Player Spotlight: Drea Flores

Our first player to be featured in our new Player Spotlight series is Andrea "Drea" Flores, the 2017 Arizona State Women's Cornhole Champion. Playing for only 11 months (at the time of this publication), Drea has already made her name as one of the top players, male or female, in the state and the entire southwest.

Like many baggers, Drea started playing cornhole with family and friends in the backyard. As she continued to get better, she jumped into the competitive circuit, participating in her first organized tournament in September 2016. She attributes that first tournament as the day she became "addicted to the game".

How did Drea get so good so fast? She stresses that although practicing helps her physically improve her game, she says the mental part of her game - staying focused, taking her time and relaxing when throwing, and just having an overall confidence in her abilities - plays a major role in her success. She also emphasizes that she wouldn't be where she is today without the help of the cornhole community, especially her  biggest support and Team Bling doubles partner - Jermaine "Bling" Cromwell.

Drea lives by the philosophy that "to be the best, you have to play the best". She continues to improve by playing top Arizona players and also by traveling to high profile events where she can compete in high stakes events. In her short career, she can claim the title as the 2017 Arizona State Women's Singles Champion, 2017 Best in the West Women's Single Champion,  runner up in the 2017 Surf Rodeo Big Dog Tournament and 4th place in the ACL Vegas National Crew Cup, an event that featured players from all over the country.

Drea isn't settled with her current level. She looks forward to the continued challenge of playing in weekly blind draws and leagues with her sights set on COBS 2018 where she hopes to compete for the women's national title on national TV.