By Hadassah Winters
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Competitors during the 2016 Eating Contest held in the PUB. – Photo by Judah Breitbach
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Larry Blomberg during the 2016 Eating Contest held in the PUB. – Photo by Judah Breitbach
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Zhara Laster during the 2016 Eating Contest held in the PUB. – Photo by Judah Breitbach
Last year’s Eating Contest winner Larry Blomberg, 40, is now a back-to-back champion.
Peninsula College’s Pirate Pete Week kicked off with the annual Eating Contest, held in the PUB on Tuesday, Jan. 12, hosted by ASC member Jeremiah Hobbs.
The participating students consumed a sleeve of Oreos in the first round, two doughnuts in the second, lukewarm Top Ramen in the third, and a can of SPAM in the final round.
Last year’s finalists Larry Blomberg and Jordan Scott, ate their way past nine other people to the final round. Friends and family were shouting directions and encouragement, cameras were flashing and Weird Al’s parody song “Just Eat It” blared from the loudspeakers.
“The guy who won seemed pretty determined,” student Sierra Perdue said. “He was eating Top Ramen with his hands, then looked around and saw people catching up with him, so he just began pouring everything into his mouth. I also couldn’t believe how fast he could eat SPAM, which is disgusting.” But when asked which round was the hardest, Blomberg said definitely the first. “Oreos are hard to chew, but SPAM is easy, you just bite and swallow.”
Larry Blomberg has been attending Peninsula College for one year, and is majoring in Addiction Studies. He won a $50 gift card to Applebees, and the honor of having his name engraved a second time on the Eating Contest Plaque of Fame.
“You might be feeling really sick right now and I’m sorry,” Jeremiah Hobbes consoled the other contestants, “But hey, at least you got some free food.”
ASC member Mia Steben said the ASC wanted to provide a great week for all the students at Peninsula College. “We knew last year’s champion was coming back,” Steben said, “but we can never guarantee what will happen. Overall we had a great time and we hope that the students did too. As part of the ASC team, I am humbled by the opportunity to work with such an amazing group of people.” Spectators were treated to Oreos and doughnuts after the contest was over.