Over the holiday period, most Southeastern Oklahoma State University students were taking a well-deserved break, spending time with their families, and relaxing. Two students took the opportunity from the time out of school to showcase their skills on a national stage, as Dylan Cernero and Jesse Gardner competed as a team and as individuals in the American Cornhole League’s Collegiate Championships.
Cernero, a senior from Sherman, Texas, and Gardner, a freshman from Boswell, traveled to Myrtle Beach, S.C., where they competed in doubles on December 28, 2023, and singles on December 29. Based on their results, the duo advanced to the doubles semifinals, which were televised nationally on ESPN2.
In doubles, Cernero and Gardner advanced all the way to the semifinals before bowing out to the eventual champions. In the format where the first team to score 21 points (no busts) won, the Savage Storm team defeated teams from East Carolina University (21-3), the University of Tennessee (27-7), and Adrian (Mich.) College (23-9) to make it to the televised portion of the tournament.
“It was pretty nerve-wracking walking up to the stage and seeing all the people and bright lights shining in your face,” Cernero said after the event. “When you first see the cameras is when it gets to you. Once the game started and we realized we had to focus in, you kind of forget you’re on TV.”
“We were pretty nervous because of how many people were in the stands, but knowing we were on national TV with our friends and family watching made us even more nervous,” Gardner said.
The Southeastern duo lost to Blinn College’s Austin Waskow and Clayton Ely, 21-3, in the semifinals, but their tournament was not over.
The next day, Gardner went 2-1 in the singles bracket, with Cernero going 3-1 and advancing to the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Gardner defeated opponents from West Virginia University at Parkersburg (22-1) and Marietta (Ohio) College (21-6) before bowing out to his familiar foe Waskow of Blinn (23-13).
Cernero was victorious over opponents from East Carolina University (21-0 shutout), Oklahoma State University (21-2), and the University of Maryland (21-15) to make it to the quarterfinals. He was also defeated by Waskow to end the tournament.
With such success in the duo’s first trip to the national tournament, they hope to grow the cornhole community on the Southeastern campus and help the Savage Storm become even more competitive on the national stage.
“It doesn’t take that long to rack up the experience and talent to get on a national TV stage,” Cernero said. “I would really love to grow this sport as much as possible and hope to get our club meetings to a higher attendance number and eventually become a certified team on campus.”
“Our trip to Myrtle Beach will hopefully attract even more students to compete with us and push us even farther on the national stage as we go,” Gardner said.
For more information on the American Cornhole League and its events, please visit www.IPlayCornhole.com.
DOUBLES (CERNERO/GARDNER)
First Round – def. Tanner Mullaly/Cole Baker 21-3 (East Carolina University)
Second Round – def. Tim Hoffman/Maverick Marmol 27-7 (University of Tennessee)
Quarterfinal – def. Morgan Blonde/Alex Weaver 23-9 (Adrian College)
Semifinal – lost to Austin Waskow/Clayton Ely 3-21 (Blinn College)
JESSE GARDNER (2-1)
First Round – def. Nathan Schramm 22-1 (West Virginia University at Parkersburg)
Second Round – def. Westin Ritchie 21-6 (Marietta College)
Third Round – lost to Austin Waskow 12-23 (Blinn College)
DYLAN CERNERO (3-1)
First Round – def. Cole Baker 21-0 (East Carolina University)
Second Round – def. Reid Palmer 21-2 (Oklahoma State University)
Third Round – def. Kelly Karanovich 21-15 (University of Maryland)
Quarterfinal – lost to Austin Waskow (Blinn) 1-22 (Blinn College)
