched a bag too far right, missed the cornhole and didn’t put Vanderver away for good. Vanderver needed a cornhole to remain alive. His bag slid up the board, went to the left side of the hole and spun around the backside. But like those matches against Matt Guy, the bag didn’t go in. Vanderver was number two. Again.
“He’s one of the best hole shooters around,” Stagge said about Vanderver. “He has kicked my butt the last two weeks.”
Stagge’s final game against Guy was 21-3. His final game against Vanderver was 21-12. It’s safe to say the man known as the Wild Man was the one who kicked ass at the Tailgate Bash Cornhole Championship.
“You got a dream, you got to live it!”