MILTON, Vt. (WCAX) – The Champlain Valley Cornhole Club is raising money to send a St. Albans man to a major cornhole tournament in California after he climbed to the No. 2 ranking in the world.
Colin Hodet, 2, picked up the sport at age 13 after his father introduced him to it.
“My dad got me into it,” Hodet said. “I wanted to get good enough to play with him so I started practicing every day by myself.”
From backyard to world stage. Hodet and his father, David, eventually entered their first tournament together — and won.
“Ever since then we’ve been partners,” Colin Hodet said.
David Hodet said he can still occasionally beat his son in a match. “We used to watch all these pros on TV play and then now he’s one of them,” he said.
Colin Hodet spent one year saving money to enter every American Cornhole League tournament, competing across the country. After a series of losses, he reached the top world ranking before settling at No. 2.
“I wanted to be at the top one day and I just kept working, kept working, and it’s paid off,” he said.
Hodet is set to compete at Worlds in South Carolina next week before heading to California for what the family described as the biggest tournament of the season. Sunday’s fundraiser was organized to help cover the costs of the California trip.
David Trayah, secretary of the Champlain Valley Cornhole Club, said the club was eager to support Hodet.
“He represents Vermont, and you know, he’s one of the top players in Vermont and we’re all proud of him,” Trayah said.
The family said they did not set a specific fundraising goal for Sunday’s event. Colin Hodet said the community turnout was meaningful.
“I know a lot of people supported me but actually seeing it in person is like really crazy and surreal,” he said.
Hodet said he plans to continue playing professionally for as long as he can.
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