Players compete during an American Cornhole Organization tournament last February. Another event is slated Friday and Saturday at Rogue X in Medford.

American Cornhole Organization returns to Rogue X in Medford

With Travel Medford and the Southern Oregon Sports Commission partnering as hosts, the American Cornhole Organization Medford Major will run Friday and Saturday at Rogue X in Medford and feature a $5,000 purse encompassing eight world-ranking events.

Registration has drawn players from at least 10 states, including Alabama, Michigan, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri.

The ACO Major will feature over 100 players, including 12 professionals from across the country — seven of whom are ranked in top 60 in the ACO world standings. Kim and Chad Jackson from Alabama, Michael Hochgesang and Steve Smith from Indiana, Hollywood Page from Mississippi and Craig Ervin from Missouri highlight the list of those expected to compete. Ervin won the World Singles championship in 2022.

The ACO has been the official governing body of the sport since 2005. This season features 41 majors across 24 states and two continents, putting Medford on the map as one of four cities to host two majors for Season 20, along with Chicago, Dallas and Upland, California.

Play runs from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, and resumes at 8 a.m. Saturday.

Admission is free for spectators and festivities feature food trucks, music and open cornhole courts for casual play for all fans of the game.

The event features world-points earning divisions, including open singles, open doubles, women’s singles, seniors singles, coed doubles, big blind doubles, quads (teams of four) and juniors singles. Points-earning divisional play is open to all ACO members.

To celebrate the start of the tournament, there will be a kickoff party beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday at Rogue X that will feature a Pro-Am where local leaders and community members are partnered up with a cornhole pro for a single elimination tournament. The kickoff party will close with an open tournament that anyone can enter.

Geraghty wins 100 freestyle at Washington swim meet

Medford swimmer Eleanor Geraghty advanced to the championship finals in all of her events at the Washington Open Swim Meet recently, placing first overall in the 100-yard freestyle to highlight action for the Rogue Rapids swimmers in Federal Way, Washington.

The event brought together approximately 1,000 swimmers from seven states and Canada, and the Rapids girls team placed 19th out of 63 teams.

Geraghty, 15, won the 100 free in 50.31 seconds, which is the 15th fastest time in the nation among girls her age and a Winter Junior Nationals qualifying time.

Geraghty also placed third in the 50 free (23.28) — ranking 16th among 15-year-old girls this season nationally and another Winter Junior Nationals qualifying time — as well as sixth in the 100 butterfly (55.04). She qualified for the finals in the 200 free in 1:52.67 but scratched the finals to focus on another swim.

Brienne Chamberland, 13, advanced to the C final in the 50-yard breaststroke and placed 18th with a time of 31.01. Chamberland also reached the C finals in the 200 breaststroke (24th, 2:29.90).

The Rapids are next set to host a swim meet Friday-Sunday at Rogue X in Medford, with around 275 age group swimmers expected to compete from areas like Portland, Eugene, Bend and Corvallis.

Action in the Rogue Rapids Winter Qualifier runs from approximately 4-7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and 8:45 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.