High School BBQ Competition - FWSSR Regional Results

Twenty-seven high school BBQ teams from across Texas went smoker to smoker during the FWSSR HSBBQ Regional Competition November 9 presented by Standard Meat. The competition, held at Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, awarded buckles, as well as $10,500 in premiums to teams and $15,000 in scholarships to students in a Pitmaster Challenge.

Special thanks to presenting sponsor Standard Meat, as well as Ben E. Keith, Cavender’s, Chick-Fil-A, Enterprise Mobility Foundation, Lisa and Milton Millman, Panhandle Rock And Roll Denim and Texas Hot Tub Company.

Presented by

Grand Champion - Stateline Smokers of Newton High School.

Grand Champion team honors went to Stateline Smokers of Newton High School. Back row (l to r): High School BBQ Committee members Joe Brhlik. Homer Robertson, Elliott Blair, Mike Micallef. Front row (l to r): Kylie Coker, Hannah Siau, Jantzen Fountain, Jared Schmidt, Sarah Trammell, Gigi Howell. The team cooked up first place in beans and second place in ribs to take the overall championship, with each student receiving a $3,000 scholarship.

Reserve Grand Champion - Sizzlin’ Rangers of Greenwood High School, Midland.

Sizzlin’ Rangers of Midland’s Greenwood High School were named Reserve Grand Champions. Back row (l to r): Brhlik, Robertson, Daniel Diaz, Blair, Wayne Dizmang, Micallef. Front row (l to r): Brandon Porter, Alena Pena, Gigi Howell, Jennifer Dizmang. Not pictured: Suzie Ledesma.Each student earned a $2,000 scholarship and together won second place in the brisket division on the way to their reserve win.

Third Place - Mustang Smoke of Ingleside High School.

Taking third place was Ingleside High School’s Mustang Smoke. Back row (l to r): Brhlik, Robertson, Blair, RJ Alvarado, Micallef. Front row (l to r): Bella Winn, Brodie Daniel, Kiah Hayward, Marcos Reyes, Logan McGrath, and Howell. Each student earned a $1,500 scholarship.

Category Winners

DESSERT

1st – Smokey Bandits – Reagan County High School
2nd – Holy Smokes – Midland High School
3rd – Phats BBQ – Ben Barber Innovation Academy, Mansfield

BEANS

1st – Stateline Smokers – Newton High School
2nd – Highway 190 BBQ Crew-Newton High School
3rd – Phats BBQ – Ben Barber Innovation Academy

CHICKEN

1st – Highway 190 BBQ – Newton High School
2nd – Up-N-Smoke – Midland High School
3rd – Eagle-Q – Hillcrest School, Midland

RIBS

1st – Brisket-eers – Reagan County High School
2nd – Stateline Smokers – Newton High School
3rd – Eagle-Q – Hillcrest School

BRISKET

1st – Mustang Smoke Show – Ingleside High School
2nd – Sizzlin’ Rangers – Greenwood High School
3rd – Meet The Creek – Cedar Creek High School

1st Place Brisket – Mustang Smoke Show – Ingleside High School: Joe Brhlik, Homer Robertson, Elliott Blair, Marcos Reyes, Gigi Howell, Mike Micallef

1st Place Dessert – Smokey Bandits – Reagan County High School: Joe Brhlik, Homer Robertson, Elliott Blair, Evelyn Romero, Gigi Howell, Mike Micallef

1st Place Beans – Stateline Smokers – Newton High School: Joe Brhlik, Homer Robertson, Elliott Blair, Hanna Siau, Gigi Howell, Mike Micallef

1st Place Chicken – Highway 190 BBQ – Newton High School: Joe Brhlik, Homer Robertson, Elliott Blair, Scarlett Sauls, Gigi Howell, Mike Micallef

1st Place Ribs – Brisket-eers – Reagan County High School: Joe Brhlik, Homer Robertson, Elliott Blair, Karma Ybarra, Gigi Howell, Mike Micallef

Pitmaster Challenge

Homer Robertson, Elliott Blair, Mike Micallef and Gigi Howell present a $3,500 scholarship to Addison Hallmark of Reagan County HIgh School, winner of the Pitmaster Challenge

Unique to the Fort Worth competition was the Pitmaster Challenge open to junior and senior regional qualifier competitors. Students first completed a 50-question online exam where they fielded questions regarding the history of BBQ, food safety and cooking techniques. The top 10 finalists were then invited to make oral presentations about BBQ experience and lessons learned through that experience.

Placing	Scholarship	Student	Team	School
1st	$3,500	Addison Hallmark	Smoke Whisperers	Reagan County High School
2nd	$3,000	Karma Ybarra	Brisketeers	Reagan County High School
3rd	$2,500	Galilee Salinas	Eagle Q	Hillcrest School
4th	$2,000	Colten Terry	Captain Hooked On BBQ	Lubbock Cooper High School
5th	$1,500	Clara Babcock	Eagle Q	Hillcrest School
6th	$1,500	Lance Griffith	Up n’ Smoke	Midland High School
7th	$1,500	Branson McDaniel	Ring of Fire	Midland High School
8th	$1,000	Gabriel Rogers	Meat Freaks	Conroe High School
8th	$1,000	Alyssa Griffith	Up n’ Smoke	Midland High School
10th	$500	Natalia Salcido	Brisketeers	Reagan County High School