Editor’s note: The Day publishes an annual series of stories spotlighting outstanding seniors graduating from the region’s 16 public and private high schools.

Norwich ― For Navarro Dip and his family, cornhole is more than a backyard game.

It’s a passion and maybe soon a second career for the Norwich Regional Technical High School senior.

Dip, 17, first picked up a cornhole bag three years ago at his Norwich home. His father was practicing for a cancer research fundraiser tournament.

“He started practicing in the back yard, so everyone in the family just started playing, and it took off,” Dip said. “I got good really fast.”

Dip started going to local and regional tournaments. He joined the American Cornhole League and climbed the rankings. He and Norwich Tech HVAC instructor Kris Wagner compete regularly in cornhole tournaments throughout the Northeast.

“It’s very similar to bowling or pool leagues or dart leagues,” Wagner said. “You can kind of come and go as you want. It’s open to anybody, and you kind of just play and have a good time.”

Dip and Wagner obtained a sponsorship by Cornhole Coastal of Virginia Beach, Va., an equipment supplier, which made the Norwich Tech logo boards the school uses for its own fundraisers. An April school tournament raised over $2,000 for the National Technical Honor Society, Wagner said.

“You can find tournaments everywhere,” Dip said. “There’s different tournaments every day. I play six days a week in different tournaments.”

Dip has won multiple Under-18 juniors’ tournaments and won the Connecticut State Championship in 2023. In early August, at the World Championships in South Carolina, Dip will compete in the American Cornhole League professional qualifier.

His schoolwork at Norwich Tech has not suffered from his passion for cornhole, although he did give up baseball for it.

An electrical trades major, Dip has earned a full scholarship from Dominion Energy to attend the Connecticut State Community College Three Rivers nuclear engineering technology program. Following his first academic year, he will have a 12-week internship at the Millstone Power Station in Waterford before returning for his second year to earn his nuclear engineering technology degree.

Norwich Tech Electrical Department head Jamie Lamitie said he could recall only about six to 10 students receiving the Dominion full scholarship in his 19 years at Norwich Tech.

Lamitie said Dip has one of the highest grade point averages in his class and excels at theory as well as practice of the trade.

“He’s a very polite, well-mannered kid, very studious and cares about his grades,” Lamitie said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him get upset.”

Most Thursday nights, Dip is at Epicure Brewing at 40 Franklin St. in downtown Norwich with his parents, Yamil Dip Sr. and Mary Beth Dip, and older brother, Yamil Jr., where they run the Dirty Dozen cornhole tournament.

On May 2, the background music at the bar competed with the constant thuds of cornhole bags striking the wooden boards placed around the bar.

Navarro sported his American Cornhole League jersey, which resembles a car racer’s suit, crowded with sponsorship patches. Bush’s Best beans logo dominates the front, with Cornhole Coastal at the front left corner and “ACL Elite 2024” at the right. One patch honors four cornhole players shot and killed during a cornhole league tournament in Lewiston, Maine, in October. His name and other logos adorn the back of the jersey.

Navarro’s parents turned their thoughts to Navarro’s graduation June 20. His father still marvels at his Dominion scholarship and nuclear engineering aspirations.

“That is so impressive. He stays focused,” Yamil Sr. said.

Mary Beth Dip said all the activities ― graduation, college and Navarro’s professional cornhole qualifier ― are overwhelming, but she knows he looks forward to the challenges.

Navarro has another goal when he starts at Three Rivers, which doesn’t have a cornhole club.

“I’m going to start one,” Navarro said.

c.bessette@theday.com