VINEMONT, Ala. – Christian Hart will always be remembered as a sports-loving, funny, vivacious 12-year-old Vinemont student. The third annual Christian Hart Memorial Cornhole Tournament will be held Saturday, Feb. 3, in the Vinemont Elementary School gym, with all proceeds benefiting the Christian Hart Memorial Scholarship, which was founded in memory of Christian, who died on Saturday, May 25, 2019, in a boating incident on Smith Lake.
The scholarship is awarded yearly to one deserving Vinemont student, ensuring Christian’s name and legacy are remembered. The recipient is chosen from a pool of deserving students who are handpicked by Christian’s parents, along with input from Vinemont’s faculty and staff to help assess the student’s need for the scholarship.
To raise money for the scholarship, Lynn Shaddix, Christian’s father, said he knew cornhole was the obvious choice to celebrate and honor the life of his son. Shaddix fondly remembered tossing the sacks with his son, the thumping of the heavy bags on dusty boards on the front lawn is something he holds dear to his heart.
“We decided to go with cornhole for a fundraiser because me and Christian would get out there and play all the time. I had boards at home and he would just play for hours,” he said. “I was playing with Robert Haddix (of the Cullman County Cornhole Club) and asked if we could do a fundraiser to make money for Christan’s scholarship.”
This year’s tournament will be held in the Vinemont Elementary gym on Saturday, Feb. 3. Registration begins on-site at noon with the bags flying at 1 p.m. Three divisions will be open for players to register and compete. The Social division carries a $40 per team registration fee and social competitors must use the house throwing bags; the Competitive division ups the ante with a $50 per team registration fee but allows teams the ability to play with their own bags; both winners of these competing divisions will walk home with a 50/50 payout. A Blind Draw division is the afternoon’s coin toss and crowd favorite. A $10 per person registration fee buys entry to the Blind Draw, where competitors are randomly matched with a registered partner, something that Shaddix said could make or break a winning record.
“You could be paired with a social player, someone that just plays at backyard parties and tailgates, or you could be partnered with a competitive player who takes winning seriously and has won tournaments before. You never know who you’ll get partnered with,” he said. “The Blind Draw is anyone’s game.”
Donated prizes from local businesses will be raffled off at the event, with tickets sold for each raffle at the door. Prizes ranging from gift cards to appliances will be up for grabs, with all raffle ticket sales benefiting the Christian Hart Memorial Scholarship. If any local businesses or individuals would like to donate a prize to be raffled to benefit the Christian Hart Memorial Scholarship, contact Lynn Shaddix at 256-339-2936.
Vinemont Elementary is located at 105 High School Road.
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