by Hannah Singh
Fourteen-year-old Eian Cripps proved that age has nothing to do with skills.
The 8th grade Ruston Junior High student recently placed first at the 2024 American Cornhole Singles Final Four in New Orleans. This brought Cripps ACL ranking to No.2 in the nation, racking up 792 season points.
The 2023-2024 Pro Cornhole Division only featured 9 professional players under the age of 18, with Cripps being the highest ranked of the group. The young athlete has been playing pro cornhole since the age of 10, beginning competitions only 5 months after first gaining interest in the sport.
“This was my second time playing on TV and of course it took some getting used to” Cripps said. “It was really fun, and it was a really great experience.”
Cripps qualified for nationals in Florida at the ACL Kickoff Battle 1 at the beginning of April. He had a couple weeks to prepare before playing in New Orleans for a national audience.
Cripps first gained interest in the sport playing with his father and uncle. At Ruston Junior High, Cripps shares this special interest with Assistant Principal Larry Williams. The adult cornhole player was surprised to find out that one of his students was a pro.
“I started playing about two years ago and when I found out there was a professional cornhole player at the school I wanted to talk to him, learn his techniques, and just pick his brain to learn as much as I can,” Williams said. “At such a young age he is just so good, it’s amazing.”
Cripps sees a future for himself in the sport, wanting to gain sponsorships to continue playing professionally into adulthood. His supporters at school were very impressed to watch him on the big screen, staying calm and collected against elder opponents.
RJHS Principal Keisha Douglas noticed the skill that Cripps had developed while watching him compete.
“Some of the shots I saw him make I couldn’t believe,” Douglas said. “He was so focused and strategy-wise, he seemed to know what he was doing. I’m extremely proud of him and I hope he continues to pursue this.”
Cripps will compete again in two weeks at another national competition in Colorado. The Ruston community will continue to support the athletic endeavors of Cripps throughout his journey.
