WARSAW — It was the biggest non-athletic competition of the sporting season. The Indianapolis 500 may have its 100th running later this spring, but all eyes were turned toward the historic Detroit St. Penguin Point for the 37th Annual Big Wally Eating Contest.

Warsaw’s Kyle Pratt chows down in the opening minutes of Tuesday’s Big Wally contest. (Photos by Nick Goralczyk)

While Donald Trump may be running his campaign on the idea to “Make America Great Again” there was a strong sense of satisfaction in the air at Penguin Point screaming that this country is just fine. Nothing could have been more American than the scene of over 80 people in attendance to watch 11 high school boys cram their faces full of Penguin Point’s signature gut buster, the Big Wally.

Teams of three students from Warsaw, Wawasee, Tippecanoe Valley, and an undersized two-man group from Whitko, started an eating battle for the ages. There was no shortage of media coverage either as WRSW broadcasted the event as did Warrior Radio/TV 93.7 with students doing interviews before the big event and live play-by-play announcing. No, this was not your father’s burger eating contest.

Only one team entered with the intimidation factor, the success factor and the physical training to edge out the competition. That team was Tippecanoe Valley. Valley won bragging rights at last year’s event and repeated as champion by demolishing 19 burgers.

Valley’s team was unique as it was made up of three sophomores, Michael Paseka, Tyler Craft and Jameson Baker. The three earned the top prize, a traveling trophy and check for the prom, and will have their sites set on repeating next year. But next year’s feast is far from the team’s mind. In fact, all food is far from consideration until further notice.

“I’m thinking about throwing up right now,” said a satisfied and sleepy looking Baker. “My stomach hurts really bad but it was all worth it in the end. All the training we did paid off. Seriously though, I think I’m going to throw up.  I didn’t get the meat sweats this time. That was good, I don’t have to change my shirt that way.”

Baker paced his team with seven burgers while Paseka and Craft each ate six. The sophomore said “We’re going to go out to Pizza Hut to celebrate. I’m not going to eat anything, I’m not very hungry, but I’m going to watch people eat.”

While the general public understands how big of a moment this win is for Baker and his fellow teammates, he maintained a humble attitude.

Jared Slone of 93.7 gives the play-by-play for the contest.

“It’s definitely not the highest achievement of my lifetime,” the sophomore said, downplaying the glory, “but it is certainly a memorable moment.”

An overconfident Wawasee troupe, made up of Cal Heinisch, Rieder Hunley and Harrison Shortill, entered with high spirits and a huge student section to back it up but then promptly fell behind the pack for a third place finish with just 13 burgers eaten as a team.

Garrett Smiley and Kyler Price, the two-man team from Whitko gave a valiant effort with 10 burgers downed. Warsaw, led by heavyweights Kyle Platt, David O’Neil and Curtis Spencer, were more than respectable with a second place total of 17.

“The only regret we have is not winning,” said Wawasee coach Steve Coverstone. “I’m not disappointed in these guys, they trained hard. It’s just, well, there were tomatoes. Some of our guys don’t like tomatoes so that threw a wrench in to our plans right away. The more hamburgers they ate, the worst they tasted. It was a tough competition. At least we weren’t last.

“Next year we’re going to try to eat more hamburgers.”

The Damon Bailey of Big Wally Eating, Warsaw’s Joe Stanley, did not have his individual record beaten. His eye-popping total of 14 set in the early 1990s remains intact as does the twice-met team record of 26.

Amanda Wipple, the manager of the Detroit St. restaurant, ran the event for the first time.

“It was great to see so many people out here and it was cool to be a part of something like this,” Wipple stated.

Jim Nantz can have The Masters, the Big Wally Contest is truly an event unlike any other and Wipple doesn’t see that changing.

“We’re not planning to make any changes, though we’d love to get more schools involved,” Wipple offered. “It’s one of those great traditions, why change anything?”