A new twist on community fundraising brought plenty of laughs, friendly competition and strong local support as the Sperling Community Hall hosted its first-ever cornhole tournament Friday evening.
Participants of all ages took part in Sperling’s first cornhole tournament fundraiser Friday evening, where 29 adult teams and nine youth teams competed in a round-robin format. The event brought the community together while raising funds to support the local arena
Organized by a 10-member board led by Erin Dunn, the event was introduced as a fresh way to raise funds while bringing residents together.
“The board decided to try a different kind of fundraiser and thought cornhole would be fun,” said Dunn. “We all helped out with different tasks and took turns working in the canteen between playing.”
The tournament drew a strong turnout, featuring 29 adult teams and nine youth teams, with most participants coming from the Carman and Sperling area. Teams paid a $60 entry fee, with cash prizes awarded to the top finishers, including $180 for first place, $120 for second and $60 for third. Youth participants also received candy bags.
Play was structured in a round-robin format with eight pools, guaranteeing each team at least four games. The top two teams from each pool advanced to the playoff round, setting up a competitive finish to the evening.
Dunn said the event highlighted the importance of community connection while supporting a key local facility.
“It was a lot of fun. It brings community members together and the funds generated help keep the doors open to our local arena,” she said, noting the event raised just over $3,500.
The Sperling rink remains a central hub for the community, offering curling ice, skating ice, a 200-person capacity hall, kitchen and bar area all under one roof.
Among the night’s highlights was a memorable matchup between a pair of parents and two 12-year-old competitors — including their own child. The youth team pulled off an upset victory and continued their strong run all the way to a third-place finish.
“It was a really fun game to watch — lots of three-pointers, and there was one round where the kids got all four bags in the hole,” Dunn said.
In the end, Kevin and Nelson captured first place, followed by Alex and Sam in second, while Kate and Zeke rounded out the podium in third.
Despite a few minor hiccups, Dunn said the tournament came together quickly thanks to the efforts of volunteers and community members.
Looking ahead, there are already plans to build on the event’s success.
“We’ll likely do this again,” she said. “We’ve also talked about hosting it in the summer when the ice is out — then we could get even bigger.”
With a strong turnout and positive feedback, the inaugural cornhole tournament appears poised to become a staple on Sperling’s community calendar.
